U of S TEACHERS RECEIVE AWARD FOR TELEVISED TEACHING

Two English professors from the University of Saskatchewan are this year's recipients of the Garth Ferguson Award for Excellence in Televised Teaching, which was presented today by Saskatchewan Learning and the Saskatchewan Communications Network (SCN).

The award recipients, Dr. Ron Marken and Dr. Terry Matheson, team-teach a first-year English class live via satellite from the University of Saskatchewan studio at the Division of Media and Technology on that campus. The class reaches approximately 125 students across Saskatchewan each term.

"Like many Saskatchewan initiatives, the televised distance education system has been built by the combined efforts of many talented individuals, and the institutions in which they work," Minister responsible for SCN Joan Beatty said. "Professors Ron Marken and Terry Matheson are part of the reason Saskatchewan has been a leader in televised teaching, and their work reflects the high quality of teaching which reaches students across the province."

Dr. Marken was one of the pioneers of long-distance education when he taught English live via satellite in 1987. He returned to this form of teaching in 2000, this time paired with Dr. Matheson. The two have team-taught introductory English through the E-Learning Satellite Network ever since. Their dynamic teaching style enables them to actively engage students at sites around the province.

Learning Minister Andrew Thomson said that televised teaching helps to ensure that Saskatchewan students have access to education no matter where they live. "Through the joint efforts of Saskatchewan Learning, SCN, and our educational partners, we are expanding the horizons of education for residents across the province," Thomson said.

The Garth Ferguson Award for Excellence in Televised Teaching was named for SCN's former Director of Finance and Human Resources, who passed away in 1997, and is presented jointly by SCN and Saskatchewan Learning every two years.

The E-Learning Satellite Network is a collaboration between Saskatchewan Learning, the Saskatchewan Communications Network, the two universities, SIAST, aboriginal institutions, school divisions and regional colleges. It delivers secondary and post-secondary credit courses annually to approximately 3,000 students in up to 200 communities throughout the province.

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For More Information, Contact:

Maureen MacDonald SCN Regina Phone: (306)787-0490

Kathy Hancock Saskatchewan Learning Regina Phone: (306)787-1305