2016 Nomination Process

Please note this call is now closed

The call for nominations under the 2016 Jennifer Burke Award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning is now open. The deadline for submission of nominations is 5th April 2016. 14th April 2016. 

In this year’s process nominations should be submitted as a 5 minute GoAnimate animation. By way of example, the animation below was created by Dr Barry Ryan on the basis of his 2014 Winning Submission :Lights, Camera, Learn!

GoAnimate animation. Barry Ryan – Lights, Camera, Learn!

What constitutes ‘innovation’ in teaching and learning?

For the purpose of this award ‘innovation’ is considered to be a teaching/learning approach that is unique or pioneering, and has not been implemented previously within your own context. The innovation need not have been implemented via technology.

Nomination process

Nominations are invited for innovative contributions in the area of teaching and learning, in keeping with the following guidelines:

  • Nominations must be for a teaching/learning innovation which must have been implemented.
  • Innovations shortlisted for previous iterations of the award cannot be considered.
  • The award is open to staff and students in all Irish education sectors.
  • Ensure that your 5 minute video submission for the nomination provides the key concept of your innovative idea. The reviewers will use the video to rate your presentation against specific evaluation criteria and then shortlist based on this evaluation
  • If shortlisted, the person submitting must be in attendance at the judging final on 26th May at the EdTech 2016 Conference.
  • It is important that your submission illustrates/provides examples of how the idea was implemented in teaching and learning, how it was brought to life, and how it impacted learners.
  • Nominations must be for a specific work/project/idea, rather than for an individual person or group.

Nomination format

  • Nominations must be submitted via email to jenniferburkeaward@gmail.com.
  • Please include the following in the body of the email:
    • The submission title
    • Name and contact details
    • A short summary of the innovative idea (140 characters max). The summaries of shortlisted awards will be used to promote the award via Twitter in advance of EdTech.
    • A link to a GoAnimate clip (five minutes maximum) that provides an overview of the innovative idea and includes the following information:
      • The submission title
      • What inspired your idea? Why did you do it?
      • What did you do? Give a clear, concise description of the innovation, and explain why it is innovative.
      • How did you do it? Give details on how the innovation has been implemented.
      • What has been the outcome? Give details on what you have learned from the implementation, for example, how might you convince someone else that the innovation was successful?
  • In order to ensure anonymity during the shortlisting and evaluation processes, please do not include any project or nominee identifying information within your 140 character summary or GoAnimate clip.
  • Please do not submit any other materials as these will not be considered as part of your submission.
  • Reviewers will only listen/watch up to five minutes and will not continue if your clip exceeds this time.

Evaluation process

  • All nominations will be reviewed by a short-listing committee comprised of the Jennifer Burke Award committee and representation from the ILTA Steering Group.
  • Based on their review of the submissions, members of the short-listing committee will each award marks under the following headings:
  1. Innovation: Why the person did what they did and why? What was the innovative idea and how was it innovative? (10 points/50%)
  2. Impact: Articulation of the innovation’s impact on learning and professional learning (10 points/50%)
  • Three shortlisted applicants’ animations will be screened at the 2016 EdTech conference in the Law Society on 26th May 2016. On completion of the screenings, the audience will vote for the innovation that they feel should win the 2016 Award.
  • Short-listed candidates will have their EdTech conference and conference dinner fee waived (In the case of a team submission, one member of the short-listed team will have his/her EdTech conference and conference dinner fee waived).

Award activities

  • The final judging event will take place 26th May 2016 at the EdTech Conference, which will be held in the Law Society Education Building, Blackhall Place, Dublin on 26th and May 27th May.
  • The award will be presented at the EdTech Conference dinner on the evening of 26th May.
  • The winner must be present to accept their award.

How to submit

  • Please submit your nomination via email to jenniferburkeaward@gmail.com by 5th April.
  • Any queries regarding the award prior to 5th April should also be directed to jenniferburkeaward@gmail.com.
  • You should receive an email confirmation of receipt of your submission within 48 hours of submitting your nomination. If you do not, then please email morag.munro@nuim.ie to confirm that your submission has been received.

Key dates

  • Call opens: 14th March 2016
  • Deadline for submission of nominations: 5th April 2016
  • Shortlisted applicants notified: 5th May 2016
  • Final judging event: 26th May 2016 at EdTech 2016.