Nipissing professor receives prestigious award for innovation in teaching
North Bay, ON – Dr. Denyse Lafrance Horning, an associate professor in the School of Business at Nipissing University, has been awarded the prestigious 2020 D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning.
Presented by the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) and Desire2Learn (D2L), the award celebrates and recognizes post-secondary educators for their innovative approaches that promote student-centered teaching and learning. Lafrance Horning is one of four outstanding educators selected for the award from an international pool of applicants.
Lafrance Horning was recognized for her innovative approach to teaching sport marketing. Given the dynamic nature of the sport marketing industry, Lafrance Horning evolved the sport marketing course curriculum from a traditional lecture format to a more experienced-based approach through the introduction of a major field experience project. The project requires students to work collaboratively in strategic organizing committees to plan, promote, and execute a charity-linked varsity sporting event known as Lakers Break the Ice on Mental Health.
In addition to providing meaningful, experiential learning for students, over the past five years the Lakers Break the Ice on Mental Health event has evolved from a small-scale class project to become an important campus and community event in North Bay, raising over $37,000 for area charities.
“We are thrilled that Dr. Denyse Lafrance Horning was recognized with this award for her innovative teaching approaches,” said Dr. Arja Vainio-Mattila, Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Research. “Her commitment to providing enriching and engaging learning experiences for students embodies the type of learning environment we strive to provide for all of our students at Nipissing.”
Lafrance Horning, who also serves as Nipissing University’s Teaching Chair in Experiential Learning, was honoured to receive the award:
"It’s an honour to be recognized with this award and it inspires me to continue to seek innovative ways to engage my students,” she said. “I wish to thank and acknowledge the commitment and incredible efforts of the 146 students who have completed these projects and have embraced this teaching and learning approach. Their valuable feedback and willingness to explore new methods have directly contributed to the advancement of experiential learning at Nipissing University."
A list of all the 2020 D2L Innovation Award recipients can be found here.
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Contact:
Meghan Venasse
Manager, Communications
705-474-345 ext. 4615
meghanv@nipissingu.ca