Excellence in Online Teaching Award
Deborah Rinio
Deborah Rinio, associate teaching professor in the College of Education, Health and Human Development’s Department of Education, has received the Excellence in Online Teaching Award, which recognizes exemplary contributions to the practice of online instruction and the teaching profession. The award comes with a $2,000 honorarium.
As an adviser in the Department of Education’s library media certificate program, which is delivered fully online, Rinio is known for creating an environment in which students feel valued, respected and able to fully participate in classes. She creates opportunities for collaboration and meaningful discussion and structures the program so that students can learn from and be inspired by their peers.
She is also known for her commitment to continuous improvement and innovation. She actively seeks out and implements new strategies, technologies and instructional approaches that enhance student engagement and deepen learning. Her ideas and creative instructional design increase the quality of students’ educational experiences and reflect her dedication to preparing teachers to become excellent school librarians.
“In every aspect of her work, Dr. Rinio demonstrates exceptional skill, innovation and dedication to our students’ success,” wrote Nora Martin, an instructor with the program, in a letter nominating Rinio for the award. “She strives to foster a thriving online learning community that helps to connect and support students who are separated across multiple states and even in other countries. … She has developed a program that inspires future school librarians and strengthens their goal of building exemplary libraries that serve the diverse needs of all students across a broad geographical area.”