OREANDA-NEWS. Tata Interactive Systems (TIS), a global provider of learning solutions, announced that its Associate Degree in Nursing program developed for Excelsior College School of Nursing has won a Silver award. The award was conferred at the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) 2014 International Awards for Best Practices in Distance Learning Programming under the sub-category of Online Technology in Higher Education.

Excelsior College embarked on a strategic initiative to create 8 innovative and compelling courses for the Associate Degree Program in Nursing. The solution was aimed at transforming the learning experience of students as well as the student-teacher relationship so that the teacher facilitates learning more effectively through the use of various components.

“While it is too early to accurately evaluate the overall performance of our newly online students, as compared to those studying independently, we do know those now enrolled are completing at rates of 90%, or better. They are also persisting from course to course at rates above 80%. We are tremendously pleased by these numbers and feel certain that much of the credit belongs to the highly engaging design of these offerings,” avers John F. Ebersole, President of Excelsior College.

TIS leveraged its experience in instructional design to develop a solution using a different and unique instructional strategy, which included:

StoBLs®: A story-based instructional approach.

GamBLs®: A game-based instructional approach.

Simulations: Putting the students in simulated and immersive situations and prompting them to make decisions.

Interactive tutorials: Simplifying concepts and engaging students in the learning process. The tutorials include cases and scenarios that unfold as the teaching progresses and relate concepts to real life.

The USDLA Awards have been created to acknowledge major accomplishments in distance learning and to highlight those distance learning instructors, programs and professionals who have achieved and demonstrated extraordinary results through the use of online, video conferencing, satellite and blended learning delivery technologies.

“A key aspect of the solution developed for Excelsior College was the fact that the program includes self-paced e-Learning tutorials, games and simulations, quizzes, projects and assignments, and textbook readings. We offered the most effective, appealing and cost-effective solution, as our team of Instructional Designers are adept at analysing the instructional problem, the task, learning needs and learning environment,” says Bryan Kantor, Vice President, Global Education, at Tata Interactive Systems.

TIS was also recognised with a Gold award for the Associate Degree program in Nursing - Excelsior College under the Best Custom Content Category at the Brandon Hall Excellence Awards 2013.

The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is a 501© 3 non-profit association formed in 1987 and is located in Boston, Massachusetts. The association reaches 20,000 people globally with sponsors and members operating in and influencing 46% of the USD 913 billion dollar U.S. education and training market. USDLA promotes the development and application of distance learning for education and training and serves the needs of the distance learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking and opportunity.