Recognising Excellence in Learning and Teaching

School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Driven by a desire to enhance mental health, Michelle developed the innovative and internationally benchmarked communication and wellbeing curriculum in the School of Animal and Veterinary Science. Michelle applies a scholarly approach to her teaching and is a nationally and internationally recognised teacher in her field.

Her simulation-based and learner-centred teaching methods help students integrate and apply key evidence-based employability skills; critical for lifelong professional and personal success.

School of Humanities
Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

The foundations of Ben’s teaching philosophy are that you commit yourself to something you love, and you don’t hesitate to share that passion. For students in his classroom, this passion and motivation are achieved through total immersion in the languages of French and Film Studies.

Ben empowers his students to take charge of their own intellectual development by creating a vibrant environment that combines precision, accuracy, and four core values: ‘belonging’, ‘relationships’, ‘autonomy’ and ‘competence’

Adelaide Health Simulation
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Associate Professor Adam Montagu is Director of Adelaide Health Simulation (AHS) within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. AHS has seen rapid expansion over the past decade, and his leadership throughout this period has delivered a world-class health care simulation facility unrivalled in Asia Pacific.

AHS has attracted significant local, national and global attention. Adam and his team are now routinely sought to share their process and contribution to patient safety and student learning.

School of Social Sciences
Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Dr Anna Szorenyi's supervisory practice is holistic and relational. She achieves excellent research and career outcomes through treating students as whole persons and attending to the affective dimensions of the research process. This enables students to find their own research identities and develop their own practice.

She has a special interest in supporting students from non-traditional backgrounds, including neurodivergence. She is a leader in improving supervision practice across the University.

School of Humanities
Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Associate Professor Peter C. Pugsley has aimed for excellence in all facets of his HDR supervisory practices. His research and teaching in Asian film and media has attracted many international students who have all successfully navigated the pathways toward their doctorate.

Through a style that nurtures and rewards the communication of student research findings, he has contributed to more than 15 published, career-focused, research outcomes from 11 successful HDR completions.

School of Education
Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

After a 20-year award-winning career as a secondary school teacher with a decade of executive-level leadership Mathew moved to higher education. As program coordinator for the MEd, Mathew transformed the program.

Mathew is passionate about educating the next generation of teachers and leaders who are committed to evidence-informed teaching practice to improve student learning regardless of circumstance. He is Interim Head of the School of Education and Acting Deputy Dean (Learning & Teaching) for ABLE.

Team Members

• Associate Professor Tamara Page (Lead)
• Ms Elyce Kenny
• Mr Iain Everett

Adelaide Nursing School
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

With the declining opportunities for nursing students to complete a clinical placement within the paediatric setting, and the complexities of simulating this unique patient group in the laboratory, a new program of study was developed. The observational Kindergym experience enhanced the nursing curriculum and provided hands-on experience for nursing students in communicating, assessing and interacting with children and their caregivers. This provided them with a work-integrated-learning experience that they potentially otherwise would not have had.

Team Members

• Dr David Butler (Lead)
• Mr Nicholas Crouch

ECSAS/SAS
Division of Academic and Student Engagement

Dr David Butler and Mr Nicholas Crouch are the lecturers of the Maths Learning Centre (MLC), which belongs to the whole university as part of the Division of Academic and Student Engagement. Their MLC Drop-In Centre supports retention, learning and success for thousands of students and is deeply valued by both past and present students. Their innovative and inclusive teaching approaches have created a safe place where all students are welcome and encouraged to learn.

School of Humanities
Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Dr Michelle Phillipov's inclusive approach to teaching in Media enables students to individualise course content and assessment to suit their own level of professional experience and confidence. Drawing on examples from courses including MDIA 3207 Media Industry Transitions and MDIA 2227/7005 Media Relations, this application demonstrates the success of Michelle’s approach in enhancing students’ learning outcomes, satisfaction, and critical capacities, as well as in influencing colleagues to adopt similar personalised approaches in their own teaching.

Team Members

• Dr Anna Leonard (Lead)
• Dr Bonnie Williams
• Dr Emma Muhlack

School of Biomedicine
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Anna, Bonnie and Emma form the coordination team behind Create Communicate Connect (CCC), the core first-year course for the Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (BHMS) program. Together, they have developed an iterative approach to developing innovative and authentic assessment that constructively aligns to core foundational skills within the BHMS program. The effectiveness of their assessment design has now reached beyond CCC and has the potential to develop academic-skills university wide.

Team Members

• Dr Mahmud Masum (Lead)
• Associate Professor Janice Loftus
• Paul Gregory John Moss
• Nurmalisa Che Ali
• Dr Ary Suryawathy

Adelaide Business School
Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

This project implemented three strategies to leverage blended pedagogy: (1) animated videos, (2) chunked video modules with quizzes and (3) active learning applications such as Mentimeter and Padlet. Facilitating student engagement by using a blended context results in enhanced learning outcomes, and this is achieved by designing opportunities that allow students to make connections between synchronous and asynchronous learning activities. An evidence-based reflective approach was pursued in developing these teaching innovations.

Special commendations - COVID 19 Emergency teaching response 

In 2020 there were no DASE sponsored Commendations due to budgetary restrictions imposed to manage the COVID 19 pandemic emergency response. 

Instead, Special Commendations were offered to recognise the exceptional work in teaching and learning that academic and professional staff supporting teaching have undertaken in response to the COVID19 pandemic.  

In recognition of the increased workload imposed by the changes in teaching mode required by the emergency response we have simplified the application process. 

Awards were made to staff who demonstrated agility, creativity and innovation in responding to the unique learning and teaching context created by the COVID19 pandemic.