Distance Learning Receives Two International Awards

Old Dominion University's Office of Distance Learning, in conjunction with Katharine Kersey, ODU professor of early childhood education, has received two internationally competitive awards, the 2008 Bronze Telly Award and the 2008 Videographer Award, for their multimedia production work on the childhood development training program "101's: A Guide to Positive Discipline (Ages 5-12)."

The "101's" is part of a series produced jointly by distance learning and Kersey. It won the 2008 Bronze Telly Award in the interactive/CD-based production category, the second time the series has been honored by Telly. A pre-K edition of "101's,"produced in 2005, was also a bronze medal recipient, placing in both the multimedia and education categories.

The Telly Awards, a highly competitive international competition, received more than 14,000 annual entries from all 50 states and five countries this year. Entrants from advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operations and corporate video departments compete not with each other, but rather are judged against a predetermined standard of merit. Entrants that are determined to have exceeded those standards are awarded either a silver or bronze medal, based on a cumulative score given by Telly judges.

For the 2008 Videographer Awards, "101's" was recognized for excellence in the Multi-Media/Interactive CD-ROM/DVD category. The pre-K version also won that award in 2005.

An international program established by communication professionals to recognize excellence in the video production field, the Videographer Awards organization evaluates candidates regardless of budget or project size. Award recipients are chosen based their ability to "advance the field of video production" and whether their production work is "outstanding and highly regarded among their peers."

Based on research by Kersey, the "101's" is a training tool designed for teachers and parents, offering 101 techniques helpful in fostering happier, more self-directed children. By following the techniques prescribed by the program, child-care providers can teach children how to settle differences peacefully, quickly, and respectively.

The new K-5 version the "101's" is available on CD-Rom; however, a DVD version is in production. VHS and DVD versions are availiable for the pre-K version. While each format stands alone, the sets are affordably priced to encourage an integrated approach combining the CD-ROM set for individual use and the VHS or DVD sets for groups. The "101's" can be purchased at www.dl.odu.edu/101s and in the ODU Bookstore.