2010 DEANZ Award for Excellence in Distance, Open, Flexible and E-learning

Guidelines

The Distance Education Association of New Zealand (DEANZ) wishes to promote and reward excellence in e-learning, distance, open and flexible learning. The DEANZ Award is open to individuals or groups in New Zealand, or New Zealand citizens living overseas, who have completed a project that meets the criteria of the Award.

Awards are given for projects that 

• advance understanding of best practice in e-learning, distance, open and flexible learning in New Zealand;
• are original or innovative in concept or application;
• are relevant to and whose outcomes are useful to the e-learning, distance, open and flexible-learning community.

Up to three separate awards may be conferred biennially in conjunction with the DEANZ national conference, with the total amount of money awarded in any year not exceeding $NZ2,000. It is expected that applications for the DEANZ Award will be associated with the current conference theme (detailed below), and Award recipients (who will be notified in advance) are encouraged to travel to the conference to attend the DEANZ Award ceremony.

DEANZ reserves the right to withhold awards in the event that no satisfactory application is received by the due date.

2010

In 2010, The DEANZ Award will be made at the DEANZ conference at Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand Wellington, New Zealand, from 25-28 April, 2010. All applicants should show how projects submitted relate to the conference theme.

Criteria

Projects submitted for the 2010 DEANZ Award should

• be well documented and relevant to and advance the understanding of best practice in e-learning, distance, open and flexible learning in areas associated with the published conference theme;
• have been completed since the previous DEANZ conference;
• address any education or training sector, and may be broad or narrow in their focus;
• be innovative or original in concept or application;
• preferably be evaluated and have outcomes that are clear and useful to the professional e-learning, distance, open and flexible-learning community. Where research is an element, methodologies should be appropriate, well conducted and ethical. Where documents (or other resources) are used, references should be clear and explicit, and the referencing system used consistent.
• Award winners are expected to attend the DEANZ conference at Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand Wellington, New Zealand, 25-28 April, 2010 for the presentation of the award.

Applications

Applications for the DEANZ Award should be made using the official form which is available both from the DEANZ national office or by downloading this document.

The application form requires a brief summary of about 400 words. Benefits should be highlighted so that DEANZ can clearly see how the project has practical and significant implications for the e-learning, distance, open and flexible learning communities. Any supporting material should also be submitted. This might include multimedia material, press releases, newspaper or journal articles, reviews, affirmations or attestations, and any formal or informal evaluations.

Where an application actually nominates other people or organisations, their written agreement must be attached.

The deadline for submission of projects in 2010 is 12 February, 2010. Inquiries may be made to Derek Wenmoth – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Late applications will only be considered at the discretion of DEANZ.

Applicants are asked to provide DEANZ with the names and contact details of two referees who are willing to support the application, and whom DEANZ may contact.

All applications will be treated confidentially.

Applications should be marked ‘DEANZ Award’ and sent to the DEANZ registered address:

DEANZ Award 2010
c/- Derek Wenmoth
CORE Education
P.O. Box 13678
Christchurch

Award winners will be notified by 1 March, 2010 and are expected to attend the DEANZ conference at Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand Wellington, New Zealand, from 25-28 April, 2010.