XCaliber Award

Recognizing exceptional, high-caliber contributions to technology-enriched teaching and learning.

Background

Established in 1996 by the Office of the Provost, the XCaliber Award — shorthand for exceptional, high-caliber contributions to technology-enriched learning activities — is presented annually by Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS). Recipients receive a cash award and a commemorative plaque and are invited to showcase their award-winning activities at a special event.

Award Criteria

The XCaliber Award celebrates courses and significant projects that demonstrate exemplary use of technology and student-centered pedagogy, resulting in high-impact student learning. Such courses and projects typically involve

• Teaching practices that exhibit innovation, engagement, and reflection and foster students’ higher-order thinking skills and 21st-century skills, such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
• Learning environments that are technology-rich, student-centered, active, and authentic.
  

Eligibility and Selection Process

Courses and projects led by faculty, graduate teaching assistants, and teams (faculty, staff, and students) are eligible for consideration. Winners will be selected by the XCaliber Award committee. To be considered, the course (or significant course project) must demonstrate exemplary use of technology and student-centered pedagogy resulting in high-impact student learning. Applications will be evaluated for the

• use of innovative technology,
• demonstration of student-centered pedagogy,
• alignment of technology and pedagogy with stated learning outcomes,
• evidence of high-impact student learning, and
• quality of the written XCaliber application.

Application Process

To apply for the XCaliber Award, the individual faculty member or team leader should complete an application no later than December 2, 2024. Questions about the application process can be directed to tlos@vt.edu. Recipients will be notified in February 2025.

Recent Recipients

2024

• Farrokh Jazizadeh: CEE 5060 Built Environment Information Modeling and Processing (virtual prototyping) of infrastructure projects’ life cycle
• Megan Rippy: CEE Virtual green infrastructure design project as part of two joined courses Urban Water Sustainability and Advanced Urban Water Sustainability

2023

• David Hicks, Todd Ogle, Paul Quigley, and Thomas Tucker: HIST 4014 / ART 4014 / EDCI 4014 History Lab: Creative Technologies, Hidden Histories, Informal Learning (Team Award)

2022

• Kimberly Ellis, Natalie Cherbaka, Andrew Thomas, Matthew Garlington, Ben LaBine, and Melissa Tilashalski: The Production Planning Game for ISE4204 Production Planning and Inventory Control (Team Award)

2021

• Montasir Abbas: CEE 3604: Intro to Transportation Engineering (Individual Award)
• Rodrigo Sarlo: CEE 3404: Introduction to Structural Engineering (Individual Award)

2020

• Diana Bairaktarova: ENGE 1354 Introduction to Spatial Visualization (Individual Award)
• Carol Mullen: EDEL 5134 Curriculum Leadership P–12 Education (Individual Award)

2019

• Aaron Brantley: Integrated Security Education and Research Center (ISERC) project (Individual Award)
• Deborah Tatar: ThoughtSwap project (Individual Award)

2018

• Timothy D. Baird: Seeking Sustainability (Individual Award)
• Ashley Reed: Scrapbooks and Nineteenth-Century American Poetry (Individual Award)

2017

• Edward J.K. Gitre: World War II: A Global History (Individual Award)
• Clifford A. Shaffer: Data Structures and Algorithms (Individual Award)

2016

• Edward A. Fox, project lead: Enhanced Problem-Based Learning Connecting Big Data Research with Classes (Group Award)
• Dennis Kafura, project lead: Introduction to Computational Thinking (Group Award)
  

XCaliber Awards Chair

Dale Pike
Associate Vice Provost
Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies
dalepike@vt.edu