Exemplary Online Teaching Awards
Overview
The Exemplary Online Teaching Awards (EOTA) recognize exemplary and innovative practices in online teaching and course production. To be eligible, courses must have 80% or more of the content and activities available to students online.
Nominations for the 2025 Exemplary Online Teaching Awards are currently closed.
Submitting Your Nomination
If you are ready to start and submit an Exemplary Online Teaching Award nomination, complete the nomination form in ProposalSpace and provide the items listed below.
A complete nomination includes:
- Exemplary Online Teaching Awards Nomination Form (Link goes live October 1).
- Course code and title
- A PDF file with a minimum of the last two semesters of Gator Evals for the course
- A copy of the Exemplary designation letter you received
- A statement explaining why your course deserves to receive the Exemplary Online Teaching Award in the category you selected.
- Evidence to support the course nomination for the specific award category you select.
How to Nominate
If you are interested in submitting a nomination for yourself or a colleague, consult the following resources for inspiration and guidance:
- Award rubrics PDF for each award category
- Preview form questions
- Helpful Hints PDF for a Great Nomination Packet
Please Note:
- Documents must be uploaded within the ProposalSpace nomination form.
- Documents that are emailed will not be accepted.
- Faculty must have have received an Exemplary online course designation between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026 for the 2026-27 Award Cycle.
Exemplary Online Course Award Categories
Awards will be presented at a special University-wide ceremony. Award recipients are invited to share the exemplary or innovative practices used in the course at the annual Interface conference. In addition, a multimedia presentation will be created to showcase each course receiving the award and made available through the teach.ufl.edu website.
Increasing globalization to enhance student effectiveness as world citizens can extend to teaching and learning in online courses. For this category award, the instructor team intentionally weaves in content knowledge from various global perspectives through:
- Providing diverse course materials that accurately represent various cultures, locations, and backgrounds. Course materials are relevant to instruction.
- Including carefully crafted assignments and assessments such as virtual exchange, global scholar portfolios, and/or capstone collaborative projects to increase global perspective.
Bold, research-informed course design that fosters creativity, curiosity, and student-centered learning.
This award honors courses that exemplify both imaginative and evidence-based instructional design. These courses feature creative teaching approaches while maintaining clear goals, active learning, and effective assessment. Instructors foster curiosity, collaboration, and real-world relevance, creating online learning environments that are both engaging and pedagogically rigorous.
Jurors will consider the originality and pedagogical grounding of the course design, including how well it integrates research-informed strategies with imaginative approaches. They will evaluate the clarity of learning goals, the use of active and collaborative learning, and the authenticity of assessments. Special attention will be given to how the course fosters curiosity, creativity, and student-centered engagement in a rigorous and relevant learning environment.
This award recognizes online courses that prioritize building strong, supportive relationships between students and instructors, peers, and mentors. Inspired by the principles of the book Relationship-Rich Education, these courses create “inescapable opportunities” for connection, care, and community. Instructors design learning environments where students feel seen, valued, and inspired to grow—academically and personally—through authentic engagement and trust.
Jurors will consider the intentionality and consistency of relationship-building strategies embedded in the course design. They will evaluate how the course fosters meaningful connections between students and instructors, peers, and mentors, and how these relationships contribute to a sense of belonging and purpose. Particular attention will be given to the authenticity of interactions, the presence of care and encouragement, and the extent to which students feel seen, supported, and inspired to grow.
In large enrollment courses, it is imperative that the instructor team develops unique strategies that help students engage with the content and each other. The following characteristics are present in a course nominated for Large Enrollment Strategies when the instructor team develops and implements creative strategies to help a large class feel like a small learning community.
- The instructor team builds a sense of community and shared purpose and increases the perception and value of students’ individual contributions.
- The instructor team establishes a virtual presence and interacts with students throughout the course. They are present and active members of the learning community.
- The instructor team employs tried-and-true and unique strategies and techniques to encourage student engagement in the course.
Relevant, organized, and quality instructional materials are vital to any online course. In a course nominated for this category, materials are used effectively to help students achieve course, module, and unit goals.
- The course has an organized structure and uses items like modules and pages to incorporate learning materials into a consistent flow of course information.
- The course includes a logical filing system for documents and resources.
- Course materials are current, relevant to course topics, and the instructor provides context for how & why each course material is applicable to learning.
- The difference between required and optional materials is clearly designated.
- Production value for instructor-generated materials meets minimum standards of quality for grammar, visual design, and functionality.
- All course components are as accessible as possible, and the Ally Report score is higher than 85%.
- Course materials that are not instructor-generated are properly furnished, follow copyright and licensing guidelines, and are appropriately cited.
- All hyperlinks work.
The instructor cultivates a sense of community among course participants and demonstrates compassion. Students feel their instructor cares about them and their learning. Students feel motivated to learn and actively engage with the instructor and their peers.
- The instructor provides guided options that give students choice in how they would like to learn the material.
- The instructor allows students to choose how to demonstrate what they learned.
- The instructor inspires students to think critically about the course content.
- The instructor team creates an environment that allows exploration and multiple “right” answer choices.
- The course includes peer mentoring or peer feedback opportunities.
- The instructor team intentionally creates an inclusive course setting.
Previous Award Winners
Global Learning
SPN 2200: Intermediate Spanish I
Crystal Marull, Ph.D.
Instructional Innovation
DEP 3053: Developmental Psychology
Feihong Wang, Ph.D.
Large Enrollment
DEP 3053: Developmental Psychology
Marina A. Klimenko, Ph.D.
Quality Course Materials
MCB 4090 / 6095: Careers for Impact in Microbiology and Cell Science
Elizabeth Gadsby
Relationship-Rich Strategies
PLS 2830: World Herbs and Vegetables
Bala “Saba” Rathinasabapathi, Ph.D.
Student Engagement
HSA 3111: U.S. Healthcare System
Molly Jacobs, MS, Ph.D.
Global Learning
WIS4554 Conservation Biology
Vanessa Hull
Large Enrollment
ARC1720 Survey of Architectural History
Sarah Gamble
Quality Course Materials
ENC3246 Professional Communication for Engineers
Andréa Caloiaro, Ph.D.
Learner Satisfaction
CCJ 4014 Criminological Theory
Erika Brooke, Ph.D.
Holistic Teaching Strategies
PHA6556 Introduction to Clinical Toxicology
Oliver Grundmann, Ph.D.
Instructional Strategies
ZOO4403C Marine Biology
Melissa Meadows, Ph.D.
Student Engagement
PUR3622 Social Media Management
Natalie Asorey
Global Learning Experiences
DCP4214 Green Building Strategies, LEED Lab
Bahar Armaghani, M.S., Lead Instructor
Inclusive Teaching Strategies
SPM3025 Diversity and Inclusion in Sport Organizations
Christine Wegner, Ph.D., Instructor
Large Enrollment Strategies
WIS2040 Wildlife Issues in a Changing World
Michael Moulton, Ph.D., Instructor
Quality of Course Materials
APK2100C Applied Human Anatomy with Lab
Joslyn Ahlgren, Ph.D., Instructor
Fast Track: Innovative Teaching Approach
EDG7982 Practitioner Research
Elyse Hambacher, Ph.D., Instructor
Imaginative or Innovative Approach
AEC3065 Issues in Agriculture & Life Sciences
Kevin Kent, Ph.D., Instructor
Instructional Strategy
MUE6747 Assessing Music Learning
Marshall Haning, Ph.D., Lead Instructor and Course Representative
Learner Satisfaction
IDS2935 Can We Design Better Humans? Should We?
Brian Harfe, Ph.D., Instructor
Student Engagement
ANT3141 Development of World Civilizations
Anthony Farace, M.S. Instructor
Fast Track: Outstanding Learning Experience
AEC3033c Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences
Heather Young, Ph.D., Instructor
Imaginative or Innovative Approach
AEB5516 Quantitative Methods in Agribusiness Decisions
Dr. Misti Sharp, Instructor
Amanda Heinzmann, Teaching Assistant
Inclusive Teaching Strategies
PHA6276 Pharmacy Benefit Design and Management
Dr. Laura E. Happe, Instructor
Brandon Heinz, Instructional Designer
Instructional Strategy
EME4010 Distance Education Research and Practice
Dr. Bojan Lazarevic, Instructor
Large Enrollment Strategies
PHA6186 Foundations of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy 1: Drug Discovery, Development, & Approval
Dr. Randy C. Hatton, Instructor
Brandon Heinz, Instructional Designer
Learner Satisfaction
URP6131 Land Use Planning Law
Dr. W. Thomas Hawkins, Instructor
Allyson Haskell, Instructional Designer
Josh Mills and Hattie Mallot, Video Content Producers
Quality of Course Materials
APK6167 Nutrition Aspects of Human Performance
Dr. Blain Harrison, Instructor
Student Engagement
EEX6137 Dyslexia – Assessment for Intervention
Dr. Vivian Gonsalves, Instructor
- AEB5516 Quantitative Methods in Agribusiness Decisions
- Dr. Misti Sharp, Instructor
- Amanda Heinzmann, Teaching Assistant
- APK6167 Nutrition Aspects of Human Performance
- Dr. Blain Harrison, Instructor
- BCH3023 Elementary Organic and Biological Chemistry
- Dr. Kim Moore, Instructor
- CDA3101 Introduction to Computer Organization
- Dr. Cheryl Resch, Instructor
- EDG6047 Teacher Leadership for Educational Change
- Dr. Alyson Adams & Dr. Trevor Hershberger, Instructors
- EEX6137 Dyslexia – Assessment for Intervention
- Dr. Vivian Gonsalves, Instructor
- Domenic Durante & Robin LeCain, Instructional Designers
- Christina Flake, Teaching Assistant
- EME3044 Issues & Trends in Educational Technology
- Dr. Brenda Such, Instructor
- Dr. Bojan Lazarevic, Supervising Instructor
- Dr. Seyedahmad Rahimi, Contributor
- EME4010 Distance Education Research and Practice
- Dr. Bojan Lazarevic, Instructor
- ORH4280/ORH5282 Orchidology
- Dr. Wagner Vendrame, Instructor
- PHA6186 Foundations of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy 1:
Drug Discovery, Development, & Approval- Dr. Randy C. Hatton, Instructor
- Brandon Heinz, Instructional Designer
- PHA6213-PHA6935 Advanced Case Studies in Managed Care Pharmacy
- Dr. Laura E. Happe, Instructor
- Brandon Heinz, Instructional Designer
- PHA6276 Pharmacy Benefit Design and Management
- Dr. Laura E. Happe, Instructor
- Brandon Heinz, Instructional Designer
- PHA6283 Commercial Applications of Pharmacoeconomics
- Dr. Karen Rascati, Instructor
- Brandon Heinz, Instructional Designer
- PHA6357 Herbal & Dietary Supplements
- Dr. Oliver Grundmann, Instructor
- Brandon Heinz, Instructional Designer
- PHC6791 Data Visualization in the Health Sciences
- Dr. Steven Foti, Instructor
- PHY2054 Physics 2
- Dr. Shawn Weatherford, Instructor
- STA2023 Introduction to Statistics 1
- Stephanie Stine, Lecturer
- Maria Ripol, Senior Lecturer
- Megan Mocko, Lecturer
- Kellie McDonald, Instructional Designer & COIP Assistant Director
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Strategies
HSC4930 Climate Change, the Environment, and the Future of Public Health
Dr. Rachel Yoho
Watch the Video Tour
Truly Hardemon, Instructional Designer
Imaginative or Innovative Approach
CLP3144 Abnormal Psychology
Dr. Feihong Wang
Watch the Web Tour
Instructional Strategy
JOU2100 Broadcast Writing Bootcamp
Harrison Hove
Course Design Team:
- John Varley, Instructional Designer
Large Enrollment Strategies
FOS2001 Man’s Food
Dr. Soohyoun Ahn
Watch the Web Tour
Student Engagement
EME4406 Integrating Technology in the Secondary Curriculum
Lauren Weisberg
Watch the Web Tour
- ADV4302 Great Ideas In Marketplace Communications
- Robert Padovano, Instructor
- Christopher Miller, Instructional Designer
- AEC3413 Interpersonal Leadership: Working with Others
- Megan Cantrell, Instructor
- Lauren Weisberg, Instructional Designer
- AEC4504/AEC5546 Curriculum and Program Planning in Agricultural Education
- Dr. Debra Barry, Instructor
- Taylor Nash, Instructional Designer
- Brad Coleman, Teaching Assistant
- ANS3006L Introduction to Animal Sciences Lab
- Amie Imler, Instructor
- Kyle Mendes, Instructor
- Leslie Mojeiko, Instructional Designer
- Zoe Bowden, Departmental Videography and Graphic Design
- APK6116c Physiological Basis of Exercise
- Dr. Linda Nguyen, Instructor
- CLP3144 Abnormal Psychology
- Dr. Feihong Wang, Instructor
- Johnny Wu, Instructional Designer
- Cagil Aksoy, Graduate Teaching Assistant
- Pearis Bellamy, Graduate Teaching Assistant
- Rebecca Polk, Graduate Teaching Assistant
- Brittany Gendler, Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
- Caitlin Field, Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
- Darya Vitus, Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
- Haley Kvarnberg, Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
- DEN7422C Periodontal Surgery for the General Practitioner
- Dr. Karin Schey, Instructor & Course Director
- Dr. Heather Maness, Instructional Designer
- Margeaux Johnson, Instructional Designer
- EEC3012 Introduction to Early Childhood Education
- Dr. Tara Mathien, Instructor
- Domenic Durante, Instructional Designer
- Serena Liu, Teaching Assistant
- EGN6933 Online Pedagogy for Engineers
- Dr. Idalis Villanueva, Instructor
- EME3319 Design and Development of Educational Multimedia
- Dr. Bojan Lazarevic, Instructor
- EME4406 Integrating Technology in the Secondary Curriculum
- Lauren Weisberg, Instructor
- Dr. Kara Dawson, Supervisor
- FOS2001 Man’s Food
- Dr. Soohyoun (Soo) Ahn, Instructor
- Kirsten Maghraoui, Instructional Designer
- Taylor Judkins, Teaching Assistant
- Aseel El Zein, Teaching Assistant
- Megan Engel, Teaching Assistant
- GIS4121/GIS6116 Geospatial Analysis/GIS Analysis
- Dr. Henry Hochmair, Instructor
- Dr. Amr Abd-Elrahman, Instructor
- Innocensia Owuor, Teaching Assistant
- Ammar Mandourah, Teaching Assistant
- HSC4930 Climate Change, the Environment, and the Future of Public Health
- Dr. Rachel Yoho, Instructor
- Truly Hardemon, Instructional Designer
- JOU2100 Broadcast Writing Bootcamp
- Harrison Hove, Instructor
- John Varley, Instructional Designer
- MAE5347 Teaching K-8 Mathematics for Understanding
- Dr. Kristen Apraiz, Instructor
- PSY3213L Research Methods Lab
- Dr. Marina Klimenko, Instructor
- Brian Schilling, Instructional Designer
- Andrew Reynolds, Instructional Designer
- SUR5365 Digital Mapping
- Dr. Henry Hochmair, Instructor
- Dr. Adam Benjamin, Instructional Designer
- Ammar Mandourah, Graduate Assistant
- VME6814 Principles of Teaching in Animal Shelters | Teaching Clinical Skills in Animal Shelters
- Dr. Terry Spencer, Course Coordinator and Instructor
- Dr. Laurene Wright, DVM, MS, Instructor
- Michael Crandal, Instructional Designer
- Dr. Linda Behar-Horenstein, Professor Emeritus
- ZOO4926 | ZOO4050 Animal Behavior
- Dr. Stefanie K Gazda, Instructor
- Kellie Goughnour, Instructional Designer
- Selcuk Dogan, Instructional Designer
Imaginative or Innovative Approach
DIG3713 Game Development Practices
Nick Heitzman
Watch the Web Tour
Course Design Team:
Instructional Strategy
PHY2004-20080 Applied Physics 1
Dr. Sujata Krishna, Dr. Darin Acosta & Dr. Shawn Weatherford
Watch the Web Tour
Course Design Team:
Large Enrollment Strategies
CGS2531 Problem Solving Using Computer Software
Dr. John Mendoza-Garcia
Watch the Web Tour
Course Design Team:
Learner Satisfaction
EDG7359 Professional Development & Teacher Learning
Dr. Alyson Adams
Watch the Web Tour
Course Design Team:
Quality of Course Materials
PLP2000 Plants, Plagues, and People
Dr. Brantlee Spakes-Richter
Student Engagement
MCB4934/6937 Antimicrobial Resistance
Dr. Daniel Czyz
Watch the Web Tour
- APK3163 Sports Nutrition
- Dr. Blain Harrison, Instructor
- Jackie Sirmopolous, Instructional Designer
- CCJ3024 Advanced Principles of Criminal Justice
- Dr. Erika Brooke, Instructor
- Brian Schilling & Dr. Andrew Reynolds, Instructional Designers
- Ami Blasberg, Videographer
- Joseph Hoft & Eaven Holder, Teaching Assistants
- EGS4034 Engineering Ethics and Professionalism – UF Online Program
- Bill McElroy, Instructor
- Allyson Haskell, Instructional Designer
- Leslie Mojeiko, Instructional Designer
- Ariel Gunn, Instructional Designer
- EGS6039 Engineering Leadership – EDGE Program
- Bill McElroy, Instructor
- Allyson Haskell, Instructional Designer
- LIN3010 Introduction to Linguistics
- Jamie Garner, Instructor
- Yuliya Antonenko, Instructional Designer
- Ami Blasberg, Videographer
- Josh Eddie, Graphic Designer
- MUL2010 Experiencing Music
- Lauren Hodges, Instructor
- PCB4674 Evolution
- Norman Douglas, Instructor
- Don Fitzpatrick & Shannon Dunn, Instructional Designers
- Pratush Brahma,Galen Cobb, Andy Crowl, Cody Howard, Lindsey Johnson, Heather Kates, Teaching Assistants
- PHA6432 Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Dr. Oliver Grundmann, Instructor
- Lisa Cox, Instructional Designer
- Justin De Leo, Instructional Designer
- Jacques LeBlanc, Teaching Assistant
- PHC4101 Public Health Concepts
- Jerne Shapiro, Instructor
- Truly Hardemon, Instructional Designer
- Eva Egensteiner, Video and Multimedia Specialist
- Hillary Carter, Multimedia Specialist
- Akemi Wijayabahu, Emily Klann, Bin Yu, Teaching Assistants
- PHY2004L Applied Physics I
- Dr. Sujata Krishna, Instructor
- Dr. Shawn Weatherford, Course Developer
- Robert DeSerio, Developer of Experiments
- Emma Brady, Instructional Designer
- SWS4932 Math for Environmental Professionals
- Dr. Kanika Sharma Inglett, Instructor
- Megan Podsiad, Senior Instructional Designer
- Drew Feigum, Video Production Manager
SPN1131 Beginning Spanish II
Crystal Marull, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
Course Design Team:
PCB4043C General Ecology
Stefanie Gazda, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
URP6275 Intermediate Planning Information Systems
Kate Norris
Watch the Web Tour
- AOM4932/AOM6932 Agri-food Systems Innovation
- Dr. Jonathan Adam Watson, Instructor
- Marcello Calle, Teaching Assistant
- Raminder Kaur, Teaching Assistant
- Allyson Haskell, Instructional Designer
- Ariel Gunn, Instructional Designer
- EDG7982 Practitioner Research
- Dr. Nancy Dana, Instructor
- SPN1120 Beginning Spanish I
- Dr. Crystal Marull, Instructor
- SYP3510 Deviance
- Dr. Marian Borg, Instructor
- PHY2005 Applied Physics II
- Dr. Sujata Krishna, Instructor
Instructional Strategy
EEX6135 Foundations of Literacy Development and Dyslexia
Vivian Gonsalves, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
Student Engagement
ENY2040 The Insects
Andrea Lucky, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
Course Design Team:
Learner Satisfaction
HSC3102 Personal & Family Health
Amber Emanuel, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
Course Design Team:
Quality of Course Materials
ANT3451 Race and Racism
Mary Elizabeth Ibarrola
Watch the Web Tour
Course Design Team:
Large Enrollment Strategies
SPN1130 Beginning Spanish I
Crystal Marull, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
Course Design Team:
Imaginative or Innovative Approach
MCB2006 Microbes without Borders
Monika Oli, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
Imaginative or Innovative Approach
ZOO3603 Evolutionary Developmental Biology
Brian Harfe, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
Instructional Strategy
JOU3109 Multimedia Writing
Julie Dodd, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
Learner Satisfaction
EDG7982 Practitioner Research, Theory and Practice
Nancy Dana, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
Quality of Course Materials
GLY3202C Earth Materials
Rachel Walters, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
Student Engagement
AEC6932 Organizational Leadership
Matthew Sowcik, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
ECO2013 Principles of Macroeconomics
Thomas Knight, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
SYP3510 Deviance
Marian Borg, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
Course Design Team:
WST4930 Women, Leadership and Diversity in the Global Environment
Anita Anantharam, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
Course Design Team:
AEC6211 Delivering Educational Programs in Agricultural Settings
Grady Roberts, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
Course Design Team:
GMS6483 Theories of Aging
Christy Carter, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
Course Design Team:
- BSC2009L Laboratory in Biological Sciences
- Catalina Pimiento & Kent Vliet, Ph.D., Instructors
- Ashley Weser, Instructional Designer
- CHM1025 Introduction to General Chemistry
- Melanie Veige & Phillip J. Brucat, Ph.D., Instructors
- Kristina Macadangdang, Instructional Designer
- John Mitchell, Ph.D., Contributer
- ENT4934 Social Entrepreneurship
- Kristin Joos, Ph.D., Instructor
- Tawnya Means, Ph.D., Instructional Designer
- Jonathan Brown, Video Production
- Daniel Ypsilanti, Graphic Designer
- HUN2201 Fundamentals of Human Nutrition
- Kristina von Castel-Roberts, Ph.D., Instructor
- William Wildberger, Instructional Designer
- VME4012 Aquatic Animal Conservation Issues
- Iske Larkin, Ph.D., Patrick Larkin, Ph.D. & Amanda Ardente, D.V.M., Instructors
- Heather Maness, Instructional Designer
- Outstanding MOOC: Global Students Introduction to U.S. Law (Coursera)
- Alyson Flournoy, J.D., Pedro Malavet, J.D., Claire Germain, Lyrissa Lidsky, J.D., Sharon Rush, J.D., Loren Turner, J.D., Jennifer Wondracek, J.D., Jeff Harrison, J.D., Ph.D. & Kenneth Nunn, J.D., Instructors
- William Wildberger, Brian Schilling & Leonardo Latorre, Instructional Designers
- Christina Lopez, Teaching Assistant
AOM2520 Global Sustainable Energy
Wendell Porter, Ph.D.
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Course Design Team:
BSC2009 Biological Sciences
Nicole Gerlach, Ph.D.
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Course Design Team:
CJL3038 Law and Society
Lora Levett, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
Course Design Team:
IDS2338 Rethinking Citizenship
Emma K. Humphries, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
Course Design Team:
ISM3004 Computing in the Business Environment
Eric Olson, MS
Course Design Team:
SPN1130 Beginning Spanish I
Jesse Gleason, Ph.D.
Watch the Web Tour
Course Design Team:
VEM5321 Integrating Veterinary Medicine with Shelter Systems
Terry Spencer, DVM Med
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Course Design Team: