BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — University Information Technology Services (UITS) at Indiana University received the top award, the platinum medal, at the 2019 IMS Global Learning Impact Awards. The winners were announced at the Learning Impact Leader Institute, an annual education technology conference.
Watch the video entry for Boost at IU >>
UITS received the award in the Evolution to Next Generation Digital Learning Environments category for Boost at IU, a mobile app that uses reminders, resources, and encouragement to improve learner engagement.
We hope that this amazing award helps steer the field toward more innovative and solution-oriented tools that support the student experience.
Ben Motz, faculty fellow for academic analytics at UITS and co-developer of Boost
“What makes Boost special in the Learning Analytics space is that it aims to solve a specific problem in a very student-centric way. Instead of asking “What do we do with student data?” Boost started by asking, “what can we do to support student engagement?” said Ben Motz, faculty fellow for academic analytics at UITS and co-developer of the app. “We hope that this amazing award helps steer the field toward more innovative and solution-oriented tools that support the student experience.”
Boost integrates with IU’s learning management system and provides key features to support student success, including: reminding students when they have yet to submit an assignment before an upcoming deadline; and sending assignment reminders in a configurable daily digest, customizable on a course-by-course basis. Additionally, Boost sends periodic positive reinforcement messages when assignments are submitted on time.
“UITS Learning Technologies sees continued opportunities with learning analytics for improving the student experience while providing students tools like Boost to facilitate student success at Indiana University,” said Matt Gunkel, director of learning technologies at UITS.
In the final round of competition, thirty-two finalists were judged on their video pitch, project flyer, and discussions and demonstrations with conference attendees. Eight winners were determined by a judges’ panel of education technology professionals in combination with online public voting.
