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Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 2

Assistance and Advice ........................................................................................................ 2 Evaluation ........................................................................................................................... 2

ADMINISTRATION AND APPLICATION PROCESS ............................................................... 3

AWARDS ................................................................................................................................... 4 DEAN’S AWARD FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE ............................................................................ 4

Eligibility .............................................................................................................................. 4 Applications ......................................................................................................................... 4 Criteria ................................................................................................................................ 5

DEAN’S AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO STUDENT LEARNING .......................... 6 Eligibility .............................................................................................................................. 6 Applications ......................................................................................................................... 6 Criteria ................................................................................................................................ 7

DEAN’S AWARD FOR PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE LEARNING ...................................................... 8 Eligibility .............................................................................................................................. 8 Applications ......................................................................................................................... 8

APPENDIX ............................................................................................................................... 10 APPLICATION FORM ................................................................................................................ 10

Dean’s Learning & Teaching Awards

2016 Guidelines

 

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INTRODUCTION

The UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Dean’s Awards for Learning and Teaching and for Supervision Excellence recognise and encourage excellence in learning and teaching and postgraduate supervision. All awards are designed to: ü highlight the fundamental importance of teaching to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; ü reinforce our values, as defined by our Strategic Intent; ü reflect our priorities for strategic development of learning and teaching as outlined from time to

time; ü showcase outstanding examples of practice that enhance student learning; ü build Faculty capacity and individual capability for the development of competitive nominations

for institutional and national OLT Awards for Teaching Excellence. The following awards may be allocated each year: 1. Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence

a. General $3500 b. Early Career $1500

2. Dean’s Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning $500 (x2) 3. Dean’s Award for Programs that Enhance Learning $2000

The prize money can be used towards Learning and Teaching and professional development and is made available in the following year for expenditure in that calendar year. Staff members who are successful are encouraged to apply for a Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Award and/or the Office of Learning and Teaching Award as appropriate. Staff members who are unsuccessful are encouraged to re-apply the following year.

Assistance and Advice

General information on excellence in Learning and Teaching can be found on the UNSW Teaching @ UNSW website, particularly in the section on teaching portfolios.

http://teaching.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/upload- files/AcadmicPromotion-WritingYourUNSWTeachingPortfolio_000.pdf

Evaluation

This L&T Awards process will be evaluated by the Associate Dean (Education) biannually.

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   ADMINISTRATION AND APPLICATION PROCESS

Notification of Award Awards will be announced in February each year.

Endorsement of Award Recipients by the Dean The Dean endorses award recipients.

Assessment of Applications by Selection Committee

The Selection Committee will recommend to the Dean the best application(s) in each category.

Submission of Application Endorsed applications are to be submitted to the Learning & Teaching Unit at a

date in November to be announced each year.

Endorsement of Application by School Application must be submitted to the Head of School for endorsement.

Applicants must inform themselves of their School' s turnaround times / deadline for application endorsement.

Nomination Nomination can be by self, student or School.

Eligibility Nominating person to check eligibility of nominee for the award.

Schools  may  consider  input  and  feedback  from  students  in  their  nomination.  

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 AWARDS  

Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence

The Dean’s Awards for Teaching Excellence recognises outstanding individuals.

Eligibility

(a) General • The award is open to individual academic and conjoint staff of UNSW, either full time or part

time, with at least three years of service in the Faculty. • This award recognises sustained excellence (over a period of at least five years)

(b) Early Career • The award is open to individual academic and conjoint staff of UNSW, either full time or part

time, with less than three years of service in the Faculty. • This award recognises developing excellence and excellence in prospect.

Staff members who have received a Dean’s Learning and Teaching award are not eligible to apply for an award in the same category for five years, but may apply in another category after three years from the time of application.

Applications

Each application must be submitted on the application form and accompanied by a statement of no more than five pages in length from the applicant outlining the reasons for the application.

Applications for the General Award should address all of the criteria as listed below, while applications for the Early Career award should address the four criteria listed below.

Applications will be judged against the criteria and the extent to which they show evidence in the written statement:

• that their contribution has influenced student learning, student engagement or the overallstudent experience;

• that their contribution has gained recognition from fellow staff and/or UNSW;• that their contribution has been sustained over time;• of the extent to which the claims for excellence are supported by a range of evidence

including formal and informal evaluation;• of the extent of creativity, imagination or innovation, irrespective of whether the approach

involves traditional learning environments or technology-based developments;• of references and supporting statements from nominators/referees; and• of the contribution that the applicant’s teaching has made to UNSW learning and

teaching priority goals (as set out in the current UNSW Learning and Teaching EnhancementPlan).

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Criteria E

arly

Car

eer

Gen

eral

1. Approaches to teaching that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn;For example: • fostering student development by stimulating curiosity and independence in

learning • contributing to the development of students’ critical thinking skills, analytical

skills and scholarly values • encouraging student engagement through the enthusiasm shown for learning

and teaching • inspiring and motivating students through the use of authentic

profession/discipline specific problems, cases and/or examples. 2. Development of curricula and resources that reflect a command of the field;

For example: • communicating clear objectives and expectations for student learning that

reflect a command of the field • demonstrating up-to-date knowledge of the discipline(s) and professional

practices associated with the field in the design of resources, learning activities and assessment tasks

• developing learning environments and using technologies to support learningthat align with those graduates will be expected to use in their workplace(s)

• developing and implementing research/enquiry/problem-based approaches tolearning and teaching

3. Approaches to assessment and feedback that foster independent learning;For example: • aligning assessment strategies with the specific aims and outcomes for student

learning • implementing both formative and summative assessment• providing timely, useful feedback to students on their learning• using a variety of standards based assessment and feedback tasks and

strategies.4. Respect and support for the development of students as individuals;

For example: • participating in the effective and empathetic guidance and advising of students• encouraging students from equity, disability and other demographic subgroups

to participate and achieve success in their courses• responsiveness to diversity among students and support for international

students in learning and teaching practice• influencing the overall academic, social and cultural experience of higher

education.5. Scholarly activities that have influenced and enhanced learning and teaching.

For example: • showing advanced skills in evaluation and reflective practice• participating in and contributing to professional activities related to learning and

teaching• coordination, management and leadership of courses and student learning• conducting and publishing research related to teaching• demonstrating leadership through activities that have broad influence on the

profession.

 

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Dean’s Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

The Dean’s Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning recognise individuals or groups of staff who have made outstanding contributions to student learning in a specific area of responsibility over a period of at least one session. Up to two awards will be made each year and are made subject to opportunity (i.e. contributions will be gauged against the opportunity that respective staff members have had to make them with consideration to factors such as role, seniority, length of service, etc.). Eligibility

The award is open to academic and/or professional staff, whether full-time, part-time, or sessional staff, and institutional associates (including tutors, casual lecturers and people external to the University from the professions or industry, whether paid or unpaid) and recognise excellence in any one of the criteria as listed below. Staff members who have received a Dean’s Learning and Teaching award are not eligible to apply for an award in the same category for five years, but may apply in another category after three years from the time of application. Applications

Each application must be submitted on the application form and accompanied by a statement of no more than two pages in length from the applicant outlining the reasons for the application. It should address one of the criteria. Applications will be judged against the criteria and the extent to which they show evidence in the written statement:  

• that their contribution has influenced student learning, student engagement or the overall student experience;

• that their contribution has gained recognition from fellow staff and/or UNSW; • that their contribution has been sustained over time; • of the extent to which the claims for excellence are supported by a range of evidence

including formal and informal evaluation; • of the extent of creativity, imagination or innovation, irrespective of whether the approach

involves traditional learning environments or technology-based developments; • of references and supporting statements from nominators/referees; and • of the contribution that the applicant’s teaching has made to UNSW learning and

teaching priority goals (as set out in the current UNSW Learning and Teaching Enhancement Plan).

 

 

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Criteria

1. Approaches to teaching that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn; For example: • fostering student development by stimulating curiosity and independence in learning • contributing to the development of students’ critical thinking skills, analytical skills and

scholarly values • encouraging student engagement through the enthusiasm shown for learning and

teaching • inspiring and motivating students through the use of authentic profession/discipline

specific problems, cases and/or examples. 2. Development of curricula and resources that reflect a command of the field;

For example: • communicating clear objectives and expectations for student learning that reflect a

command of the field • demonstrating up-to-date knowledge of the discipline(s) and professional practices

associated with the field in the design of resources, learning activities and assessment tasks

• developing learning environments and using technologies to support learning that align with those graduates will be expected to use in their workplace(s)

• developing and implementing research/enquiry/problem-based approaches to learning and teaching

3. Approaches to assessment and feedback that foster independent learning; For example: • aligning assessment strategies with the specific aims and outcomes for student learning • implementing both formative and summative assessment • providing timely, useful feedback to students on their learning • using a variety of standards based assessment and feedback tasks and strategies.

4. Respect and support for the development of students as individuals; For example: • participating in the effective and empathetic guidance and advising of students • encouraging students from equity, disability and other demographic subgroups to

participate and achieve success in their courses • responsiveness to diversity among students and support for international students in

learning and teaching practice • influencing the overall academic, social and cultural experience of higher education.

5. Scholarly activities that have influenced and enhanced learning and teaching. For example: • showing advanced skills in evaluation and reflective practice • participating in and contributing to professional activities related to learning and teaching • coordination, management and leadership of courses and student learning • conducting and publishing research related to teaching • demonstrating leadership through activities that have broad influence on the profession.

 

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Dean’s Award for Programs that Enhance Learning

The Dean’s Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning recognise programs and services that make an outstanding contribution to the quality of student learning and of student learning experience in the Faculty. The award may be granted to programs that target any of the following nine categories:

(i) Widening participation, encompassing programs that enhance access, widen participation,

and support progression of students with high potential, irrespective of their background. (ii) Innovation in curricula, learning and teaching, encompassing innovations in curricula

(program/course design) that: encourage novel approaches to learning and teaching; support the development of graduates who exemplify the University’s graduate capabilities; enable efficient and effective assessment and feedback to support learning; enable and support research-integrated learning and teaching approaches; and/or utilize the potential of new and/or emerging technologies.

(iii) Educational partnerships and collaborations with other organisations, that leverage the Faculty’s strong national and international links with schools, other universities, professional bodies, businesses and industries to develop and deliver curricula and learning opportunities that are rigorous, engaging and ensure our graduates are appropriately prepared for their careers or future studies.

(iv) The first-year experience, encompassing programs aimed at smoothing the academic and social transition to higher education, learning and teaching within large student groups, and the quality of the first-year student experience.

(v) Flexible learning and teaching, encompassing approaches that afford students flexibility in time, place and/or mode of learning.

(vi) Postgraduate education, encompassing programs that focus on enhancing: postgraduate curricula in coursework and/or research degrees; postgraduate research supervision; postgraduate learning support; and/or postgraduate student experience.

(vii) Services supporting student learning, encompassing services directly related to student learning such as services for specific groups of students, information access, course advising, language and learning support, counselling and disability support.

(viii) Global citizenship and internationalisation, including programs focusing on the development of curricula, student exchange, student experience, international recruitment, and transition programs for international students.

Assessment and feedback practices, including the introduction of standards and rubric based assessment, grading and feedback. Eligibility

Nominations are open to groups (comprising two or more academic, conjoint, professional and technical staff, either full time or part time), who have worked collaboratively on particular programs that have resulted in sustained, enhanced student learning experiences. Staff members who have received a Dean’s Learning and Teaching award are not eligible to apply for an award in the same category for five years, but may apply in another category after three years from the time of application. Applications  

Each applications must be submitted on the application form and accompanied by a statement of no more than three pages in length from the applicant outlining the reasons for the application. It should address all of the criteria. Nominations should be based on the Selection Criteria and clearly indicate (a) the category or categories under which the nomination is made, and (b) the name of the program, the name of the lead applicant or the person who will take responsibility on behalf of the group for the application and the names of all of the staff included in the application. Applications will be judged against the criteria and the extent to which they show evidence in the

 

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written statement:

• that their contribution has influenced student learning, student engagement or the overall student experience;

• that their contribution has gained recognition from fellow staff and/or UNSW; • that their contribution has been sustained over time; • of the extent to which the claims for excellence are supported by a range of evidence

including formal and informal evaluation; • of the extent of creativity, imagination or innovation, irrespective of whether the approach

involves traditional learning environments or technology-based developments; • of references and supporting statements from nominators/referees; and • of the contribution that the applicant’s teaching has made to UNSW learning and

teaching priority goals (as set out in the current UNSW Learning and Teaching Enhancement Plan).

Criteria

Applications for the Dean’s Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning will be assessed on evidence provided in relation to the following four criteria:

1. Distinctiveness, coherence and clarity of purpose; Extent to which the program has clear objectives and systematic approaches to coordination, implementation and evaluation.

2. Influence on student learning and student engagement; Extent to which the program targets identified needs and directly or indirectly enhances student learning, student engagement and/or the overall student experience of higher education.

3. Breadth of impact; Extent to which the program has led to widespread benefits for students and their learning beyond the original context in which the program was implemented.

4. Concern for equity and diversity; Extent to which the program promotes and supports equity and inclusiveness by improving access, participation and outcomes for diverse student groups.