June 22, 2009
Contributed by Thomas Yoshida
This is the third consecutive year that Kamehameha Schools Distance Learning has been awarded for its innovative courses that represent the very best in e-learning.
Cua and Sato earned the award for the Hawaiian language course, Ku'u Wahi Noho. Offered through Kamehameha Schools' Distance Learning A'o Makua program for parents, caregivers and adults, Ku'u Wahi Noho focuses on teaching Hawaiian grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation centered around the area where one lives.
"I am deeply humbled by this honor," said Kelly Cua, Kamehameha Schools Distance Learning instructor. "Ku'u Wahi Noho gives learners such a wonderful opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of their surroundings. It's designed in a very engaging and interactive way, with games, mobile vocabulary Podcasts, and other creative activities that help strengthen the Hawaiian language base."
Cua and Sato join seven other Exemplary Course Program honorees from the U.S. and Canada. Blackboard recognizes the winners during BbWorld®'09, the company's annual users' conference, which will be held in Washington, D.C. next month.
"The Blackboard awards are an important opportunity to encourage and recognize educational innovation," said Michael Chasen, President and CEO of Blackboard Inc. "With millions of people using Blackboard's teaching and learning solutions every day, we have an important role in facilitating ways for our global community of users to connect, collaborate and innovate. We applaud all of the winners of these awards and celebrate their accomplishments."
Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., Blackboard is a global leader in enterprise technology and innovative solutions that improve the experience of millions of students and learners around the world every day. Blackboard's solutions allow thousands of higher education institutions to extend teaching and learning online. Since 2000, the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program has highlighted technologically rich courses that are engaging, well-designed, and pedagogically sound, and that represent examples of best practices for the e-learning community.
For more information on Kamehameha Schools Distance Learning programs and opportunities, visit http://ksdl.ksbe.edu. To register for this award-winning course or other A'o Makua courses please visit http://ksdl.ksbe.edu/adult.
Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
