From L to R: Dr. Howell Garner, MS Community College Foundation Chair; Dr. Willis Lott, MGCCC President; Mrs. Belinda Russell, NECC; Dr. Johnny Allen, NECC; Dr. Phil Sutphin, MACJC Technology Chair; Dr. Christian Pruett, SBCJC eLearning Director
Belinda Russell, a Speech Communication Instructor at Northeast MS Community College, has been named MSVCC Instructor of the Year.
"She was selected from a highly qualified pool of online faculty from across the state," said Dr. Christian Pruett, SBCJC eLearning Director. "Each college nominated up to two faculty, and the team of college evaluators were impressed with all nominations. Mrs. Russell is a pioneer and constant innovator. She achieved the highest overall rating from our panel, and we are thrilled that she is our first recipient. She is truly setting the bar."
Russell earned a $1,000 stipend with the newly created honor. The stipend is funded with a ten-year commitment from the Mississippi Community College Foundation.
Russell has been teaching for 31 years at New Albany High School and Northeast CC. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree MUW in English and Speech, and earned her Masters from the University of Mississippi in Secondary Ed with an emphasis in Communications. She has also completed graduate level work above her masters at UM.
"The challenge in teaching in my discipline," says Russell, "is that most of my students have never gotten up in front of students to conduct a speech. When I began teaching online, even though students had discussion boards and links to great speeches out on the web, the human element was still missing."
"I learned about podcasting as a result of attending the Creating Futures Through Technology Conference a few years ago. I had heard of podcasting, but I had never been exposed to it in that way."
"Now, with the help of my college DLC Holly Melvin, among many others, they helped me get the equipment to make the podcast and to make the podcast come to life. I put it together using Apple's Garageband program. Part of my podcasts include instructions through video and audio, while other parts of them include what my students create. I link to free instructional podcasts that students can use, and now, I have students write me, personally tell me, and email me saying that they never could have successfully completed this class without this podcast.
"I can see and hear you," they say. "You are real to me. I know who you are."
Recent Comments