Presentations and Awards

Our mission is to deliver excellence in course design and transform the learning experience at The U by fostering innovative ideas, enhancing quality instruction, and adding value through inspirational leadership. Below, you’ll find a few of the ways we’ve been working towards that mission as we’ve received awards for our many endeavors and presented at various conferences.

Ranked #14 in Newsweek’s “Top Online Colleges” 2024 - As the team in charge of designing the UOnline courses with our subject matter experts, we're proud of this accomplishment that shows students' satisfaction with their online learning experiences.
2023 Anthology Catalyst Award Winners for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging - We joined a select group of worldwide organizations whose work has been recognized as making a significant contribution to education. This award is a testament to our commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. We prioritize accessibility for all students, ensuring open access and inclusive learning environments. Watch our video about the ALLY rapid remediation program here.
2023 Anthology Exemplary Course Award for American Sign Language I - Professor Kirsten Schwarz and Sr. Instructional Designer Ron Rodriguez
Thought Industries Customer of the Month February 2023 This recognizes our commitment to providing excellent service to our partners and the students who enroll in our courses.
2021 Anthology Exemplary Course Award for Design of Formal Learning Environments - Dr. Nam Ju Kim and Sr. Instructional Designer Catherine Dowman

Our team has been sought after as an authoritative voice at various industry conferences. We have shared our knowledge and insights with audiences around the world and helped shape the conversation around important topics.

Cate Dowman and Maite Saco - Creating an Inclusive Digital Learning Environment, presented for the BB Learn Ultra User Group, December 2023
Nicholas Armas and Brianna Basanta - Exploring ChatGPT & Online Assessments, presented at the FL-IDN Professional Development Webinar, July 2023
Brianna Basanta and Cate Dowman - Building Better Learning Activities in Blackboard Learn Ultra, presented at the Digital Teaching Symposium, May 2023
Nicholas Armas and Brianna Basanta - Beating AI Using Bloom’s Taxonomy, presented to the ACAC at the University of Miami, March 2023
Rik Bair, Ph.D. - How Does Your Garden Grow: Hiring and Managing a Remote Team in Higher Education, presented at the 4th World Congress of Education in Sapporo, Japan, January 2023
Hanna Fife and Cate Dowman - Using Branching Scenarios to Engage Students through Storytelling, presented at the Digital Teaching Symposium, November 2022
Cate Dowman - From Frenemy to Friend: Standardizing Online Course Design to Boost Academic Freedom, presented at UPCEA Southern Regional Conference, November 2022
April Macadangdang and Ariella St. Rose – Engage Learners in Deep Learning through Intuitive & Interactive Edtech Tools, a workshop at BBWorld19 in Austin, TX, July 2019
April Macadangdang and Ariella St. Rose – The Power of Interactive Learning, presented at BBWorld19 in Austin, TX, July 2019

Presentations and Awards

Digital Learning and Design Institute

Resources

UM Network

Visit

Connect