The following FDLA Awards are bestowed at the FDLA Annual Conference in the spring of each year. For the purposes of these awards, distance learning is defined as blended, hy-flex, hybrid, or online using any delivery method.
Go to FDLA Award Submission Form
Award Eligibility
An award nominee must be a full-time member of a K-20 school/community/institution that has made a contribution to distance learning, which may include the following:
- K-20 Educator (or K-12 or higher ed educator)
- Higher education faculty member
- Instructional designer
- Administrator
- Student support personnel
- Faculty support person
Distinguished Leadership in Distance Learning Award (K-20)
Demonstrated significant leadership and achievements in distance learning over a period of time.
Examples of leadership may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Developed and implemented visionary ideas within the field,
- Guided and influenced others within the field,
- Advocated for distance learning,
- Provided Exemplary scholarship in the field of Distance Education
In preparation for submission of a nomination for the Distinguished Leadership awards, make sure you have the following information available. Provide as detail description as possible about a project and/or process the individual has been involved with, which may include any of the following:
- Description of the leadership for a project and/or process, including rationale, duration, and collaboration with others.
- Provide the reasons why the project and/or process is innovative and evidence for distance learning of its success.
- How the project and/or process is significant, systemic, and transferable for distance learning.
- How the project and/or process improves the work of distance learning students, faculty, or staff.
- The role of technology in support of distance learning.
- Scholarship evidence (publications or presentations) if available. (This is optional.)
- Related grants or funding received if available. (This is optional.)
Distinguished Service in Distance Learning Award (K-20)
Effectively guided or influenced one or more distance learning service organizations to help achieve their mission and/or goals.
In preparation for submission of a nomination for the Distinguished service awards, make sure you have the following information available.
- The different types of service performed by the awardee that has impacted upon distance learning.
- The duration of the service performed by the awardee.
- The organization(s) the awardee had performed service for.
Innovator in Distance Learning: K-12
Developed a new or innovative approach that improved the quality or effectiveness of K-12 distance learning that resulted in improved student outcomes and/or satisfaction. (Evidence of success would be indicated on the nomination form.) Please note that only full-time, K-12 personnel are eligible for this award.
Examples of innovation may be related to, but are not limited to the following:
- teaching strategy
- course design
- student support
- program development ideas
Innovator in Distance Learning: Higher Education
Developed a new or innovative approach that improved the quality or effectiveness of higher education distance learning that resulted in improved student outcomes and/or satisfaction. (Please note that only full-time higher education personnel are eligible for this award.)
Examples of innovation may be related to, but are not limited to the following:
- teaching strategy
- course design
- student support
- program development ideas
Award Submission
In preparation for submission of a nomination for the Innovator awards, make sure you have the following information available. Provide as detail description as possible about a project and/or process the individual has been involved with, which may include any of the following:
- Description of the project and/or process, including rationale, duration, and collaboration with others
- Provide the reasons why the project and/or process is innovative and evidence for distance learning of its success.
- How the project and/or process is significant, systemic, and transferable for distance learning.
- How the project and/or process improves the work of distance learning students, faculty, or staff.
- The role of technology in support of distance learning.
- Scholarship evidence (publications or presentations) if available. (This is optional.)
- Related grants or funding received if available. (This is optional.)
Best Paper Award
Paper submissions for the conference are reviewed for publication in the FDLA Journal and for the best paper award. A committee reviews the papers and selects one paper annually for this award. The Best Paper Award is presented at the following conference. To submit your paper for this award, submit at the following link: Conference Submission Page (nova.edu)
