Bright smiles for top teaching in Dental School

Wednesday, 20 November 2013

Two senior lecturers in the University of Adelaide's School of Dentistry have the brightest smiles today with the announcement they have won national recognition among Australia's best university teachers.

Sophie Karanicolas and Catherine Snelling together have won one of the prestigious Australian Awards for University Teaching. The $25,000 award was announced by Senator Scott Ryan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, at a presentation ceremony in Canberra last night.

Ms Karanicolas and Ms Snelling teamed up in 2000 to develop and introduce a curriculum for the University's Bachelor of Oral Health.

They continue their successful teaching partnership today and have earned international reputations as educational leaders in their field.

The Karanicolas-Snelling team developed an innovative curriculum that makes use of a variety of e-learning tools including blogs, wikis and interactive online learning modules, and has proven to be motivating and inspirational for students.

"Sophie and Catherine have forged an exceptional teaching partnership which has been a key factor in the successful development of the University's oral health program, and has had wider impact on teaching practice in the higher education community," says University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Warren Bebbington.

"The priority they place on engaging students and introducing a strong team culture among students from day one produces very positive responses from students and colleagues alike. Staff across the University have adapted their learning and teaching initiatives within their own disciplines.

"Their infectious enthusiasm for teaching and for oral health shines throughout; they thoroughly deserve this recognition."

The OLT Award is the latest of a long list of recognition for teaching excellence that the team have won including the University of Adelaide's Excellence in Education Award (2009), Stephen Cole the Elder Award for Excellence in Teaching (2010), the Vice-Chancellor and President's Award to Excellence in Teaching (2010) and an Australian Learning and Teaching Council Citation in 2010.

Sophie Karanicolas and Cathy Snelling

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