Sara Berger, assistant professor of practice in the NDSU School of Nursing at Sanford Health in Bismarck, North Dakota, received the 2022 Innovation in Teaching – Small Enrollment Award from the NDSU Office of Teaching and Learning.

“Her brilliant use of technology and social media in the classroom exhibits creativity to provoke high levels of student engagement and learning,” Berger’s nomination letter stated. “Berger incorporates various creative teaching strategies, including a website creation assignment, Facebook mystery diagnosis and inflammatory cartoon, which is a student favorite. Her teaching strategies include use of different platforms in the classroom.”

Berger uses several teaching strategies and different platforms during lectures, including Prezi, PowerPoint, Poll Everywhere, Case Studies and Turning Point.

Her use of technology and social media in the classroom exhibits creativity to encourage high levels of student engagement and learning, according to the award nomination. Berger received the honor for her creativity to elicit exceptional student engagement and learning in the classroom with fewer than 40 students.

In 2022, Berger also was named Nurse Educator of the Year by the North Dakota Nursing Students’ Association. In addition, she received the Mary J. Berg Award for Excellence in Teaching from the NDSU College of Health Professions in 2019.

“I am committed to fostering student engagement in my classroom,” said Berger, who also is a Certified Nurse Educator and medical-surgical nurse. “I appreciate the opportunity to role model competent, compassionate, holistic care in the clinical setting.”

The NDSU School of Nursing provides bachelor’s and graduate nursing education at sites in Bismarck and Fargo. Programs are available for part-time and full-time students, working professionals and those seeking online educational opportunities.