Three individual academics were the recipients of the 2012 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching.
The awards presentation, held in the Health Sciences Lecture Theatre Complex, was attended by more than 150 guests who took the opportunity to view poster presentations by winners of previous years’ Teaching and Innovation Grants.
The major awards went to Dr Steve Brown from the Department of Tourism, Dr Julia Erhart from the Department of Screen and Media and Dr Paul Williamson from the School of Psychology.
Dr Brown was cited for “the creation and development of the broad suite of festival and events programs in Tourism and for his innovation and sustained teaching excellence in those programs leading to industry-ready graduates.”
Dr Erhart was recognised for excellence in teaching in Screen and Media, “through meticulous scaffolding of concepts and the implementation of innovative, formative assessment and group-oriented learning activities”.
Dr Willamson’s award was “for teaching that encourages students to problem solve and engage in student collaboration, and for teaching statistics within the wider context of the research process through individually-tailored problem solving assessments and topic materials that teach statistics in context”.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Barber, congratulated the winners.
“These awards were established to reward and encourage enterprise on the part of our teaching staff, and the three winners have demonstrated outstanding inspiration and application in their efforts to improve both the content and delivery of the courses they teach,” Professor Barber said.
The success of the individuals and teams who received national grants, citations and awards from the Federal Government’s Office of Learning and Teaching this year was also acknowledged.
Six new Teaching and Learning Innovation Grants were announced:
• Professor Melissa Brown, School of Biological Sciences, led a team application for a project to build practical skills in the laboratory, using video-capture
• Associate Professor Jane Haggis, School of International Studies, led a team application for a project on using blended learning and Universal Design (BLUD) for teaching in the curriculum
• Mr Joh Hartog, Department of Drama, led a team application for a project to develop inter-cultural dialogue and transnational literacy among students through adaptation in the Creative Arts
• Dr Barbara Nielsen, School of Education, made an individual application for a project to develop relationships with rural and regional schools and establish school staff as university liaison staff, helping student teachers take extended teaching programs in those areas
• Professor Carol Tilt, Flinders Business School, led a team application for a project to provide a postgraduate orientation and peer-mentoring program in the Flinders Business School in Victoria Square
• Associate Professor Eileen Willis, School of Medicine, led a team application for a project to develop inter-professional education and practice in health care.
Certificates were also presented to staff members who had completed a range of professional programs run by the Centre for University Teaching.