Commendations for the Enhancement and Innovation of Student Learning

All applications will be assessed on the following:

IMPACT

• Has the applicant provided sufficient context to understand the nature of the issue/problem/setting the activity occurred in (or in response to)?
• Has the applicant adequately demonstrated the impact i.e. enhancement of student learning, using a range of evidence?
• Has the applicant demonstrated sustained impact  (over at least 2 years)?
• Has the applicant demonstrated impact beyond their immediate context?

SCHOLARSHIP & REFLECTIVE PRACTICE

• Does the application adequately describe the pedagogical/theoretical/scholarly underpinnings of the approach to learning and teaching/support/HDR supervision?
• Has the applicant demonstrated that they use a cycle of reflection and evaluation to support their practice?

INNOVATION

Is the activity described innovative?

Defining pedagogical innovation or innovation in learning and teaching 

Pedagogical innovation is intentional change in teaching practice made to enhance or transform student learning experience and outcomes, including the development of skills and attributes needed for post-study success.  Innovation in education is primarily motivated by the desire to engage students and enhance learning, to address learning and teaching challenges, adjust to changing circumstances, and to improve communication and relationships with students. The innovation may be the integration of an existing approach, method, or technique into a new context that is not already widespread in the teaching of the discipline or within a Department or School. 

References

Walder, A. M. (2017). Pedagogical Innovation in Canadian higher education: Professors’ perspectives on its effects on teaching and learning. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 54, 71-82. 

Serdyukov, P. (2017). Innovation in education: what works, what doesn’t, and what to do about it?. Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning

WRITTEN APPLICATION

• Does the application address the chosen category adequately?
• Is the application well written and easy to follow?
• Has the applicant used an appropriate narrative reflective writing style supported by evidence throughout?

Implementing effective HDR Supervisory Practices category

Applications in this category will also be assessed on their track record of successful HDR candidate outcomes and engagement in high quality supervisory practice over five years or more. Applicants should also refer to the selection criteria listed above.

Note: Applicants in this category are required to supply a copy of their individual supervision dashboard from the Supervisor Classification and Reporting System (SCRS).

• Applications are invited from academic and professional staff, from all Faculties and Divisions of the University. Both individual and team applications are encouraged.
• Applicants may only apply for one Commendation in any year, in any category.
• Applicants who have previously received a Commendation or a Stephen Cole the Elder for Excellence Award are eligible to apply for a Commendation two years after receiving the Commendation or Award. For team submissions, this includes any member of a winning team application who has contributed 40% more towards the winning application.
• Applicants must have been employed at the University of Adelaide for no less than two years full time (or part time equivalent). As evidence of two years worth of sustained impact must be demonstrated within the application.
• Should an applicant apply for both a Commendation and a Stephen Cole Award in the same year, they can only be awarded one prize, and will be removed from contention from the other category.  NOTE:  These award types are quite different so the same application will not be suitable for submission into both schemes.
• Team submissions can only include members with a contribution of 10 per cent or higher. This means that the maximum number of team members is 10. 

Each application for a Commendation should contain:

1. Application Form - online in 2023

Complete all details on the online application form. Note - your progress on this form cannot be saved, so you must compete and attach all information at the same time.

Summary - The application form must also include a short summary of the application (maximum 75 words), written in third person. For successful applicants, this summary will be used in promotional material.

Endorsement - The completed application must have the endorsement of one of the following: Executive Dean, Deputy Dead, Associate Head, Dean of Graduate Studies, HDR Convenor, Postgraduate Coordinator, Head of School, Head of Discipline, Faculty Manager, or Line Manager.

Applicants will be asked to supply details of their endorser at the time of submission, in addition to confirming that they have provided a copy of their written statement to this person.  All endorsers will be contacted to confirm that they support the application after submission. 

The applicant or the team representative, will be required to sign the declaration provided at the end of the online form.

2. Written statement

This is where you write to the selection criteria.  The written statement is limited to three A4 pages in total (11 point Arial or Calibri, narrow fonts must not be used).

All evidence must be included in the three pages no appendixes are permitted.

It is the central element of the application as it provides the opportunity for applicants to describe their activities and contributions.  Applicants should ensure the following aspects are included/ considered in their submission:

• Style – write using a narrative style, ensuring the application follows a logical sequence (problem/ challenge/ claim, solution/ idea, supporting evidence)

• Impact – provide context, demonstrate your impact using a range of evidence, illustrate how your impact has been sustained (over at least 2 years). Can you demonstrate impact beyond your immediate context?

• Scholarship - does your application adequately describe the pedagogical/theoretical/scholarly underpinnings of the approach to/ support for learning and teaching/HDR supervision?

• Reflective practice - not only should you describe the nature of the activities, but demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the impact that the activities have had on student learning and engagement. Can you demonstrate a cycle of reflection and evaluation to support your practice?

4.  Individual SCRS supervision dashboard

    Implementing effective HDR Supervisory Practices’ category only

3. Team Statement of Contribution

• For team applications only
• Up to one page outlining each team members name and indication of the percentage contribution of each team member (in order from highest to lowest).
• This should be followed by a clear explanation of the role of each team member.
• Refer to the eligibility requirements regarding team members who have previously been awarded a Teaching Commendation or Stephen Cole the Elder award.

Note that team members are required to have a contribution of 10 per cent or higher, with a maximum of 10 team members.

Applicants must provide evidence in support of their claims against the selection criteria, and will be expected to draw upon a variety of evidence, which may include:

• Self-assessment, reflection on professional development, and scholarship/publications
• Student and/or staff feedback (e.g. surveys and evaluations, unsolicited feedback),
• Student learning (e.g. assessment results, grade distributions, retention and completion data, learning analytics).
• Peer review (e.g. review of classroom practice, curriculum content, or learning materials, mentoring relationships, review of scholarly contribution and research relating to teaching and learning).
• eSELTs (ensuring that these are supplied in context, i.e. – benchmarking against others within your school, faculty or the institution.)

Refer to this additional information on types of evidence, which was presented in the online information session.

Applicants in the Implementing Effective HDR Supervisory Practices category are also encouraged to consider the following sources of evidence, in addition to those listed above:

• promotion of industry engagement,
• demonstrated engagement in high quality and innovative research supervision practice,
• successful and timely HDR completions,
• any co-publication or production of other research outputs with or by their candidates,
• the development of HDR candidate’s employability skills and professional networks,
• positive post-graduation outcomes of candidates, and
• supporting statements from current and graduated candidates and academic colleagues

All evidence must be included in the written statement - and included in the three page limit.

In 2023 applications should be submitted via an online form.

Applicants will need to attached their submission as a three page PDF document within the online form.

Submissions are due by 9.00am Monday 9 October, 2023

Applicants will receive an email of confirmation once their applications have been received.  If you do not receive this email please contact teachexcellence@adelaide.edu.au for confirmation.

Endorsement: Your nominated Endorser will be sent a copy of your submitted application and asked to provide their endorsement in writing - confirming your excellent practice, and that they believe you adhere to the University's Values and Behaviours Framework.

NOTE: University reserves the right to not award if there are any concerns regarding adherence to the Values and Behaviour Framework

Completed application must have the endorsement of one of the following: Executive Dean, Deputy Dead, Associate Head, Dean of Graduate Studies, HDR Convenor, Postgraduate Coordinator, Head of School, Head of Discipline, Faculty Manager, or Line Manager.

The endorser will be sent a copy of the application once submitted. They will be asked to confirm that they have read and endorse the application's content. 

They will also be asked to verify that the applicant adheres to the University's Values and Behaviour Framework.

As such, applicants are asked to provide a copy of their written statement to their nominated endorser prior to submission.   A short response from the endorser is all that is required.

Applications will be assessed by a selection panel, consisting of:

• Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Learning) - Convenor
• Director, Education Quality
• one HDR Convenor
• one Deputy Dean (Learning and Teaching)
• one previous Commendation recipient

In 2023 up to seven Commendations will be awarded.

Up to five awards will be presented across the Learning and Teaching categories, and up to two awards will be presented in the Implementing effective HDR Supervisory Practices category.

All recipients will be awarded $2,000 which will be credited to a project code of their choice (consultancy funds preferred).  Prizes cannot be split, with teams required to nominate one project code for the entire amount.

Applicants will be advised of the outcome from early November. Feedback for unsuccessful applicants will be provided to assist with future applications.

All recipients will be presented with a certificate of achievement at the annual Celebration of Learning and Teaching event, which has been scheduled for Thursday 30 November, 2023. 

Family and friends in addition to work colleagues are encouraged to attend this event.

A range of resources are available on the Resources for Applicants page (staff log in required) including information session recordings, previous applications, important definitions and more.

See the key dates above for information on other sessions you may like to attend throughout the year.