For Release April 17

(Pierre)—Governor Bill Janklow announced today the names of the 58 state university faculty who will receive the Governor Janklow Awards for Teaching with Technology. The special awards are designed to help South Dakota public university faculty develop skills in using computer technology in their classroom instruction.

In January Governor Janklow created a special program to help the faculty at South Dakota’s six public universities redesign the courses they teach to use more computers and technology in their classrooms. The purpose of the grants is to enable professors to teach their students the applications of technology in their disciplines. The competitive awards were open to any full-time faculty member who submitted a proposal. One hundred twelve faculty members applied.

"We were very impressed with the proposals overall. Those faculty who won the awards show imagination in applying technology to instruction. College students today will enter a work world totally immersed in technology. We owe it to them to ensure that they are prepared to compete. The way to reach the students is to reach the faculty first," said Janklow.

Each grant award will consist of compensation for three months during the summer, much like faculty who teach summer school courses. Since faculty receive salaries only for the regular academic year, any summer employment is contracted separately. In addition, each faculty winner will receive support funds that can be used for travel, training, equipment, and software associated with the project. Any equipment or software purchased will remain the property of the state.

When creating the program, Janklow said the award winners would be expected to redesign their courses for computer-based technology instruction. As a result, their students will be able to use technology in tasks that they will encounter later in the workplace. He also expects that students will be evaluated using technology, the course will integrate materials using telecommunications, and the students and instructor will interact with one another using technology.

The awards were open to all full-time tenured faculty. Janklow said, "Because our future K-12 teachers often teach the way they were taught, it’s very important that our university professors integrate technology into their teaching."

Robert T. Tad Perry, Executive Director of the Board of Regents, worked with Governor Janklow in structuring the award program. Perry said, "Each state university has agreed to provide support staff to assist the faculty members who receive these awards. Further, the universities agree to include technology-oriented courses as a contribution when considering faculty promotions and salaries." The award winners will demonstrate their technology-based courses at a conference in the fall for all system faculty, according to Perry.

"The Board of Regents is very grateful to Governor Janklow for providing these additional resources to higher education faculty," said Regents President James O. Hansen. "We are just beginning to realize the educational opportunities available through the use of technology. The Regents expect these award winners to serve as campus leaders and mentors for other faculty as they adapt their own curriculum to make it more high tech."

A team of external reviewers from higher education evaluated all proposals. They rated the proposals for the awards and Janklow agreed with all of their recommendations.

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