Creating a virtual nursing honor society: Key technology design considerations

Abstract

The current academic environment is growing exponentially due to online learning.  As such, it is important to include outstanding online learners in honor societies for recognition of their academic excellence.  Recognizing this need coupled with having no honor society, nursing faculty from a small private university in Southwestern Pennsylvania created a virtual Nursing Honor Society to distinguish their online nursing students’ scholarly achievements. Discipline specific honor societies offer an opportunity for students and alumni to maintain a connection to the academic institution, fellow classmates, and alumni for professional networking and continuing education that has not been readily available to programs that provide education to online students.   As such, technological strategies for planning and website development are offered to assist other institutions in creating virtual honor societies acknowledging their online learners scholarly achievements.