The Royal Tyrrell Museum has another feather in its cap for the high quality distance learning programs it offers throughout the year.

The Centre for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) has bestowed the Pinnacle Award to the Royal Tyrrell Museum’s distance learning program.

“It is very rewarding when we do get these results the Megan McLaughlin, distance learning coordinator at the Tyrrell. 

The award, presented annually, is given to content providers that achieve a 95 per cent or higher evaluations from teachers. 

She explains the CILC is a hub for different content providers such as museums, science centres and educational institutions that deliver web based and video conference programs

Teachers can book through the website, and they evaluate the course. 

“CILC takes pride in its assurances to members that programs are high-quality, evaluated by educators for educators. Evaluations recognize not only the quality of content, but exceptional skill in engaging learners. A Pinnacle Award recognizes the best of the best, and is a proud badge of excellence,” said Glenn Morris, CILC executive director.

McLaughlin says the awards do carry some prestige because they are based on the evaluation of educators.

“It is rewarding to see we have rated very high in the eyes of teachers,” said McLaughlin. “It’s coming straight from the teachers, and knowing that they are appreciating the programs and finding value in the feels good.

The awards were established in 2008, and since then the Tyrrell distance learning program has won four Pinnacle Awards and received four honorable mentions.