TLC Student Award
Purposes
This program recognizes exemplary student use of TLC laptops in applications associated with their academic studies. The award is designed to recognize essential uses of the laptop in the academic environment. Up to five awards of $300 each across three categories will be made annually.
Categories
Category 1: Technological sophistication. An outstanding use of computer technology in an academic application using a TLC laptop computer. The use of external devices is acceptable.
Category 2: Learning improvement. A student developed use or application of TLC laptops to advance student learning in one or more NMU courses. The use of external devices is acceptable.
Category 3: Other innovative uses. For an outstanding development in an innovative use of a TLC laptop computer not considered in Categories 1 or 2. The use of external devices is acceptable.
Application Instructions and Deadline (Friday, February 27)
This award program is open to all currently enrolled NMU students or teams of students who are using NMU laptops. A student (or team) may submit an application in only one category. Submit application materials via email to the Grants and Research Office ( kmaki@nmu.edu ) no later than 5pm on the Friday before spring break.
The application form should be the first attachment. The rest of the required materials listed below should also be attachments preferably in the order provided below.
The application must include:
1. A completed Student TLC Award Application Form. This is an Adobe Acrobat Form – you can complete the form within Adobe Acrobat Reader, and you can then save the completed form to your laptop.
2. Letter of Support from one faculty or staff member. Contents may include, but not limited to, 1) the difference or uniqueness of the laptop uses from ordinary academic work in the department, and 2) student’s academic improvement by using the laptop. Note to writers of the Letters of Support: These are not recommendations of the students, they are letters certifying the innovations being presented by the students. Please focus your comments on why the project was innovative rather than making general comments about the applicant’s academic abilities, character, etc.
3. Sample products/supporting materials (documents, drawings, applications, etc.). Please keep in mind that mail servers typically limit the size of attachments to 1.5 megabytes. For significantly larger files, applicants should arrange for materials to be available on a website. Information about accessing web space is available through the NMU HelpDesk.
You will receive an email confirmation of the receipt of your application materials. If you do not receive such a confirmation email within 72 hours of the deadline for submission, please inquire to ensure your materials were received.
TLC Student Award application
Evaluation procedure
ETRPC will review applications and submit a list of winners to the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Graduate Office during the first week of April. Awards to student winners will be presented during the Creative Works Day activities in April.
Conditions
The essays and outputs from the winners can be used by the University for information and promotion purposes. Winners will be required to present their works during Creative Works Day activities and may be asked to present their works to the Board of Trustees.
Questions should be directed to Kathy Maki (227-2335 or kmaki@nmu.edu ).
Recent Student TLC Award Winners Include:
Michael S. Beckett: School of Art & Design
Michael Beckett’s project was completed as part of a directed study in digital photography, and involved the creative manipulation of lighting in a series of photographic images.
Donald Bickley: School of Education
Donald Bickley received this award for his creative work in the virtual world Second Life. He has pursued numerous independent projects in this virtual environment, and was actively involved in designing the NMU island of Biome.
Elizabeth Gasperich: Department of Communications and Performance Studies
As a junior in the Electronic Journalism program, Elizabeth Gasperich used of a variety of equipment and software applications to create an award winning Public Service Announcement for the American Association of University Professors (AAUW).
Jason Gregersen: Department of Mathematics
Jason Gregersen created a series of mathematics instruction videos using a variety of equipment and software, including a graphic tablet for taking notes, and applications such as Evernote and SnagIt.
Erin Hughes: Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation
Erin Hughes’ project (To increase awareness of risk factors for HIV/AIDS in people in Uganda through education), involved an intensive use of a variety of software applications, and combined in-depth research, graphics, and audio to create a powerful presentation.
Brian Kurcz, Ben Humpula, & Kyle Mattson: Group Project, Dept. of Engineering Technology
This group utilized their laptop computers to capture wind speed, direction, power, and voltage data generated by a wind turbine and anemometer on the roof of the Jacobetti Center. They then manipulated this data using LabView Engineering Software to display this information on the internet.
Anthony LaMalfa, James Benson, Alexandra Marshall, Jade Bolthouse, and Eric Prostka: Group Project, School of Education
This group combined photographs, images, video footage, and audio to create a powerful and entertaining presentation entitled Project 2056: The Future of Teaching in a Global Society.
Joel Moore: Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation
Joel Moore’s project (To help meet love and belonging needs of children in Mozambique through sport education), required the intensive use of a variety of software applications. He combined in-depth research, photographs, and images to create a powerful presentation, offering an outstanding example of what is possible with the laptop computers that are provided through the TLC program.
