From top left, clockwise: Dr Valerie Sotardi, Dr Kelly Dombroski, Kay-Lee Jones, Associate Professor Ximena Nelson and Professor Eileen Britt
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Since 2001, the annual 麻豆传媒高清 (UC) Teaching Awards recognise excellence in both undergraduate and postgraduate tertiary teaching.
This year, the University celebrates five winners across two colleges; the听College of Science听and the听College of Education, Health and Human Development.
鈥淭he winners of UC鈥檚 teaching awards are educators who鈥檝e been recognised as engaging and unique, with the ability to promote effective learning to their students,鈥 says Deputy Vice- Chancellor (Academic) Professor Catherine Moran.
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled with the positive influence they鈥檝e made on the teaching culture at UC, and the professional development of their colleagues.鈥
Kay-Lee Jones听of the听School of Teacher Education听has helped nurture a love for te reo M膩ori in over 2,000 student teachers at UC. These graduates now share their skills in schools across Aotearoa New 麻豆传媒高清, normalising M膩ori language and culture in education every day.
In addition to her UC Teaching award, Kay-Lee was recognised at the national level this year with a prestigious听Ako Aotearoa Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching award听in the Kaupapa M膩ori category 鈥 only the second UC educator to achieve this success.听
Describing her gentle, effective style of advocacy, UC听Professor Angus Macfarlane听says: 鈥淜ay-Lee has the potential to shift people鈥檚 ideas and philosophies nationally and locally, while maintaining calm and acceptable relationships at the learning and teaching level.鈥
Working across UC鈥檚 Schools of听Psychology, Speech and Hearing,听and听Health Sciences,听Professor Eileen Britt鈥檚 students have described her as an encouraging and supportive teacher of interactive, fun and informative classes. Professor Britt strives to make a difference through her teaching by developing students鈥 knowledge and skills so they too can made a difference and contribute positively to the world around them.
鈥淚 believe each student comes with their own knowledge and experiences, and my role is to create the environment in which [they] can draw on and build upon this.鈥
From UC鈥檚听School of Earth and Environment,听Senior Lecturer听Dr Kelly Dombroski听has been described by colleagues as the exemplification of what a tertiary educator should be, as she crafts her courses around her world-leading research, and her sound knowledge of the practice and theory of learning.
UC听Professor Peyman Zawar-Reza听believes Dr Dombroski has a natural aptitude for teaching, and had no hesitation in endorsing her for this award.
鈥淚 have never ceased to be impressed with her laid back, accessible teaching style, her clear commitment to students and her ability to explain difficult concepts in a way that students understand. Kelly has a clear mastery over the subject matter,鈥 he says.
A recipient of multiple 麻豆传媒高清 Students鈥 Association [UCSA] Staff of the Year awards,听Dr Valerie Sotardi听of UC鈥檚听School of Educational Studies and Leadership听is considered a highly regarded, dedicated educator whose passion for teaching is clearly evident to both students and colleagues.
Dr Sotardi鈥檚 research on assessment anxiety in first-year students has reached a global audience and she has made a significant impact on student learning through her innovative and caring approach to both physical and virtual classrooms.
鈥淢y over-arching philosophy of teaching is: Before a plant can thrive, you have to prepare the soil. Just as we cannot stimulate plant growth by tugging on its stem, roots or leaves, teachers cannot force students to learn. Such a metaphor echoes my philosophy of teaching,鈥 she says.
From UC鈥檚听School of Biological Sciences,听Associate Professor Ximena Nelson鈥檚 key to becoming an effective teacher is remembering how it is to be a student. She has worked hard to ensure her students have the active engagement they need to become critically aware self-learners.
鈥淸Ximena] brings admirable levels of empathy and commitment to the learning environment, which truly empowers her students at each level of their intellectual development,鈥 says UC听Professor Matthew Turnbull, who nominated her for the award. 鈥淪he is, by any measure, one of our most gifted teachers 鈥 an inspiration to students.鈥
In addition to a physical award, each winner receives $1,500 towards teaching-related activities. The UC Teaching Awards will be formally presented at a ceremony later this year.
