The Premier Award criteria reflect the values associated with good teaching practices and pedagogy that we wish to promote and guide the selection of the Premier Courseware. The Premier Award criteria were developed by faculty, instructional designers and experts in evaluation and assessment. They have evolved since they were first developed in the mid-1990s. The criteria are divided into three categories: instructional design, software design, and engineering content. Because each category requires the judges to view the courseware from a slightly different perspective, there will necessarily be some overlap in the criteria.
The entire learning experience of using the software, as well as the materials in the submission packet, should demonstrate that the submission meets (and hopefully exceeds) the criteria.
Instructional Design
- Learning Objectives: Learning objectives and goals are clearly stated and supported by the software and learning experience.
- Interactivity: The learner is actively involved in the learning process—the interaction enhances learning.
- Cognition/Conceptual Change: Learning appears to be significant and long lasting—strong and useful cognitive models can be built.
- Content: The content is well chosen and structured.
- Multimedia Use: Multimedia is used effectively and promotes the learning objectives and goals.
- Instructional Use/Adaptability: The software can be used in a variety of settings.
Software Design
- Engagement: The software holds the interest of a diversity of learners.
- Learner Interface and Navigation: The software is easy to use.
- Technical Reliability: The software is free from technical problems.
Engineering Content
- Accuracy of Content: The content is accurate and error free.
- Appropriateness of Content: The content is appropriate for the scope of the Premier Award.
