ITC Awards for Excellence in eLearning

The Instructional Technology Council gives members the opportunity to recognize your team for their tremendous hard work, excellent service to your students, and quality eLearning courses.

Nominees can include ITC member college administrators, faculty members, or individuals from other agencies that have supported eLearning initiatives at a community college or other higher education organization.

Award winners will accept their awards and be recognized during the 2027 ITC eLearning Conference in Colorado Springs, CO.

Nominations for the 2027 Awards will open on Monday, October 5.

Click on award name below for more details.

• Trailblazer Award - The recipient will be an individual, team, or unit that has boldly explored a new direction in online and digital education, challenging conventional thinking to create new possibilities for teaching, learning, or institutional innovation.
• Distance Educator (Faculty or Staff Member) - A distance educator nominated by their President/CEO, Provost/Academic Vice President, or Dean as an exemplary member of their community.
• Accessibility in eLearning Award - The recipient will be an individual, team, or unit that has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to creating accessible, inclusive online learning experiences that go beyond compliance to remove barriers for all learners.
• AI Innovation in eLearning Award - This award recognizes an individual, team, unit, course, project, or initiative that demonstrates innovative, thoughtful, and effective use of artificial intelligence in online education.
• Innovative eLearning Technology - An organizational unit or person that has used a new technology tool or delivery system to establish a new, innovative, unique and replicable method of student delivery.
• Outstanding Support for Faculty or Students - An organizational unit focused on student or faculty support with a reputation for outstanding, replicable support and service for their faculty or students.
• Outstanding eCourse Designer or Design Team - An eCourse designer or team whose course features a high level of interactivity, multimedia, communication, and management strategies that are replicable and continuously evaluate performance.
• Outstanding eLearning Student - A distinguished eLearner, nominated by their institution as an exemplary member of their community.

Trailblazer Award

The ITC Trailblazer Award recognizes an individual, team, or unit that has boldly explored a new direction in online and digital education.

This award celebrates those who move beyond established practices, challenge conventional thinking, and create new possibilities for teaching, learning, student support, or institutional innovation. A trailblazer does more than adopt a new technology or follow an emerging trend. They identify an opportunity, take thoughtful risks, and develop an approach that others can learn from and build upon.

The recipient will have demonstrated vision, creativity, and persistence in addressing a meaningful challenge. Their work may introduce a new instructional model, expand access and belonging, improve the online student experience, create an innovative partnership, or establish a promising practice that has the potential to influence the broader field. Trailblazing contributions may also include innovative leadership, service, programs, partnerships, or initiatives that have advanced ITC and strengthened its impact on the broader online and digital learning community.

Strong candidates will have:

• Challenged established assumptions or practices.
• Developed an original or forward-looking approach.
• Taken thoughtful risks in pursuit of meaningful improvement.
• Demonstrated a positive impact on students, faculty, staff, or the institution.
• Created a pathway or model that others may follow.

Nomination Prompt (500-word maximum)

Explain why this individual, team, or unit should receive the ITC Trailblazer Award.

Describe the challenge or opportunity they addressed, the innovative approach they developed, and how their work moved online or digital education or ITC itself in a new direction. Include specific examples or evidence of the impact on students, faculty, staff, programs, or the institution.

Strong nominations will help reviewers understand:

• What made the work innovative or ahead of its time.
• How the nominee challenged conventional practices or assumptions.
• What risks, barriers, or uncertainties they navigated.
• What meaningful results emerged from the work.
• How the project or approach may inspire, inform, or create a pathway for others.

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Distance Educator (Faculty or Staff Member)

Course Access: (500-word maximum)

Share a link to the nominated educator's courses or materials. If login is required, provide the necessary credentials. Ensure student privacy is maintained.

Reason for Nomination: (500-word maximum)

Why should this person receive an ITC award? Highlight their contributions as an eLearning champion. Consider their attention to equity and how they address the needs of diverse student populations.

Teaching Strategies: (200-word maximum)

Share creative and innovative examples of their eLearning strategies. Ensure to highlight:

• Creativity
• Attention to equity and diverse student needs
• Use of diverse technologies
• Mastery of course learning objectives

Course Interaction, Management, and Collaboration (Choose any to elaborate on): (200-word maximum)

• Communication & Collaboration: Describe their methods for effective communication and collaboration in eLearning.
• Management & Retention: Discuss strategies they employ for course management and student retention.
• Group Activities: Explain how they incorporate group or collaborative activities with a focus on diverse student needs and equity.

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Accessibility in eLearning Award

The ITC Accessibility in eLearning Award recognizes an individual, team, or unit that has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to creating accessible, inclusive online learning experiences.

This award celebrates work that goes beyond compliance to proactively remove barriers and improve access, usability, and participation for all learners. Recognized efforts may include accessible course design, multimedia and digital content, Universal Design for Learning, assistive technology, faculty development, student support, or sustainable institutional practices.

Strong candidates will have:

• Removed barriers to online learning.
• Embedded accessibility into course, program, or service design.
• Developed effective resources, tools, or practices.
• Demonstrated meaningful impact for students.
• Created approaches that can serve as a model for others.

Access & Overview:

Provide a link to the nominated course, resource, project, service, or initiative, if applicable, along with any necessary login information. Include any necessary access instructions that will allow the review panel to evaluate the work while maintaining appropriate security and privacy.

Accessibility Distinction & Impact: (500-word maximum)

• Describe why the nominee or nominated work is noteworthy for the ITC Accessibility in eLearning Award.
• Explain how the work addresses barriers and advances accessible, inclusive online learning.
• Highlight practices, resources, technologies, or approaches that distinguish the work.

Effectiveness & Outcomes: (200-word maximum)

• Describe how the work has improved access, usability, participation, engagement, or the overall learning experience.
• Provide evidence, examples, feedback, or evaluation results demonstrating its effectiveness.

Evaluation & Enhancement: (200-word maximum)

• Describe how accessibility is evaluated and improved over time.
• Provide examples of how feedback, accessibility reviews, data, or emerging practices have informed enhancements or innovations.

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AI Innovation in eLearning Award

The ITC AI Innovation in eLearning Award recognizes an individual, team, unit, course, project, or initiative that demonstrates innovative, thoughtful, and effective use of artificial intelligence in online education.

The award honors work that uses AI to improve teaching, learning, student support, faculty practice, or institutional processes in meaningful ways. Strong nominations will show purposeful implementation, clear educational value, responsible use, and evidence of impact.

Access & Overview:

Provide a link to the nominated course, resource, project, service, or initiative, if applicable. Include any necessary access instructions that will allow the review panel to evaluate the work while maintaining appropriate security and privacy.

Innovation & Distinction: (500-word maximum)

• Describe why the nominee or nominated work is noteworthy for the ITC AI Innovation in eLearning Award.
• Explain how AI is being used in a distinctive, creative, or forward-looking way to address a teaching, learning, or support challenge.
• Describe how the approach reflects thoughtful and responsible use of AI.

Effectiveness & Outcomes: (200-word maximum)

• Describe how the work has improved teaching, learning, engagement, access, efficiency, student support, or faculty practice.
• Provide evidence, examples, feedback, or evaluation results demonstrating its effectiveness.

Evaluation & Enhancement: (200-word maximum)

• Describe how the use of AI is evaluated and refined over time.
• Provide examples of how feedback, data, emerging AI capabilities, or lessons learned have informed improvements or expansion of the work.

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Innovative eLearning Technology

Institutions of higher education may nominate an organizational unit or person that has demonstrated the outstanding use of a new technology tool or delivery system to accomplish a new method of student delivery or learning. The students may be located on or off campus, and may be taking a face-to-face, blended learning, or fully distance course. The application must include how the efforts of the organizational unit or individual are new, innovative, unique and replicable.

Access & Overview: (500-word maximum)

Provide a link to the nominated eLearning technology along with any necessary login details. Briefly describe its primary innovations and its role in enhancing the eLearning experience.

Innovation & User Experience: (200-word maximum)

• Explain why this unit or individual is a standout contender for the ITC award, focusing on the unique and innovative features of the eLearning technology.
• Detail its user-friendly design and how it offers an optimized learning experience for faculty and students.

Benefits & Impact with a Focus on Student Success: (200-word maximum)

• Describe the transformative impact of the technology in teaching and learning.
• Provide evidence or statistics showcasing its effectiveness. Emphasize how it champions equity, fosters inclusion, and promotes a sense of belonging among diverse student populations.

Evaluation & Forward-Thinking: (200-word maximum)

• Share insights on how the eLearning technology has been evaluated. Highlight any upcoming enhancements or features, particularly those that further reinforce the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

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Outstanding Support for Faculty or Students

Institutions of higher education may nominate an organizational unit that has built a solid reputation for outstanding support and service for their faculty or students. Nominations should only include one organizational unit focused on either student or faculty support. The application must include how this unit's efforts are replicable and innovative.

Access & Overview:

Provide a link to the nominated technical support and services. Include necessary login details to allow the panel a thorough examination while ensuring security.

Unit Distinction & Impact: (500-word maximum)

Describe why this organizational unit is noteworthy for the ITC award, emphasizing its exemplary eLearning faculty or student support services.

Effectiveness & Outcomes: (200-word maximum)

• Discuss how the unit's efforts have made a positive impact on student retention and faculty satisfaction.
• Back up claims with evidence or evaluation results to showcase the effectiveness of their support services.

Evaluation & Enhancement: (200-word maximum)

• Detail the methodologies used by the unit to appraise and refine its services.
• Share specific instances where feedback led to improvements or innovations in their support framework.

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Outstanding eCourse Designer or Design Team

Institutions are invited to nominate one eCourse designer or design team to receive this award. An eCourse is defined as one where fifty percent or more of the instruction and activities take place at a distance. Only courses developed in-house at a post-secondary institution will be considered. The course must be designed with a high level of interactivity, multimedia, communication, and a variety of instructional and course management strategies. These strategies must be replicable and assist an instructor to facilitate more effectively; continuously evaluate student performance and course quality; and provide an outstanding educational experience for the students.

Access & Overview: (500-word maximum)

Share a link to the nominated eCourse. Provide any necessary login details ensuring student privacy is maintained. Mention the name of the fully-online course.

Course Distinction & Design: (500-word maximum)

• Describe why this eCourse stands out and merits the ITC award.
• Highlight its instructional design, ease of navigation, and how it ensures mastery learning of course objectives.

Interactivity & Belonging: (200-word maximum)

• Provide examples of communication strategies that foster interaction among students and with the instructor.
• Highlight eCourse design features that promote content accessibility, catering to diverse student needs, including ADA compliance considerations.

Evaluation & Feedback: (200-word maximum)

• Describe methods to assess student performance and ensure learning objectives are achieved.
• List opportunities for student feedback on eCourse content, and share examples of formal course evaluation methods.

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Outstanding eLearning Student

ITC will recognize every online student who is nominated for this award as a distinguished eLearner, chosen by their institution as an exemplary member of their community. There is a limit of one nominee per institution. ITC judges will choose one or two exemplary students to receive ITC's 2027 Outstanding eLearning Student award from this pool of distinguished online learners.

Nomination Statement: (500-word maximum)

Why is this student being nominated to receive an award from ITC? Describe why this individual is an outstanding eLearner and deserves this award.

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We look forward to the opportunity to highlight your institution's award-winning innovations, recognize your representatives, and celebrate your institution's wonderful accomplishments in providing leadership and innovation in eLearning!

Past Recipients of ITC's Awards for Excellence in eLearning