The Ohio Board of Regents has announced it is taking applications for the 2010 Faculty Innovator Awards.

The Faculty Innovator Awards recognize 10 faculty members at University System of Ohio institutions who have creatively and effectively integrated technology and digital content into classrooms, thus lowering the out-of-pocket expenses students spend on course materials.

Robert Evans, press secretary for the Ohio Board of Regents, said the primary focus of the awards is to lower the overall costs for students. When faculty start using digital content it allows students better and faster access and up-to-date information and resources, he said.

“The Board of Regents and the chancellor definitely feel the project is a priority,” Evans said. He said it is important to reward faculty who keep costs down and hopes it will generate pressure on other faculty members to bring their class costs down.

The Faculty Innovator Awards were created in 2009 by Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut and are funded by an investment fund from the Ohio Learning Network. The recipients are chosen by a panel of five experts in the textbook field and are awarded a $1,000 prize for their work. While faculty may only win the award once, they are encouraged to continue their work in helping to lower student costs.

“When I am teaching class, I try to remember why I got this award and have tried to stay true to keep the cost of courses down for students,” said Bonnie Kirkpatrick, a clinical instructor in the College of Nursing and previous award winner.

She also said she tries to remember to be “green” in saving paper costs for the university and students, by using Carmen for assignments and for the distribution of all materials.

Kirkpatrick said professors should use all resources provided to them and while it might take more time on their part, if it utilizes the same technology students are using in their everyday lives, it should be incorporated into the course materials.

Nominations for the 2010 Faculty Innovator Awards are open until Feb. 15. The review board will send winner recommendations to the chancellor on May 15 and the announcement will be held shortly after. To nominate a faculty member visit ohiotextbookhq.ning.com.