Melissa Wong, GSLIS adjunct faculty member, is the recipient of the 2012 Campus Award for Excellence in Online & Distance Teaching. The award honors quality of teaching as well as the commitment and creativity of the instructor. It is given annually by the Office of Online and Continuing Education.
“It was an honor to be nominated by the School, especially given how many excellent teachers we have in GSLIS,” said Wong. “As a teacher, I receive outstanding support from the School and have the privilege of working with creative, passionate, dedicated students every day. I think this award is a testament to the exceptionally high quality of every aspect of our LEEP program.”
Wong was nominated by Linda C. Smith, GSLIS professor and associate dean for academic programs, who praised her online teaching excellence according to the seven criteria evaluated for the award: sustained excellence, positive impact, innovative approaches, effective use of technology and media, creativity in course development and instruction, sensitivity to students’ advising needs, and influence on the quality, extent, and development of the department’s online education program.
In her nomination, Smith noted Wong’s regular appearance on the campus’s List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent, her ability to create community in her classes, the experiences of students who praise Wong’s exemplary use of technology to support teaching and learning, and Wong’s use of “case-based teaching and problem-based learning that provide real-world applications and opportunities to build a portfolio of professional artifacts.”
Smith said, “Melissa Wong is an exceptionally engaging and innovative teacher, capable of appealing to diverse student learning styles and inspiring even the most reserved students to participate in the typically robust class discussions and activities. She also actively mentors new adjunct instructors, graciously sharing her course materials and teaching strategies.”
Wong was recognized for her achievement on April 24, 2012, at the Annual Celebration of Teaching Excellence.