Dr. Fiona Barnes
Dr. Fiona Barnes, Director of the Center for Management Communication, was one of Warrington's first faculty members to embrace and thrive at teaching distance learning courses.

Fiona Barnes receives Judy Fisher Teaching with Technology Award

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dr. Fiona Barnes, Director of the Center for Management Communication at the Warrington College of Business Administration, has been named the recipient of the 2011 Judy Fisher Teaching with Technology Award.

The award is given annually to the professor at the Warrington College of Business Administration whose teaching best exemplified the use of technology over the past year.

“I’m honored to receive the Judy Fisher Teaching with Technology Award this year.” Dr. Barnes said. “This award is particularly meaningful to me because Judy worked closely with me to enhance the learning environment for our Internet MBA students in my professional communication course. Thanks to her encouragement and support, I am comfortable with exploring how new technologies can contribute positively to every classroom experience.”

Dr. Barnes was recognized for her stellar work teaching and engaging students in the UF MBA Internet Program. Dr. Barnes has utilized Elluminate, an online platform that creates a synchronous, “virtual classroom” for lectures, discussions and collaborations. She has established blogs via Sakai, a course management system employed by the University of Florida, promoting communication and collaboration between students. Additionally, Dr. Barnes uses online file hosting services like Dropbox allowing for anonymous peer review sessions. Students are able to upload reports and proposals that can be edited and evaluated by their peers.

“The committee was very impressed by the innovative and appropriate ways in which Dr. Barnes incorporated technologies, both new and old, into her teaching,” said Dr. William A. Bomberger, Chair of the College’s Information Resources Committee that gives the award.

The Judy Fisher Teaching with Technology Award was established in memory of Judy Fisher, Ph.D. She joined the faculty in January 2001 as an Instructional Technologist, and was the first person ever employed by Warrington to bridge the gap between the faculty and technology staff. As a unit highly dependent on advanced technologies, Fisher’s background (a Ph.D. in Instructional Technology, coupled with more than 25 years of business consulting in instructional design) enabled her to have a profound effect on teaching with technology. The College is proud to honor Fisher, who passed away in July 2007, and her many contributions to our teaching and learning environment through this annual award.