ORU Receives Award for Technological Excellence
Oral Roberts University is the recipient of the Commission on Technology Excellence Award for Private Universities from the Oklahoma Board of Regents. The university is receiving the award for its work in augmented and virtual reality () and in using digital avatars to educate and train students.
“The future of education is both technological and global,” says President Dr. William M. Wilson. “We are honored by this award, which is just further proof that now has the potential to produce the most intelligent college graduates in the world, young men and women who wear and seamlessly use the technologies that are influencing every person’s world today and tomorrow.”
The award will be given to the university but presented to Dr. David Dyson, a professor of management in ’s College of Business. Dyson was nominated by the university for his incorporation of the and avatar technologies into his classroom.
“It was a blessing submitting the award criteria for a faculty member who has exemplified embracing these new technologies while making them practical for his classes,” says Michael Mathews, ’s associate vice president of technology and innovation. “Dr. Dyson has been a tireless champion for the future of education and we couldn’t be more pleased that he gets the honor of receiving the award.”
“Tools like these allow our students not just to gain cognitive understanding but also the effective domain,” says Dyson. “They allow our students and faculty to zoom out and ask and answer the big questions: Where are we moving? How fast are we moving? What’s going on? What do I have to know to be successful in the future? But most of all, it’s fun. Fun is one of the most important ingredients of a learning experience. Making it enjoyable makes it last.”
IT employee Torance Jones will also receive the Innovative Award in IT. Jones created the interconnection between Virtual Reality and the D2L Learning Management System allowing for VR learning environments to be saved and used in classes without VR equipment.
Updated 06-16-2018
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