Dr. Brad Modlin, associate professor of 英语 and Reynolds Chair of Poetry at the University of Nebraska at Kearney makes online learning feel anything but distant. 

“在线 education is not Plan B,” Modlin said. “Instead of saying, ‘I miss xyz about the in-person classroom,’ I like to ask, ‘What tools and pizzazz can the online class offer?’”  

His forward-thinking mindset and his creative, student-centered approach to teaching online classes is what earned Modlin the 2025 在线 Teacher Innovation Award, presented by the 教与学中心, housed in the 研究生学习和学术创新办公室. 

该奖项成立于2022年，旨在表彰太阳城娱乐官网教师谁表现出创造力，灵活性和卓越的教学在线课程。 

“It’s an honor,” Modlin said. “I guess some of my zaniness is paying off!” 

Pizzazz and zaniness are part of Modlin’s signature style, but what truly defines his courses is the intentional creativity that drives them. 

He starts many of his online classes with “Zoom parties” that include icebreaker questions and soundscapes from IMissMyCafe.com to recreate a relaxed coffee shop environment. Throughout the semester, he opens a “class café” Zoom space where students can drop in and collaborate on projects and assignments, creating opportunities for community building and accountability. 

“Increasingly, students are identifying as having ADHD, and I have been researching helpful hacks like ‘body doubling,’” he said. 

替身是ADHD患者通常使用的一种做法，即在完成项目时让另一个人在场，以帮助他们专注于任务。 

他还相信学生的自主权和创作自由，提供多种形式的作业来完成。 One of his favorites being a video project titled, “How to Write Like [Student’s Name],” where students analyze and explain their own voice and writing strengths. It’s a way for students to learn from one another and see their individuality. 

“I tell students, ‘We create the culture we live in,’” he said. “学生, like perhaps everyone in the world, want to be seen.” 

他的在线课堂文化包括协作、灵活性和个性化反馈。 In place of written notes on students’ assignments, Modlin provides audio files to students so they can hear his voice, tone, and encouragement as he works through their assignments. 

His students feel the culture he’s created for his online classes. One student wrote, “[This course] fosters a sense of connection between teacher and peers, which I have never experienced as an online student.” 

With Modlin’s leadership, passion, and just the right amount of pizzazz, he works hard to ensure his online students never feel like a Plan B.