CHARLOTTE, NC – Topics Education was selected as a finalist for a Distinguished Achievement Award in the Technology and New Media category by the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) for its web-based multimedia curriculum for The Outdoor Foundation. This online toolkit shares best practices from veteran outdoor educators and helps The Outdoor Foundation’s volunteer mentors better understand the soft skills required in leading groups of teenagers in outdoor activities.
The AEP awards are recognized as the top honor for excellence in the education industry and celebrate the very best in educational publishing. Winners of the AEP Awards are chosen based upon a product's value and fulfillment of its educational mission and are judged by knowledgeable educators and industry specialists.
“It is an honor for our work to be selected as a finalist for a top award in the industry,” states Josh Thomas, Partner, Topics Education. “We were very pleased with how the technology we used in this curriculum was able to maximize impact and relevancy to create an engaging educational product. Also, outdoor education is an increasingly important issue, so we’re thrilled that this project is being recognized.”
Using the curriculum of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) as the framework, Topics Education created a multimedia educational program that is freely available via the following website: http://www.outdoorfoundation.org/lead/. The program features interviews with expert wilderness facilitators and experiential educators who help teach outdoor leadership, offer best practices for specific activities, and share firsthand experiences related to successful outdoor programming for youth. The online module was also featured on Backpacker.com and is available in downloadable PDF form for printing and taking into the field.
Topics Education’s work has been consistently recognized by the AEP over the past few years, with eleven award nominations and five winning entries to date in the categories of Instructional Materials and Education Technology.
The award winners will be announced on June 8th in Washington, DC at the annual AEP Awards Banquet.
About Topics Education
Topics Education develops educational programs found at the center of consumer education, workforce development, and philanthropic initiatives. Since 1995, we have helped our corporate, nonprofit, and government clients create programs that engage and educate their various stakeholders in schools, homes, workplaces, and communities. To learn more, please visit www.topicseducation.com.
About The Association of Educational Publishers
AEP, a national, nonprofit organization, represents, supports and promotes the publishers of supplemental educational resources, key tools for reading and learning at school and at home. Its membership includes the giants of the supplemental education industry, and spans the gamut from magazines to television channels, books to interactive computer software and CDs. Please visit www.edpress.org for more information.
About The Outdoor Foundation
The Outdoor Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 established by Outdoor Industry Association to inspire and grow future generations of outdoor enthusiasts. They strive to be a driving force behind a massive increase in active outdoor recreation in America. To learn more, visit www.outdoorfoundation.org.
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