Professor Jody Ballah has won the 2012 Innovative Teaching Award from UCBA. Professor Ballah was given the award based on her service learning program at UCBA. The award recipient was chosen by a selection committee based on a package written by the nominees.
Professor Ballah detailed her service learning program for French students in addition to research regarding the program. She has published an article describing how this service learning can help college students improve their foreign language skills while helping elementary school students to learn about another language and culture.
Dr. Ballah is an invaluable member of the UCBA community as well as the Greater Cincinnati community. She organized the service learning program so UCBA students who have successfully completed at least one year of French are able to volunteer at Blue Ash Elementary after-school program where students teach the children French.
The French tutoring program is not the only service learning that Professor Ballah has been a part of. She also participates in the Haitian Service Learning Program at the uptown campus. Professor Ballah travels to the uptown campus to help students prepare for their trip to Haiti by teaching them French. In addition, Professor Ballah went with the UC group last spring to Haiti.
The service learning activities at Blue Ash Elementary improved students learning as well as increase their confidence in speaking French. This program tremendously helped all the UCBA students involved as it allowed them to have real world experience assisting them in mastering the French they had learned.
During the ceremony Professor Ballah was recognized for all of her work with service learning and was awarded a trophy by Dean Cady Short-Thompson. Professor Ballah also gave an acceptance speech during the ceremony.
Professor Ballah’s achievement was recognized at the Faculty Awards Ceremony in room 100 SAHB. It is no surprise that many people went out to support her because she is known through the University of Cincinnati for her excellent teaching and willingness to help her students succeed.
Professor Ballah’s guests at the ceremony included her coworkers, friends, and family. Even some of her students went to show their support.
UCBA is truly fortunate to have professors such as Dr. Ballah who are committed to helping improve the lives of not only UCBA students but students who are as close as Blue Ash Elementary or as far away as Haiti.
For images of the award ceremony visit http://www.facebook.com/ucblueash.