Defining Innovation for the Award

The intent of the Teaching With Sakai Innovation Award (TWSIA) is to recognize excellence in teaching and learning.

The TWSIA committee defines an innovative course or educational experience as one that, by design, engages and challenges students, resulting in greater student interest, a deeper level of understanding and/or a lasting change in the students' perception of an issue or topic.

The innovative method, practice or strategy used may not be new in the world, but its implementation may be out of the ordinary in your field of practice or new to you. It is more than simply using new technologies; rather it is an approach to teaching and learning that results in a much-enhanced, even transformative, educational experience for students.

Note that eligibility for the TWSIA requires use of the Sakai CLE or Sakai OAE in some form and other items as outlined in the TWSIA rubrics.

*Definition updated as of the 2012 Award Year