12 December 2007

Honorary graduates awards for innovative teaching

Photo opportunity: 12.30 pm, Thursday December 13th,
New Teaching Block (off Old Hawkhill)

Four members of the teaching staff at the University of Dundee will be honoured on Thursday (December 13th) for their work in producing innovative teaching.

Thanks to an initiative from Dr J McPherson and the generosity of honorary graduates, the University established an annual award for innovative teaching in 1994, with the aim of providing an opportunity to recognise and reward innovation in any aspect of teaching within the institution.

Winning submissions are awarded a prize of £1,000.

This year’s winners:

• Mr Graham Pullin, School of Computing & School of Design, for "The Museum of Lost Interactions" - http://www.idl.dundee.ac.uk/moli/index.php
• Mrs Hannah Whaley, Learning Centre, for "Groupwork Assessment System"
• Dr Martine van Ittersum & Dr Matthew Ward, School of Humanities (History), for "Weblogs in History Teaching at Levels 1 and 2"

Winners, and submissions which are highly commended, have the opportunity to present at a dissemination event which is open to all colleagues from across the University.

Dr Lorraine Walsh, Director of Academic Professional Development, commented: "‘The Honorary Graduates’ Award provides colleagues involved in teaching and learning with an excellent opportunity to showcase innovative practice from their discipline area."

The University is also announcing two new awards as part of its Learning & Teaching Strategy - the Senate Award for Excellence in Teaching (in academic session 2007-08) and the Chancellor’s Award for Lifetime Achievement in Teaching (to come into effect in academic session 2008-09). Further information on all the awards can be found at www.dundee.ac.uk/ppd/apd/awards.htm

NOTES TO EDITORS

The following three nominations were "Highly Commended" in the Honorary Graduates Awards for Innovative Teaching:

• Dr Karen Lee, Ms Lee Bracher, Mrs Linda Carruthers & Mr John Lee, School of Nursing & Midwifery, for "Using simulation with wikis and journals to teach advanced clinical practice"
• Professor Christine Helliar, Ms Elizabeth Monk, Dr Louise Crawford & Ms Lorna Stevenson, School of Accounting & Finance, for "SCAM: A web-based audit teaching package" - http://scam-plc.co.uk/
• Dr Fraser Smith, School of Civil Engineering, for "Beam Boffin - An Interactive Beam Behaviour and Analysis Program".

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Roddy Isles
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University of Dundee
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E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk