Our most excellent and innovative teachers for 2020 have been honoured with flagship Vice-Chancellor’s awards.
To conclude an extraordinary year of challenge in the University’s teaching year, the Vice-Chancellor has rewarded an above maximum number of outstanding performers for the 2020 Excellence in Teaching, and 2020 Innovation in Teaching awards.
Celebrating those teachers who go above and beyond the normal to offer the richest and most engaging student experience, or who develop and apply imaginative, contemporary teaching practices, the 2020 winners have done so in unusually demanding and disrupted circumstances.
The awards form an important tranche in the support and celebration of excellent and innovative teaching practice at Flinders and offer a springboard for recipients to national recognition.
Up to three Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching are bestowed annually, and up to six Vice-Chancellor’s Innovation in Teaching Awards are given – however this year seven were awarded, upon the unanimous advice of the Award Selection Committee comprising one nominated member per College, a previous recipient, a student, an external member with expertise in teaching and learning, and Chair.
The 2020 winners of the Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching are:
• Dr Louisa Matwiejczyk and team, College of Nursing and Health Sciences – Innovation and leadership: A recipe for enhancing the student experience and teaching and learning through short-term study abroad experiences in nutrition and dietetics.
• Dr Maria Giannacopoulos, College of Business, Government and Law – Decolonising Criminology: The development of cutting edge, research led curricula which demonstrates a command of the field and addresses contemporary, global questions of Indigenous and racial justice.
• Ms Ying Yu and team, College of Nursing and Health Sciences – For improving consistency in teaching and learning clinical skills and optimising student capacity to develop competency through the development of the Clinical Skills Storybook (CSS).
A key component for nominations for the Vice-Chancellor’s Innovation in Teaching Awards is a 3-5 minute video addressing a strategic objective and outlining the innovation. These videos were especially entertaining and insightful, and taking into consideration the unusual challenges of 2020 and in the spirit of encouraging innovation and engagement, the judging panel agreed unanimously to bestow seven awards:
• Dr Christine Barry, College of Medicine and Public Health – 3D pelvic anatomy learning online.
• Mr Joss Rankin, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work – Engaging students as partners in Outdoor Ed.
• Dr Nina Sivertsen and team, College of Nursing and Health Sciences – The Malpa Program.
• Dr Masha Smallhorn and Mrs Narelle Hunter, College of Science and Engineering – Online Virtual Practical Simulations Biological Sciences.
• Dr Philip Palmer, College of Business, Government and Law – Using Quitch in Company Accounting.
• Dr Sam Elliott, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work – Targeted WIL in BSHPA.
• Dr Vipul Pare and Dr Rajesh Johnsam, College of Business, Government and Law – Gamification to enhance student engagement.
