Two faculty members receive ‘Innovations’ awards

Two Pellissippi State faculty members have received statewide awards for innovative teaching techniques.

Carolyn Renier, assistant professor of Mathematics, and Don Thomas, associate professor of Liberal Arts, received Tennessee Board of Regents “Innovations Awards” for how they use advanced technology in their classes.

The awards were presented during the ninth annual Distance Learning Conference for Emerging Technologies and Learning Communities. In all, 25 college and university faculty members from across Tennessee received awards in April.

Renier has been involved in teaching math via distance learning methods since the late 1990s. She is an instructor in distance learning, which involves teaching classes to students on all four Pellissippi State campuses via two-way closed-circuit television.

She also is Webmaster for the College’s Mathematics Department and has helped create the “Math Help Page,” a central location for computer network links to math readiness assessments, resources and tutorials for all of Pellissippi State’s math classes. She was cited for being among the “pioneers with Web computer technology” at the College.

Renier has a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee.

Thomas, an instructor in Speech and Theatre, has taught students in the effective use of the Internet, PowerPoint presentations and other media that rely on audio-visual aids.

He developed the college’s Introduction to Theatre course, which relies heavily on specialized computer software for innovative presentation of material to students. He also uses a variety of computer-based tools to disseminate information, make class assignments and administer quizzes to students.

Thomas has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Tennessee. He has more than 17 years’ experience at the College.

"Inside Pellissippi" is a bi-monthly electronic publication produced by the Community Relations Office for the faculty and staff of Pellissippi State Technical Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Road, P.O. Box 22990, Knoxville, Tennessee 37933-0990. All suggestions and comments should be sent to Julia Wood (jwood@pstcc.edu).

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