Bill Junkin Innovation Award

Dr. Bill Junkin

Erskine Professor Dr. Bill Junkin Wins Innovation In Education Award

The winners of the 2002 InnoVision Awards Program were announced at the annual awards dinner Nov. 13 at the Palmetto Expo Center, including Erskine College Associate Dean for Learning and Technology Dr. Bill Junkin, winner of the Innovation in Education Award.

Erskine College won the Innovation in Education Award for Junkin’s development of a new web-based technology called “Beyond Question.” This technology allows instructors to poll students on course content and receive real-time responses on computers, mobile phones and PDAs. The Beyond Question technology has been used by the Air Force Academy and Harvard University, providing a technology advantage for learning environments.

“Because of the size and nature of Erskine College and the support that has been received from the administration, I and other faculty members have been able to try out new and innovative ways of teaching to help students learn better,” Junkin said. “We feel that we have figured out some pretty neat things. And it is very exciting to have outside evaluators verify what we have felt to be true.”

Junkin, a two-time Professor of the Year in South Carolina, said many people think that Erskine, located in Due West, S.C., is a well-kept secret. “But this award is exciting because it will help others know some of the things that are going on here at Erskine.

“Toward the future, I hope this award will have two good effects,” Junkin said. “One is that industry and other sources of financial support may be more inclined to provide funding so that we can do even better things. Secondly, this may help publicize the innovations we have already developed so that other classrooms, whether in the public school system or in undergraduate education, can start using these innovations right away.”

Junkin said the award recognizes the efforts of a number of people at Erskine, and others like Erskine trustee and Greenville attorney Neil Jones, who helped obtain a copyright for the Beyond Question program.

“The biggest thanks, however, goes to the Erskine students who don’t mind us trying new things,” Junkin said.

Jones attended the awards banquet, and said that Beyond Question was explained to the audience through a 40-second video showing how the program is meant to enhance learning and create an atmosphere where teaching can thrive.

“The audience oohed and aahed when the video clip noted that several schools, including Harvard University, were using Bill's software to educate students,” Jones said. “Thunderous applause followed when Erskine's name was called as the winner and Bill approached the stage.

“In accepting the award, Bill was his typical humble self,” Jones said. “Instead of talking about himself during his acceptance speech, Bill revealed his vision for the software to be distributed freely for educational purposes to allow increased learning.”

The Innovision Technology Awards are presented annually to technology innovators in the upstate of South Carolina, and past winners include well-known companies and entities such as Michelin, BMW, Fluor Corporation, St. Francis Hospital, and Kemet.

With more than 400 guests, the event brought together business and technology leaders to honor the finalists and winners. “This year we had a phenomenal pool of entries. The judging committee worked very hard to make the final award selections and it was an honor to recognize these companies,” said Amy Robichaud, InnoVision Advisory Board Chair and Practice Development Manager for Deloitte & Touche, InnoVision’s founding sponsor.

WSPA-TV News Channel Seven anchor Pamela Graham presided as the event’s emcee and keynote speaker Bob Bejan of DNA Networks, addressed the attendees.

Founded in 1999 by Deloitte & Touche, the InnoVision Technology Awards program is dedicated to the advancement of technology in the Upstate through communication, education and recognition of the spirit of innovation and technological progress.


		Dr. Bill Junkin Erskine Professor Dr. Bill Junkin Wins Innovation In Education Award The winners of the 2002 InnoVision Awards Program were announced at the annual awards dinner Nov. 13 at the Palmetto Expo Center, including Erskine College Associate Dean for Learning and Technology Dr. Bill Junkin, winner of the Innovation in Education Award. Erskine College won the Innovation in Education Award for Junkin’s development of a new web-based technology called “Beyond Question.” This technology allows instructors to poll students on course content and receive real-time responses on computers, mobile phones and PDAs. The Beyond Question technology has been used by the Air Force Academy and Harvard University, providing a technology advantage for learning environments. “Because of the size and nature of Erskine College and the support that has been received from the administration, I and other faculty members have been able to try out new and innovative ways of teaching to help students learn better,” Junkin said. “We feel that we have figured out some pretty neat things. And it is very exciting to have outside evaluators verify what we have felt to be true.” Junkin, a two-time Professor of the Year in South Carolina, said many people think that Erskine, located in Due West, S.C., is a well-kept secret. “But this award is exciting because it will help others know some of the things that are going on here at Erskine. “Toward the future, I hope this award will have two good effects,” Junkin said. “One is that industry and other sources of financial support may be more inclined to provide funding so that we can do even better things. Secondly, this may help publicize the innovations we have already developed so that other classrooms, whether in the public school system or in undergraduate education, can start using these innovations right away.” Junkin said the award recognizes the efforts of a number of people at Erskine, and others like Erskine trustee and Greenville attorney Neil Jones, who helped obtain a copyright for the Beyond Question program. “The biggest thanks, however, goes to the Erskine students who don’t mind us trying new things,” Junkin said. Jones attended the awards banquet, and said that Beyond Question was explained to the audience through a 40-second video showing how the program is meant to enhance learning and create an atmosphere where teaching can thrive. “The audience oohed and aahed when the video clip noted that several schools, including Harvard University, were using Bill's software to educate students,” Jones said. “Thunderous applause followed when Erskine's name was called as the winner and Bill approached the stage. “In accepting the award, Bill was his typical humble self,” Jones said. “Instead of talking about himself during his acceptance speech, Bill revealed his vision for the software to be distributed freely for educational purposes to allow increased learning.” The Innovision Technology Awards are presented annually to technology innovators in the upstate of South Carolina, and past winners include well-known companies and entities such as Michelin, BMW, Fluor Corporation, St. Francis Hospital, and Kemet. With more than 400 guests, the event brought together business and technology leaders to honor the finalists and winners. “This year we had a phenomenal pool of entries. The judging committee worked very hard to make the final award selections and it was an honor to recognize these companies,” said Amy Robichaud, InnoVision Advisory Board Chair and Practice Development Manager for Deloitte & Touche, InnoVision’s founding sponsor. WSPA-TV News Channel Seven anchor Pamela Graham presided as the event’s emcee and keynote speaker Bob Bejan of DNA Networks, addressed the attendees. Founded in 1999 by Deloitte & Touche, the InnoVision Technology Awards program is dedicated to the advancement of technology in the Upstate through communication, education and recognition of the spirit of innovation and technological progress.