Brian Wilson, instructional design tech specialist, has been selected for the August Staff Star Award. Wilson hosts frequent brown bag sessions for faculty members to maximize student learning in online classes. He has also presented at online education conferences. Wilson’s work with colleagues in CEHS and across campus resulted in an online student success center for online graduate students in the Department of Educational Administration (EDAD). The project, designed to establish a community of learners and ease their transition into online education, was recently featured in Educause Review, a higher education IT publication.
Wilson also took the lead in writing a successful CEHS Technology Innovation Grant to provide EDAD faculty with VoiceThread, a resource to help faculty better support their online students in critical research classes.
“These activities go above and beyond the expectations of an Instructional Designer,” said Wilson’s nominator. “Brian has truly made a difference in helping to develop a stronger community of online graduate student learners in EDAD. This is no easy task! Brian has been extremely supportive of the faculty and very open to collaboration as well.”
The nominator went on to say, “Brian is always thinking of ways he can help us not only design effective online instruction, but most recently he has taken on the task of walking us through the transitions from Blackboard to Canvas. He gives us confidence to move forward and learn new tools and approaches to instruction.”
Wilson was also acknowledged for his ability to “build genuine relationships” and for his proactive involvement on the CEHS Staff Council where he has worked with colleagues to form a craft art group and a group of walkers to help improve health.
Congratulations to Brian Wilson, the CEHS Staff Star Award recipient for August.