Excellence In Online Teaching Award

Award Recipients

2023

Dr. Nilufer Ozdemir
Associate Professor
Economics | Coggin College of Business
Faculty Bio
Award Submission Packet

 

Summary: Dr. Ozdemir is an associate professor of economics at the University of North Florida who teaches a range of online courses, including Monetary Economics and Principles of Macroeconomics. Dr. Ozdemir enhances online learning through a two-pronged "Engagement" and "Support" approach. "Engagement" includes continuous touchpoints like current events reports, quizzes, and Q&A sessions, promoting active participation. "Support" encompasses an Assistance Program, pre-exam meetings, software videos, study guides, and reminder videos for effective learning and connectivity. Discussions facilitate interaction and peer learning in her courses. Additionally, she engages students in analyzing real-world data through community programs, creating a comprehensive, engaging, and supportive online learning environment for student success.

Award Eligibility

Any regular, full-time member or permanent part-time member of the UNF faculty, who holds an in-rank faculty appointment at UNF and meets the following requirements:

• Delivery of distance learning course(s) at UNF for two or more years.
• Completed UNF’s Teaching Online Foundation Course (TOL) or other online teaching certifications/training related to quality online course development and delivery.
• Completed at least one Online Course Design Quality Review.

Note: No awardee shall be eligible for another Excellence in Online Teaching Award until the fifth year after receiving the last award.

Nominees

After the close of nominations, UNF Online confirms each nominee’s eligibility and sends a letter of confirmation to eligible nominees and their department chair, including instructions for the nominee to submit their nominee materials. Nominees who are not eligible will be notified.

To be considered for this award, eligible nominees must submit one copy of their materials in pdf format. Nominee materials shall not include more than nine pages with standard margins, double-spaced, and font sizes no smaller than 12-points. It must include the following artifacts in the order listed:

• Three-page (maximum) summary and discussion detailing the nominee’s contributions to excellence in online teaching at UNF based on the award criteria.
• Five-page (maximum) curriculum vitae, including educational background, current rank, and position at UNF.
• One-page signed statement by the faculty member attesting to the accuracy of the information included in the packet and a stipulation on the part of the Chair that the material is consistent with the Chair’s knowledge of the faculty member’s performance. Download and include the Statements of Accuracy document in your nominee packet.

Tips

• Follow formatting guidelines: Adhere to the document formatting guidelines provided by the award instructions, such as font size, spacing, and margins, to ensure the content fits within the allowed page limit. 
• Be organized: Structure the content in a logical and organized manner. Use headings and subheadings to delineate each criterion and provide a smooth flow of information. Use bullet points or numbered lists to present information succinctly.  
• Be selective: Due to the limited page limit, choose the most significant achievements and examples that align with the award criteria. Avoid excessive details or unrelated information that may distract from the main focus. Link to documents or webpage with supplementary information if needed. 
• Focus on key points: Identify the most significant contributions and examples related to each of the four criteria. Prioritize and include those that best showcase your achievements in online teaching. 
• Use concise language: Be clear and concise in presenting the information. Avoid lengthy explanations or unnecessary details. Summarize and use precise language to convey your accomplishments and impact.  
• Prioritize recent and relevant achievements: Highlight your most recent and relevant contributions to online teaching. Focus on achievements directly related to the award criteria and demonstrate ongoing engagement and impact. 
• Be Direct: When discussing innovative strategies, avoid simply listing the tools used in your courses. Instead, focus on how these innovations contributed to student success, and provide examples of interaction and engagement. This will help highlight your strategies’ effectiveness and demonstrate their impact on student learning. 
• Edit: Review the content carefully to ensure it meets the three-page limit. Revise for clarity, coherence, and relevance. Seek feedback from colleagues or mentors to refine the content further. 

Award Selection

The award recipient is selected by a committee of six college representatives elected by the UNF Faculty Association to serve on the Distance Learning Committee (current DLC members) and the three previous award winners. The award recipient and their Chair will be notified in early spring (March), and the award will be presented at UNF’s Annual Convocation in the Fall (September).

Award Schedule

The schedule for collecting nominations and selecting the award recipient is as follows: