National awards for teaching excellence

Tuesday, 13 September 2016

University of Adelaide staff have been recognised in national awards for teaching excellence announced today.

Two individual lecturers and a teaching group will receive a Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, part of the Australian Government’s 2016 Australian Awards for University Teaching program.

The awards have been won by:

Foundations of Chemistry Team (Dr Natalie Williamson, Professor Greg Metha, Dr David Huang and Dr Stephen Bell in the Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences) for restructuring the first-year chemistry pathway to provide students that have limited chemistry knowledge a supporting learning environment that encourages engagement and academic excellence.

The team aimed to make first-year chemistry accessible and achievable for all students. They found an overall increase in student satisfaction and engagement, with high-achieving students also benefiting.

Dr Dimitra Lekkas (School of Denistry) for leading cultural change in approaches to the dental clinical student learning environment, through the provision of outstanding support of sessional staff.

Dr Lekkas led the development of a tutor training program and academic support networks for dentist tutors who are guiding student learning in clinical settings. This has helped tutors enhance their teaching practice and create more supportive student learning environments in dental clinics.

Dr Natalie Edwards (Department of French Studies, School of Humanities) for the development of new curriculum built around an e-learning environment, significantly increasing student success and retention in first-year French.

Dr Edwards’ innovative approach to curriculum design enable her to transform classroom teaching, out-of-class study, student experience, assessment and the feedback process.

The awards will be presented at a special ceremony on Tuesday 4 October.

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