Colleague Alumni Magazine | Graduate School of Education and Psychology | Pepperdine University

Distance Learning

Online Master's Degree Program Presented with Prestigious Award

GSEP was greatly honored this year when the Online Master’s Degree in Educational Technology program (OMET) received the 2007 Platinum Award for Best Practices in Distance Learning Programming (Online) from the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA).

The USDLA award ceremony occurs annually to properly recognize industry leaders and pioneers, and to acknowledge major accomplishments in the field. Held May 9, 2007, in Kansas City, Missouri, the invitation-only gathering had a dual cause for celebration as it coincided with USDLA’s 20th Anniversary
Conference.

USDLA, a nonprofit organization, was formed in 1987 in order to support distance learning research, development, and praxis across the arena of education, training, and communications. Its establishment has been pivotal in helping the burgeoning field of distance learning create critical acclaim and credibility. USDLA serves a niche market need for a cohesive alliance and offers distance learning communities the education and training they need to utilize new innovations in communication technologies for learning in broad, multidiscipline applications.

For 20 years, USDLA has watched closely over the distance learning community promoting and recognizing the important role that top-quality asynchronous education has to play in the marketplace.

USDLA’s CEO Dr. John G. Flores articulated it best that evening when he said, “Distance learning is transforming the American educational landscape through online technology, video conferencing systems, satellite delivery, and other media. We expect this supplement to be an invaluable guide for millions of present and potential distance learners as well as a means for our award winners, member institutions, and corporate sponsors to reach them.”

The who’s who of the distance learning community travels from various regions all over the country to accept awards, as well as to recognize fellow colleagues’ contributions to the field. Awards are presented to both organizations and individuals, and recognize four categories of excellence: 1) 21st Century Best Practice Award; 2) Best Practice Awards for Distance Learning Programming; 3) Excellence in Distance Learning Teaching Awards; and 4) Outstanding Leadership by an Individual Award. The award levels follow a precious metal hierarchy beginning with bronze, silver, gold, and platinum (platinum being best). These prestigious awards have a highly selective nomination process and award nominees undergo very critical evaluation; they are up against the best in the field.

Pepperdine University’s OMET program was in the second category, Best Practice Awards for Distance Learning Programming, and won the Platinum Award. Accepting the award on behalf of the University was OMET program director, Dr. Paul Sparks.

“It is very rewarding to be recognized nationally for our work in the OMET program,” Sparks said. “While this award is appreciated and well deserved by the students, alums, and faculty, we hope that it will serve as a challenge too for all education to creatively and thoughtfully continue to use the tools available to us to nurture learning in communities of practice.”