Tag: USDLA

Kenai student honored for excellence in distance learning

USDLA Awards Natalie Marlowe with the USDLA Student Achievement Award For Excellence in Distance Learning in 2018

Kenai Central High School student Natalie Marlowe is honored by the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) with the world’s most prestigious distance learning award presented for excellence in distance learning.
“This year’s USDLA Award recipient Natalie Marlowe represents the finest examples of online courses, best practices, and leadership in our field. The depth and breadth of the USDLA membership allows us to engage with leaders from higher education, K-12, industry, military, and government who daily demonstrate the power of distance learning. We are so very proud and excited to be able to recognize this level of excellence,” said Mr. Pat Cassella, President of USDLA.
Natalie Barlowe

Natalie Marlowe, Kenai Central High School

In her words

“One of my favorite connections was when I was able to connect an Alaska and Texas elementary classroom to discuss back and forth. The amazement on the faces of Alaskan kids when the Texas students brought out their class pet, a snake, was priceless. The Texan students were equally impressed by the stories of the weather the Alaskan students considered typical on the playground.”

 

Be involved

“In the fall of 2015, I got involved in a video conferencing program offered at my high school. This program is team taught by a teacher at Kenai Central High School and a teacher at Soldotna Prep School and is designed to connect students around the world as it works to prepare them for the next generation workplace. Although I began the course looking for an extra social studies credit, as I learned more I began to realize how these global connections and networking skills would set me apart when I began applying to colleges and eventually entering the workforce.”

 

Learning

“My involvement over the past three years in this course has taught me a lot about video conferencing technology and the uses of distance education. However, it has also taught me a lot about myself as an individual. I have learned how to learn from my failures, sometimes more than from successes, and how to be flexible when things do not go as planned. I have learned how to be ready to stand up and participate in the discussion when put on the spot and how to be comfortable presenting in front my peers and large groups of adult professionals. I know the confidence and ease I have learned through these experiences will accompany me through life even outside of distance education and the use of video conferencing technology.”

 

Challenges and surprises

“Working with technology is always a gamble. There are so many things that can go wrong at any given point. I struggled especially when I was working with teachers because they looked to me to have answers when things went wrong and I didn’t always have them. Being involved in this program required me to grow in my flexibility and know when to admit I needed help and how to get that help. One key challenge I had was when I set up a conference for a teacher at an elementary school. I had gone in a few days before to make sure the technology was working but between that time and the conference date the equipment was moved and disconnected. I ended up having to cancel the conference that day and reschedule. Things like this have really taught me how to be flexible and communicate with people when things go wrong.”

Superintendent Sean Dusek said,

“I am very proud that Natalie Marlowe has earned this prestigious honor for her work with distance education as a student in our schools. She exemplifies the type of student we hope to have as KPBSD graduate. Natalie has demonstrated the highest levels of leadership and innovation in supporting staff and students to be successful in the world of online learning and I believe she will continue to make a huge impact with positively transforming education on a world-wide basis. Congratulations Natalie and I am so very proud to have you as one of our KPBSD graduates!”

KPBSD educator Rob Sparks said, “She has done an outstanding job of representing the KPBSD and has shown a high level of professionalism throughout her internship and is a super nice person on top of all her talents!”
“Natalie has been a part of our video conferencing program for three years at Kenai Central High School, and I truly appreciate all her efforts,” said Greg Zorbas, KCHS educator. “Natalie has gone above and beyond our expectations and is truly a deserving winner of the USDLA student achievement award. I am certain that her experience in the video conferencing program will help her succeed at whatever she chooses to do in the future.”
USDLA Media Release

USDLA awards Kenai student Natalie Marlowe top honors

USDLA Awards Natalie Marlowe with the USDLA Student Achievement Award For Excellence in Distance Learning in 2018

Kenai Central High School student Natalie Marlowe is honored by the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) with the world’s most prestigious distance learning award presented for excellence in distance learning.
USDLA-2018d-awd-win-slider-1140x441
Indianapolis, IN May 2, 2018 — The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) presented its 2018 International Distance Learning Awards to Natalie Marlowe in conjunction with the 2018 National Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. USDLA is a 501(c) 3 non-profit association, founded in 1987, as the nation’s leading distance learning organization. The association reaches 20,000 people globally with sponsors and members operating in and influencing 46% of the $913 billion dollar U.S. education and training market.  
These prestigious International Awards are presented annually to organizations and individuals engaged in the development and delivery of distance learning programs. Included in the recognition ceremony were awards for 21st Century Distance Learning, Innovation, Excellence in Teaching/Training, Quality Research Paper, Student Achievement, and Eagle.
“As a premier organization for the entire distance learning profession, we are honoring Natalie Marlowe as a leader in the industry,” said Dr. John G. Flores, Executive Director of USDLA. Natalie has raised the bar of excellence and we are truly honored by Natalie’s contributions within all distance learning constituencies.
The USDLA Awards were created to acknowledge major accomplishments in distance learning and to highlight those distance learning instructors, programs, and professionals who have achieved and demonstrated extraordinary results through the use of online, videoconferencing, satellite and blended learning delivery technologies.
“This year’s USDLA Award recipient Natalie Marlowe represents the finest examples of online courses, best practices, and leadership in our field.  The depth and breadth of the USDLA membership allows us to engage with leaders from higher education, K-12, industry, military, and government who daily demonstrate the power of distance learning.  We are so very proud and excited to be able to recognize this level of excellence,” said Mr. Pat Cassella, President of USDLA.
Mr. Ken Conn, Chair of USDLA Board of Directors noted that, “This year’s award winner represent many of the most innovative leaders in the field of distance learning.” He continued, “I also look forward to seeing Natalie again during National Distance Learning Week, November 5-9, 2018.”
Superintendent Sean Dusek said, “I am very proud that Natalie Marlowe has earned this prestigious honor for her work with distance education as a student in our schools. She exemplifies the type of student we hope to have as KPBSD graduate. Natalie has demonstrated the highest levels of leadership and innovation in supporting staff and students to be successful in the world of online learning and I believe she will continue to make a huge impact with positively transforming education on a world-wide basis. I am so very proud Miss Marlowe is one of our KPBSD graduates!”
Natalie, a Senior at Kenai Central High School, was the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District intern working with i2iTechnologoes, Two Way Interactive Communication in Education and Collaborations Around The Planet (CAPspace)
About United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit association formed in 1987 and is located in Boston, Massachusetts. The association reaches 20,000 people globally with sponsors and members operating in and influencing 46% of the $913 billion dollar U.S. education and training market.  USDLA promotes the development and application of distance learning for education and training and serves the needs of the distance learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking and opportunity. Distance learning and training constituencies served include pre-k-12 education, higher and continuing education, home schooling as well as business, corporate, military, government and telehealth markets. The USDLA trademarked logo is the recognized worldwide symbol of dedicated professionals committed to the distance learning industry. http://www.usdla.org
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KPBSD educators honored by United States Distance Learning Association

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News Release
Prestigious Videoconferencing Technology Award

Soldotna, May 12, 2016—Two KPBSD educators were honored by the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 10, 2016. USDLA awarded Rob Sparks [Soldotna Prep School] and Greg Zorbas [Kenai Central High School] with the Best Practices Gold Level award for excellence in distance learning teaching, for their innovation and excellence in “Videoconferencing Technology – K-12 Education.”

Educator Greg Zorbas, Kenai Central High School, videoconference in Classroom Without Walls (CWOW), and Global Nomads, May 13, 2015, 6:00 AM
Educator Greg Zorbas, Kenai Central High School, videoconference in Classroom Without Walls (CWOW), and Global Nomads, May 13, 2015, 6:00 AM

“Greg and Rob have long been leaders in utilizing technology to expand learning opportunities for our students,” said Sean Dusek, Superintendent. “They have also worked very hard to meet individual student needs every day and have leveraged videoconferencing to do this. I am very proud of their efforts and accomplishments. They are very deserving of this award and I appreciate their efforts very much.”
“Although it is the United States Distance Learning Association, it is actually an international organization recognizing efforts from around the world,” said Rob Sparks. “It has been humbling the number of people who have come up to me and Greg to say ‘Oh, you’re the Kenai guys….’ The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is recognized worldwide as a leader in innovative and effective uses of video telecommunications!”
“We put our students in front of twenty-two industry professionals interactively this semester and they all told the students they will be ahead of their peers at the next level—this validates what Rob and I are doing,” said Greg Zorbas. “Professionally every time we connect with a guest presenter or connect to another classroom everybody has to bring their A game. Lessons get better and better because in this environment we are constantly getting feedback on what worked, but also how we can make it better. I have been gone for three days to attend this conference and receive this award, and I can’t count the number of emails and instant messages I’ve received from students—this tells me they are engaged in what we are doing.”
“As a premier organization for the entire distance learning profession, we are honoring the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District as a leader in the industry,” said Dr. John G. Flores, Executive Director of USDLA and Program Professor at Nova Southeastern University. “KPBSD has raised the bar of excellence and we are truly honored by KPBSD contributions within all distance learning constituencies.”
“This year’s USDLA Awards recipient, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, represents the finest examples of online courses, best practices, and leadership in our field. The depth and breadth of the USDLA membership allows us to engage with leaders from higher education, K-12, industry, military, and government who daily demonstrate the power of distance learning. We are so very proud and excited to be able to recognize this level of excellence,” said Mr. George Collins, President of USDLA.
Link

Educator Rob Sparks, Soldotna Prep, video teleconference (VTC) certificate students with KCHS and students in Palestine, April 11, 2016, 8:00 PM
Educator Rob Sparks, Soldotna Prep, video teleconference (VTC) certificate students with KCHS and students in Palestine, April 11, 2016, 8:00 PM

ss 2016 May Zorbas and Sparks
United States Distance Learning Association awards, 2016

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