MCLA Teacher Course of Distinction Award from the MCO

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Massachusetts Colleges Online (MCO) consortium has announced that Anne Goodwin of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) has received a Course of Distinction (COD) Award. 
 
Goodwin, one of fewer than 30 recipients from state campuses across Massachusetts, was recognized at the 17th annual MCO Conference on eLearning, held virtually June 2, 2022. 
 
According to a press release, the Course of Distinction awards are given annually to recognize excellence in design and delivery of online and hybrid courses across multiple categories. Goodwin designed and taught Nutrition for Healthy Living as an asynchronous, fully-online course. 
 
This was Goodwin's second semester teaching this fully-online course, and its success, she said, can be drawn from the course's organized and consistent schedule; the variety of ways students could seek information, including videos, readings, and websites; and well-curated virtual class discussions where students could share information and ideas with each other. 
 
"While MCLA hosts mainly in-person classes during the academic year, this award shows that we do have the flexibility to offer high-quality online courses, as well," said Goodwin.   
 
Professor Goodwin is the second faculty member in MCLA's Biology Department to earn recognition in recent years for outstanding online course design. Adjunct instructor Maryann Schroder won a COD in 2019 for the course Human Growth and Development. 
 
Massachusetts Colleges Online (MCO) is a collaborative of 24 public state higher education institutions involved in the design, delivery, management, and assessment of online, blended, and other technology-mediated learning formats. MCLA is a member institution of the consortium.  

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MassDOT Warns of Toll-fee Smishing Scam

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation was alerted that a text message-based scam, also known as smishing, is fraudulently claiming to represent tolling agencies from across the country. The scammers are claiming to represent the tolling agency and requesting payment for unpaid tolls.

The targeted phone numbers seem to be chosen at random and are not uniquely associated with an account or usage of toll roads.

Customers who receive an unsolicited text, email, or similar message suggesting it is from EZDriveMA or another toll agency should not click on the link.

EZDriveMA customers can verify a valid text notification in several ways:

  • EZDriveMA will never request payment by text
  • All links associated with EZDriveMA will include www.EZDriveMA.com

The FBI says it has received more than 2,000 complaints related to toll smishing scams since early March and recommends individuals who receive fraudulent messages do the following:

1. File a complaint with the  Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov; be sure to include:

The phone number from where the text originated.
The website listed within the text

2. Check your account using the toll service's legitimate website.

3. Contact the toll service's customer service phone number.

4. Delete any smishing texts received.

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