Peter Motavalli, professor of soil and environmental science, was recently honored for his commitment to providing world-renowned education at the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. He was awarded the 2013 Excellence in Teaching with Technology Undergraduate Teaching Award from Educational Technologies at Missouri.
The Excellence in Teaching with Technology Award recognizes excellence in the efforts of faculty, staff, teaching assistants and graduate instructors involved in using educational technologies to meaningfully improve teaching and learning at MU.
Motavalli“I have been using technology in the classroom for the last 13 years to provide students with opportunities to improve their communication skills in different media for a variety of audiences,” Motavalli said. “New technology, which they will have to address during their professional careers, is expanding the boundaries of the classroom to allow students to explore and communicate with the world as well as investigate the environment in which they live. I also use technology to allow students to have a longer-lasting impact such as contributing to a database of environmental information about the MU campus which could be used in future classroom assignments or for student awareness of the campus environment. ”
This award includes a $500 stipend that can be used to purchase any educational technology related equipment software, professional memberships, conferences or more that support the role in using technology in teaching and learning environments. Awardees are also invited to participate in a campus conference or presentation so that their work may be highlighted and shared with the campus community.
Motavalli plans to use the stipend for equipment and software to enhance students’ experience with use of new media and sensor-based environmental assessment and mapping.
“I am honored to receive the award as an acknowledgement of my efforts in the classroom, but I really think this award is a reflection of the commitment that MU has made to enhance teaching excellence and creativity,” Motavalli added. “The administration of the MU System has made a commitment to providing faculty with the opportunity to participate in teaching workshops and conferences and provided a lot of encouragement and incentives. It’s been a team effort and I hope the investment in supporting the use of technology and teaching excellence will continue.”
Any faculty member with a primary teaching appointment is eligible for the award, including tenure track, nonregular, and clinical faculty. Support staff involved in supporting technology in teaching, as well as graduate instructors and teaching assistants, are eligible. Anyone affiliated with MU is eligible to nominate individuals for this award. Educational Technologies at Missouri is a division of the MU Office of the Provost.