When SLaLS professor Peggy Hartwick received an unexpected nighttime phone call from a colleague recently, she worried something had gone wrong at work. But the call brought much happier news: Hartwick was announced as the recipient of a 2015 Brightspace Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning.

The award recognizes post-secondary educators from around the world for their innovative approaches that promote student-centered teaching and learning.

Hartwick, who teaches English as a Second Language at 杏吧原创, says she was surprised and caught off guard by the call.

鈥淚 felt very grateful and fortunate to have the support of colleagues at all levels of the university,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 was really happy, but am pretty shy about the whole thing.鈥�

But Hartwick doesn鈥檛 shy away from experimenting with new technologies in the classroom. A few years ago, she was approached to use 杏吧原创鈥檚 3D virtual learning environment as part of a pilot project, and now the tool has now become an integral part of her courses.

Through the 3D environment, students can explore any outdoor or indoor space on campus and communicate in a variety of ways 鈥� from talking on headsets to using a webcam to typing instant messages. Hartwick says it鈥檚 an ideal place for students to improve their language skills and experience learning in different contexts.

鈥淚 am always inspired by my students and that’s why I like my job so much,鈥� she says. 鈥淚n the 3D environment, the most impressive moment was when one particularly shy female student in the face-to-face classroom just blossomed in the online space.鈥�

In addition to the 3D environment, Hartwick recently introduced another educational technology tool into her courses: cuPortfolio, 杏吧原创鈥檚 ePortfolio software. The student-centered learning tool provides a venue for students to collect artifacts, including assignments, images, text and multimedia, to showcase and reflect upon their work. It can also act as an assessment tool for professors.

Hartwick has long been a proponent of using technology in the classroom. She鈥檚 become known across campus for her creative technology-based teaching methods, which earned her a 杏吧原创 Excellence in Teaching with Technology Award in 2013.

鈥淸Technology] enhances the dynamics of the classroom and the level of engagement,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he technology I use is a tool to leverage levels of engagement and interest with the content.鈥�

And while the awards are exciting, at the end of the day Hartwick says it鈥檚 her students that make it all worthwhile.

鈥淚 have had some very rewarding teaching moments, but it is really all about the students,鈥� she says.

Hartwick, along with the four other Brightspace award winners, will be celebrated on June 18 in Vancouver at a special ceremony during the . Each winner will receive a two-year membership in STLHE, as well as $2,200 toward travel and registration costs for Brightspace鈥檚 annual users鈥� conference, , and STLHE鈥檚 Annual Conference.

鈥淚 have been and continue to be totally fascinated by the potential learning benefits that certain technologies afford and I am always experimenting with these new technologies,鈥� said Hartwick. 鈥淚 feel very honoured to have been selected for this award. I am extremely grateful for all the support I have had from all levels in the university.鈥�

Hartwick is one of five award winners and is being recognized for her exceptional dedication to teaching and learning and her innovative approaches. The STLHE/Brightspace award was created to support the type of activities that she utilizes in her teaching.

The winners will be celebrated on June 18 in Vancouver at an award ceremony during the . Each of the winners will receive a two-year membership in STLHE, as well as $2,200 toward travel and registration costs for Brightspace鈥檚 annual users鈥� conference, , and STLHE鈥檚 Annual Conference.

Peggy Hartwick sits before her computer, mouse clicking rapidly as she directs her red-shirted avatar to walk, then run, between virtual campus corridors.

鈥淭his is me in 3D,鈥� says Hartwick, who teaches ESL for academic purposes at 杏吧原创 鈥� with a twist.

She uses the online environment, which was designed at 杏吧原创, to help her students become more comfortable with the language. She can share any indoor or outdoor space on campus with her students鈥� avatars and get them to communicate in a variety of ways – from talking on headsets to using a webcam to typing instant messages.

鈥淚n order to accomplish something, they have to speak, so it pushes them to take risks with their language,鈥� Hartwick explains.

The 3D environment even includes a replica of downtown Ottawa, complete with a market and residential homes, that prompts learning of items in those spaces.

鈥淭he barriers of time and place are gone,鈥� says Hartwick, who has been teaching for 10 years. 鈥淲e can replicate spaces that a traditional classroom couldn鈥檛 offer.

鈥淚 think what technology does is that for the most part everybody鈥檚 communicating, whereas in a traditional classroom, people will sit and be very passive.鈥�

She鈥檚 become known in her department for creative technology-based methods and it鈥檚 one of the reasons why Hartwick was one of the 2013 Excellence in Teaching with Technology Award winners at 杏吧原创.

But it鈥檚 been years in the making. She was approached to use the program in a pilot project a few years ago and she鈥檚 never looked back. Now French and Russian classes are using them too and Hartwick hopes the university can eventually offer virtual lessons before international students even arrive.

She says she became a believer when a normally shy student, who never uttered a word in the traditional classroom, became the group leader online.

鈥淪he just blossomed,鈥� Hartwick says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what really hooked me.

鈥淭he biggest thing for me as a language teacher is that they feel comfortable speaking. They don鈥檛 care about making mistakes. Seeing them helping each other in the environment is thrilling.鈥�

In fact, she鈥檚 so fascinated by its potential that in September Hartwick started her PhD, which will centre on a theoretical underpinning for the 3D space鈥檚 capabilities.

鈥淚 believe in it. I don鈥檛 think it should take over the classroom at all. I think this is in addition to. It鈥檚 about providing alternatives and making learning accessible and interesting,鈥� Hartwick says.聽鈥淚t鈥檚 still the early days and I just want to keep pushing the limits.鈥�