Bethany Staffer Receives National Attention for Online Project

An online educational project created by a Bethany College staff member has received national honors.

Shawndra Fauchier’s online project has been chosen by the National College of Teaching and Learning as one of ten outstanding proposals or projects that "demonstrate successful practice and research to improve higher-education learning."

From the ten, an “Award-Winning Conference Proposal” will be chosen, and its author awarded $5,000 and a paid registration to the National Educational Computing Conference July 5–7, 2006, in San Diego.

Fauchier demonstrated her project Dec. 9 through Dec. 11 in Atlantic City, N.J., and received feedback on the project. The winning project will be announced next year.

Fauchier’s project, “Creative Campus Connections,” is an online supplement to freshman orientation sent to students before they arrive on campus. Her purpose was to show that such a project can significantly increase the amount of knowledge students have on campus resources and services and reduce institutional costs.

Fauchier's online module can be sent to new students before they arrive on campus. Students complete the module and assessment online, and scores are emailed back to the college. On-campus orientation sessions then can be focused on low-score topics.

Fauchier has served as area coordinator for three residences halls at Bethany College since August. As part of Bethany College’s office of residence life, Fauchier also has responsibilities in the overall function of residence life.

This summer she completed her Masters of Education in Instructional Technology at American InterContinental University. She also is certified as an instructional designer through Southern Methodist University.

Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. The mission of Bethany College is to nurture and challenge individuals in their search for truth and meaning as they lead lives of faith, learning and service.