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September 2008 Issue
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Staff rewarded for teaching excellence

 Learning & Teaching

Eight staff from the University of Adelaide have been recognised as among the best educators in Australia, receiving national awards for excellence in teaching and learning.

The staff have won the Australian Learning and Teaching Council Citations, worth $10,000, for outstanding contributions to the quality of student learning.

The citations, awarded by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) (formerly known as the Carrick Institute), were presented at a celebration last month at the University's National Wine Centre, Adelaide.

University of Adelaide staff awarded a citation in 2008 were:

Dr Karin Barovich (School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (Geology & Geophysics))
For outstanding contribution to the personal and academic development of first-year students in Geology, leading to successful transition from high school to university.

Associate Professor Tom Burton (School of Humanities (English))
For successfully stimulating deep learning by bringing to the study of English both rigour and a boundless enthusiasm that challenge and inspire students to achieve.

Dr Katrina Falkner (School of Computer Science)
For enhancing learning and contributing to the successful transition of first-year Computer Science students through cooperative learning activities.

Associate Professor Peter Devitt (School of Medicine); and Mr Edward Palmer (Centre for Learning and Professional Development)
Team award: For the development of innovative and comprehensive blended learning resources to provide medical students stimulating opportunities to develop their problem-solving and diagnostic skills.

Associate Professor Simon Pyke (School of Chemistry & Physics (Chemistry))
For enabling successful learning in the discipline of organic chemistry by providing a supportive, student-centred learning environment that fosters self-confidence and independent learning.

Professor Hemanta Sarma (Australian School of Petroleum)
For initiating students into the profession of Petroleum Engineering while interacting with them to secure their welfare as individuals and success as scholars.

Associate Professor David Walker (School of Civil, Environmental & Mining Engineering)
For providing a supportive learning environment while improving learning outcomes through the implementation of a successful self-paced learning strategy for engineering modelling and analysis.

"The awards given to our staff are national recognition of the quality of their work, placing them among the finest educators Australia has to offer," said the University's Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor James McWha.

"They are to be congratulated not just for winning these awards, but for their unique and ongoing contributions to the quality of teaching and learning at our University.

"There is no doubt that the quality of staff makes a huge difference to the level of education students receive. The quality of staff and the educational experience at the University of Adelaide are major reasons why graduates of our University go on to excel in all fields of endeavour," Professor McWha said.

This is the third year in a row that a staff member from the Discipline of English at the University of Adelaide has received one of these $10,000 learning and teaching citations.

Over the past two years, three staff members from the School of Civil, Environmental & Mining Engineering have won these citations.

For more information about learning and teaching at the University of Adelaide, visit: www.adelaide.edu.au/learning/

Story by David Ellis

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Award-winning staff: standing (from left) Professor Hemanta Sarma, Associate Professor Tom Burton, Associate Professor Simon Pyke, Mr Edward Palmer, Associate Professor David Walker and Associate Professor Peter Devitt; seated (from left) Dr Katrina Falkner and Dr Karin Barovich

Award-winning staff: standing (from left) Professor Hemanta Sarma, Associate Professor Tom Burton, Associate Professor Simon Pyke, Mr Edward Palmer, Associate Professor David Walker and Associate Professor Peter Devitt; seated (from left) Dr Katrina Falkner and Dr Karin Barovich
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