Excellence in Teaching Awards

In 2008 there are ten Health Science Excellence in Teaching Awards in the following categories:

  • Individual Teacher Award: open to all academic staff of the faculty
  • Teaching Team Award: open to groups (comprising two or more members)
    of academic staff with complementary skills teaching collaboratively within
    a particular unit, course or set of courses for at least two years
  • Early Career Award: open to all academic staff within the first five
    years of their commencement as university teachers
  • Sessional Teacher Award: open to all academic staff who are employed
    on a casual basis
  • Honours, Postgraduate or HDR Supervision Award: open to all academic
    staff of the faculty contributing as a supervisor to an honours,
    postgraduate coursework program with a thesis or dissertation or a Higher
    Degree Research program
  • Clinical Educator Award
  • Award for innovative assessment and/or feedback
  • Award for teaching large classes: of more than 150 students (individuals
    or teams)
  • Award for Interprofessional Education: open to all academic staff of the faculty.
  • Programs that Enhance Learning: open to academic and general staff of the faculty and
    includes programs such as: first year experience; postgraduate education; innovation in
    curricula, learning and teaching; flexible learning and teaching; services supporting student
    learning; educational partnerships and collaborations with other organisations. Further information can be found at the University EIT web page, located at: http://lsn.curtin.edu.au/eit.awards.html

To whet your appetite for applying - winners of the 2006 awards were very successful in going on to win University Excellence in Teaching Awards, and some of these have also been successful in winning national Carrick awards.�� You are strongly encouraged to think about submitting an application, as being successful within the Faculty is a great start to being recognised at other levels within Curtin and nationally.

To minimise the work involved in preparing an application, there is a maximum of four pages, and the criteria are the same as the University and national awards.

Nominations for 2008

Nominations can be made by individual academics, teaching teams or by peers and Heads of Schools/Program Areas. Nominations must include:

  • Nomination form (Microsoft Word document)
  • Written statement addressing the selection criteria which needs to include quantitative and qualitative evidence of the outcomes achieved against the criteria (maximum of four A4 pages)
  • Two references (one of which should be from a Head of School/Department)

Winners of a University Excellence in Teaching Award or Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Award are ineligible to apply for a Faculty Teaching Award in the same calendar year in which they are a recipient.

If anyone would like assistance with their application, please feel free to contact either Sue Jones: Sue.Jones@curtin.edu.au Beatrice Tucker: B.Tucker@curtin.edu.au or Allan Goody: a.goody@curtin.edu.au (ALTC Promoting Exellence Initative Mentor for the Faculty of Health Sciences).

Selection Criteria

Applications must address at least two of the following essential selection criteria:

Essential:

  1. Approaches to teaching that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn
    May include: fostering student development by stimulating curiosity and independence in learning; contributing to the development of students' critical thinking skills, analytical skills and scholarly values; encouraging student engagement through the enthusiasm shown for learning and teaching; inspiring and motivating students through high-level communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.
  2. Approaches to assessment and feedback that foster independent learning
    May include: integrating assessment strategies with the specific aims and objectives for student learning; providing timely, worthwhile feedback to students on their learning; using a variety of assessment and feedback strategies; implementing both formative and summative assessment; adapting assessment methods to different contexts and diverse student needs.
  3. Respect and support for the development of students as individuals
    May include: participating in the effective and empathetic guidance and advising of students; assisting students from equity and other demographic subgroups to participate and achieve success in their courses; influencing the overall academic, social and cultural experience of higher education.
  4. Scholarly activities that have influenced and enhanced learning and teaching
    May include: showing advanced skills in evaluation and reflective practice; participating in and contributing to professional activities related to learning and teaching; coordination, management and leadership of courses and student learning; conducting and publishing research related to teaching and learning; demonstrating leadership through activities that have broad influence on the profession.
  5. Distinctiveness, coherence and clarity of purpose
    Extent to which the unit/stream/course/program has clear learning outcomes and systematic approaches to coordination, implementation and evaluation.

Assessment Guidelines

In assessing applications, the committee will take into account:

Essential:

  • The extent to which claims for excellence are supported by formal (including eVALUate) and informal evaluation and the evidence provided
  • Information contained in student feedback, references and selected materials submitted (selected materials may include a website which has been developed; CD ROM or DVD; video or audiotape; other printed material to a maximum of 10 pages)

Desirable:

  • Evidence that the achievements have been sustained over time
  • Evidence of recognition from fellow staff, Curtin University of Technology, and/or the broader community

References

Two references of no more than one A4 page each, to be provided by people who are able to comment on the nominee's contribution to student learning against the nominated selection criteria. One of the referees MUST be the Head of the nominee's department or school. If the nomination is from a team, the references should apply to the team.

Optional Supporting Materials

Nominees may choose to include additional materials supporting claims against the selection criteria. Selection is based primarily on the written statement. Any additional materials should be selected to validate, but not repeat, claims made in the written statement.

Presentation

There is no advantage in elaborate presentation of nominations. The first page of the nomination form (provided) is adequate as a cover page.

Submission of nominations

Nominations should be marked Faculty of Health Sciences Excellence in Teaching Awards and posted or delivered to: Teaching and learning Executive Officer, Faculty of Health Sciences.
Closing date for nominations is 6th October 2008.

Excellence in Teaching Awards Selection

A sub-committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences Teaching and Learning Committee will select the winners.

Notification

Winners will be notified in late October and will be invited to a celebratory event in November. A list of all winners will be published in the Faculty Newsletter and on the Faculty website.

 

Winners of Excellence in Teaching Awards

The Faculty of Health Sciences is pleased to announce the following winners of Excellence in Teaching Awards.

2007

Individual Teacher Award

Dr Melissa Davis, School of Psychology

Early Career Academic

Dr Jaya Earnest, Centre for International Health

Innovative Assessment Award

Ms Marina Ciccarelli, School of Occupational Therapy

2006

Individual Teacher Award

Ms Shelley Kinsella, School of Pharmacy

Highly commended in this category were Ms Alma Dender, School of Occupational Therapy and Ms Lorel Mayberry, School of Public Health

Teaching Team Award

Clinical Psychology Team, School of Psychology

A/Professor Clare Roberts
Dr Clare Rees
Dr Rosie Rooney
Dr Sarah Egan
Dr Melissa Davis

Early Career Award

Ms Katherine Bathgate, School of Public Health

Highly commended in this category was Dr Madeleine Keehner, School of Psychology

Sessional Teacher Award

Ms Josephine Hudson, School of Psychology

Clinical Educator Award

Fieldwork Team, School of Occupational Therapy

Mr Nigel Gribble
Ms Karen Long
Mrs Sharon Keesing
Mrs Zona Rens
Ms Carol Devereux