Great teaching inspires curiosity wherever learning happens.
Associate Professor Sandra Elena Terra has earned international recognition for innovative online teaching. Blackboard honored her course, GLCS 270: Spanish in the U.S., with an Exemplary Course Program Award. The award recognizes faculty and course designers who use Blackboard’s learning management system to create exceptional online learning experiences.
A panel of educators and online learning experts from universities around the world reviews submitted courses and selects the winners.
I designed the course to give students opportunities to connect what they learn with the world beyond the classroom.”
– Sandra Elena Terra, associate professor
Reviewers praised Terra’s course for its intentional design, strong student engagement, effective assessment practices and comprehensive learner support.
“One of the things I love about Spanish in the U.S. is that students are studying something that is happening all around them,” Terra said. “I want students to realize that this course is more relevant to their own lives than they might initially think, even if they don’t speak Spanish.”
The course examines the history, politics and cultural identity of Spanish-speaking communities in the United States. Students also explore how language shapes identity and the varieties of Spanish spoken across the country. Through discussions, community interviews, linguistic autobiographies and multimedia projects, they connect course concepts with real-world experiences.
“We are proud to recognize educators like Dr. Terra, whose work reflects the creativity, care and intention behind impactful course design,” said Lisa Clark, associate vice president of academic transformation at Blackboard. “Their efforts help create learning experiences that are more engaging, effective and supportive for students.”
The recognition adds to a year of honors for Terra. Previously, in April, she was named the 2026 Ray Verzasconi Post-Secondary Teacher of the Year by the Pacific Northwest Council for Languages.
Blackboard’s Exemplary Course Program highlights best practices in online teaching. Reviewers evaluate each course using a peer-review rubric that measures course design, student engagement, assessment and learner support.
However, for Terra, the course’s value extends beyond the end of the term.
“Five years from now, I hope students remember that there is no single correct way to be a Spanish speaker and that linguistic diversity is something to understand and appreciate,” Terra said. “If they leave my course more curious about language, more excited about linguistic differences and more open to others’ experiences, I will consider that a success.”
