The January 12, 2009 deadline for submissions to the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program is rapidly approaching, and I encourage you and your colleagues to consider submitting courses to the program.

There are many benefits to participating in the Exemplary Course Program:

• Learn course design best practices to improve the engagement, collaboration, assessment and learner support within your own courses
• Develop a fresh perspective by seeing how other instructors and designers from your discipline or area of interest are developing their courses
• Apply lessons learned from the Exemplary Course Rubric to your own courses or those you are helping to develop
• Receive detailed feedback on your own course development on the best practices you are employing or areas in which it can be improved
• Gain professional development experience and recognition for your accomplishments and participation in the program

Participating in the Exemplary Course Program is a valuable learning experience for even the most seasoned instructor or designer.  On our blog you can read more about the experience from past participants, 2008 Program winners and the Exemplary Course Program Directors.

To learn more about the 2009 Exemplary Course Program, visit www.blackboard.com/ecp, where you'll find information regarding:

• Submitting a course
• A sample of a submitted course
• The Exemplary Course submission form
• The Blackboard Exemplary Course Rubric

On behalf of all the Exemplary Course Program Directors, we hope you'll participate in this year's Exemplary Course Program.  If you have any questions, please e-mail them to ecp@blackboard.com.

 Jan