Larry Johnson: the last day of the annual conference is a time for reflection. It is a time to evaluate the values of the New Media Consortium.

At the core: NMC values experimentation. Every day.

There are so many extraordinary things going on that in a way the NMC Center of Excellence Award is a representation of the norm… but it is worthwhile to recognize some of the outstanding work. The award recognizes the very best of the institutions setting the standard for the work and values represented by the NMC.

Recipients of the 7th annual NMC Center of Excellence Awards are:

Abilene Christian University
“Recognized for their leadership in the use of mobile technologies across the institution.”

ACU Mobile Learning

Abilene Christian University had a vision of what could really happen with the embrace mobility and constant connection… beyond notifications, they asked: how can mobile technology transform our institutions and the teaching and learning within it?”

Inspired by the debut of the iPhone, ACU innovators gathered together and considered what it would mean if every student had a computer in their pocket? How can it be more than just putting devices in the students’ hands? ACU wanted to transform the model of interaction and engagement and become a leader in investigating the use and integration of mobile technologies.

Some functions in student and instructor testimonials: using MyACU for navigation of the new campus, use of FlipBook to share images and facilitate peer feedback, provided a way to fit more into limited teaching time by providing instant access to links and media being used. And it provided a regular way for students to participate and contribute.

“Because of the community and peers surrounding this award, this is kind of the MVP of technology and teaching awards.”

The Center for Digital Storytelling
“Recognized for their global role and leadership in advancing the art and practice of digital storytelling.”

The Center for Digital Storytelling (CDS)

Even the brief snippets of stories are powerful: stories of a mother dying of aids and trying to figure out what will happen to her children, adopted children learning about their parents, oral histories…

CDS workshops aren’t just about technical training and creation of a product… they are about teaching participants how to transform their lives through digital storytelling.

A CDS instructor working with Alaska and American Natives: “When they find out what it is, students want digital storytelling and they want it now. For them it’s a way to finally have a powerful voice.”

A testimonial from a student storyteller: “It was a place I could explore things I hadn’t been able to explore before… and I learned that I could create these things I’d seen but never though I’d be able to do myself.”

Joe Lambert: “People come in and start making stories right now. Creating a story isn’t like writing about it… it’s about getting into it. … When YouTube went big, we won. It was a recognition that stories were important and broadly could be shared. … We are claiming the right to produce what we are—as people—and reclaim some ownership of our life process.”

Joe Lambert: “To everyone who is in the room—and who hasn’t yet created a digital story—it is our mission to see that everyone is able to get their story out into the world.”

La Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
“Recognized for their leadership in the areas of open educational resources and technology.”

La Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

NMC’s global reach wouldn’t have happened without UOC’s help, particularly their offer to translate the Horizon Report into Spanish, opening that report up to a large part of the world formerly not served. Following that came Catalan, and others… which opened a floodgate of translations including Japanese recently and Chinese and German in the next few weeks.

UOC has 47,000 students around the world, including 27,000 in Catalonia. The name of the university originally meant we were open to the people… now it means that we are open to the world. This award confirms that they are on the right track with continuing to innovate in openness and user-centered design with students informing the conception, development and operation of their virtual campus environment.

(Note to self: check out details of their document creation model, using xml + transformation.)

The recent Open EdTech meeting brings together leaders from institutions and organizations from around the world to attempt to bridge the technological, political and pedagogical issues faced by educators and institutions around the world.