Awards

Instructional faculty members who have not previously received the Distinguished Teaching Award are eligible. Check the list of past award winners to see if someone is eligible. A maximum of four awards are presented each year.

This award honours sustained and distinguished achievements in teaching, educational leadership and innovation over the course of an academic career. Dossiers are assessed based on evidence of the following criteria, which may include, but are not limited to, these requirements.

Teaching excellence

Teaching excellence refers to the intentional and reflective actions of an instructor to create an exceptional learning environment by engaging in pedagogical practices designed to maximize student learning. Instructors demonstrate excellence in the following ways:

1. Motivating students to learn and engage in the course
2. Creating a learning environment that acknowledges, respects and values diversity
3. Demonstrating involvement and support for student engagement and learning
4. Providing a flexible and adaptable approach to teaching
5. Using diverse and inclusive assessments to evaluate student learning
6. Seeking ways to engage in continuous improvement of teaching practice
7. Applying feedback received as part of the continuous improvement of teaching practice

Teaching leadership

Teaching leadership involves a significant transformation in teaching and learning at an institutional, disciplinary, community or societal level. Instructors demonstrate leadership in the following ways:

1. Leading collaborative initiatives that enhance student learning
2. Engaging in activities that recognize and reward teaching
3. Inspiring teaching improvement in others through collegial support, mentorship, professional development leadership, teaching resource development and other systematic efforts
4. Contributing to the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) within and beyond MacEwan University
5. Contributing teaching and learning expertise in ways that have influence beyond one’s practice, including sharing knowledge and research with others
6. Contributing to workshops or other opportunities about teaching and learning
7. Leading or making significant and identifiable contributions to creating or improving institutional policies related to teaching and learning (e.g., teaching evaluation, promotion and tenure guidelines, academic advising, accessibility and inclusion)

Educational innovation

Educational innovation is the novel execution of practices and activities that contribute to more effective teaching and learning practices. Instructors demonstrate innovation in the following ways:

1. Applying evidence-based practices to innovate course design
2. Aligning curriculum with institutional strategic priorities
3. Using appropriate technology to enhance the teaching and learning experience
4. Demonstrating flexibility and responsiveness in the application of teaching modalities

Instructional faculty members who have not received the Teaching Leadership in the past five years are eligible. A maximum of four awards are presented each year.

This award recognizes outstanding achievement and leadership in advancing teaching and learning at an institutional, disciplinary, community or societal level. Dossiers are assessed based on evidence of the following criteria, which may include, but are not limited to, these requirements:

1. Demonstrating contributions to the significant transformation of teaching and learning at an institutional, disciplinary, community or societal level
2. Developing initiatives that encourage innovative practices designed to improve student learning experiences and outcomes
3. Developing curricula, programs or courses that reflect and effectively advance institutional priorities
4. Demonstrating leadership in activities that engage or support students above and beyond the expected roles and responsibilities of faculty
5. Contributing to the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) within and beyond MacEwan University
6. Contributing to workshops or other opportunities about teaching and learning
7. Promoting a more inclusive, equitable and diverse learning environment
8. Serving in leadership roles on regional, national or international organizations dedicated to the teaching of a disciplinary or general focus

Instructional faculty who have not previously received the Early Career Teaching Excellence Award are eligible, provided they have less than five years of instructional experience as a full-time continuing faculty member at MacEwan University. Evidence from prior teaching experience will not be considered. A maximum of four awards are presented each year.

This award recognizes outstanding teaching and emerging educational leadership among new instructional faculty members. Dossiers are assessed based on evidence of the following criteria, which may include, but are not limited to, these requirements.

Teaching excellence

Teaching excellence refers to the intentional and reflective actions of an instructor to create an exceptional learning environment by engaging in pedagogical practices designed to maximize student learning. Instructors demonstrate excellence in the following ways:

1. Motivating students to learn and engage in the course
2. Creating a learning environment that acknowledges, respects and values diversity
3. Demonstrating involvement and support for student engagement and learning
4. Providing a flexible and adaptable approach to teaching
5. Using diverse and inclusive assessments to evaluate student learning
6. Seeking ways to engage in continuous improvement of teaching practice
7. Applying feedback received as part of the continuous improvement of teaching practice

Developing teaching leadership

Evidence of ongoing development and potential for excellence in educational leadership, which can include but is not limited to the following requirements:

8. Demonstrating evidence of reflective and scholarly practice in teaching
9. Inspiring teaching improvement in others through collegial support, mentorship, professional development leadership, teaching resource development and other systematic efforts
10. Demonstrating leadership in the design or development of an inclusive strategy, course or program of study
11. Demonstrating leadership in teaching and learning at the department or program level
12. Demonstrating evidence of personal ongoing professional development in teaching

Sessional instructional faculty who have not received the Sessional Instructor Teaching Excellence Award in the previous five years are eligible, provided they have taught two or more courses in the last two years at MacEwan University. A maximum of four awards are presented each year.

This award recognizes excellence in teaching among sessional faculty. Dossiers are assessed based on evidence of the following criteria, which may include, but are not limited to, these requirements.

Teaching excellence

Teaching excellence refers to the intentional and reflective actions of an instructor to create an exceptional learning environment through engaging in pedagogical practices designed to maximize student learning. Sessional instructors demonstrate excellence in the following ways:

1. Motivating students to learn and engage in the course
2. Creating a learning environment that acknowledges, respects and values diversity
3. Demonstrating involvement and support for student engagement and learning
4. Providing a flexible and adaptable approach to teaching
5. Using diverse and inclusive assessments to evaluate student learning
6. Seeking ways to engage in continuous improvement of teaching practice
7. Applying feedback received as part of the continuous improvement of teaching practice

All faculty and staff are eligible for the Teaching and Learning Impact Award. Individuals or teams are eligible for this award. A maximum of four awards are presented each year, with up to two reserved for the recognition of individuals and up to two reserved for teams.

This award recognizes a teaching or learning innovation, initiative or contribution that has made a significant and meaningful impact on students, colleagues, programs, the university and/or the broader community. Dossiers are assessed based on evidence of the following criteria, which may include, but are not limited to, these requirements.

1. Significantly improving student learning, experience, success, persistence or engagement
2. Improving accessibility, inclusion or participation for diverse learners
3. Partnering with students to co-create curriculum for improving teaching and learning
4. Developing a teaching practice or innovation that influences, supports or builds the capacity of colleagues to improve teaching and learning
5. Mobilizing or disseminating knowledge to influence teaching and learning beyond the original context
6. Designing, or redesigning, curriculum that substantially improves student learning experiences
7. Creating experiential, interdisciplinary, community-engaged or work-integrated learning opportunities that provide meaningful benefits for both students and partners
8. Advancing institutional practices, policies, processes or priorities related to teaching, learning, inclusion, student success or engagement
9. Creating open educational resources, teaching resources or other contributions that benefit learners and/or educators beyond the original context