Brancato-Orr Award

The inaugural Brancato-Orr Award for Excellence in Teaching and Innovation will recognize a FACET member’s exceptional creativity and effectiveness in designing assignments that leverage technology to enhance learner success. This award aims to celebrate and promote innovative teaching practices that are deeply rooted in educational research and aligned with student learning outcomes. The awardee will receive a $1,500 honorarium supported by the Brancato-Orr Foundation account. Applications are due by May 3, 2025.

Award Announcement: The award will be announced at the FACET annual retreat taking place May 19-21 at Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County.

Awardee follow-up: The awardee will create a five-minute video to share the innovative assignment on the FACET website.

Award Criteria

  • Alignment with Student Learning Outcomes: The assignment must clearly align with and support the achievement of specific student learning outcomes. It should demonstrate how technology is used to facilitate and enhance these outcomes.
  • Alignment with Teaching Philosophy: The assignment should reflect the instructor's teaching philosophy, showcasing a commitment to innovative and effective teaching practices. It should illustrate how the use of technology aligns with and supports the instructor's pedagogical approach.
  • Exemplars of Learner Success: The assignment must provide concrete examples of the use of technology that enhances learner success. This could include student feedback or other evidence that demonstrates the positive impact of the assignment on student learning and engagement.
  • Grounding in the Literature: The assignment must be grounded in educational research and literature. Applicants must provide a reflection on the literature that supports the creation and design of the assignment.

Eligibility Requirements

  • The inaugural award is open to FACET members only.
  • The assignment must have been implemented in a course taught by the applicant and used in at least one completed academic term.

Application Process

  • Submission: Applicants must submit their application using the online form on the FACET website. The application should include:
    1. Detailed description of the assignment (limited to 2 pages). This description must specify student learning outcomes.
    2. Evidence that the use of technology enhances learner success (limited to 5 pages).
    3. Reflection on the literature (limited to 2 pages).
    4. Teaching philosophy.
  • Supplemental Documentation: Applicants may provide supporting documentation limited to 10 pages, such as student feedback and any other relevant materials that demonstrate the impact of the assignment.
  • Review and Selection: A committee of FACET members will review the applications based on the award criteria. The review process will include an evaluation of the alignment with student learning outcomes, teaching philosophy, exemplars of learner success, and grounding in the literature.

Submit application

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