TRINITY EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARDS
8th June 2023
Centre for Academic Practice, Trinity Teaching & Learning
About the Awards
The Trinity Excellence inTeaching Awards are designed to recognise and celebrate those who have made an outstanding contribution to the pursuit of teaching excellence. 'Teaching excellence’ can be defined as achieving and sustaining outstanding quality of teaching and positiveeducational impact throughthe effectiveuse of pedagogiesthatengage andenhance studentlearning. Theprestigeof the awardreflectsthe value that Trinityplaces on promoting teaching as a scholarly activity and the importance placed on enriching the learning opportunities of its students.
This year saw a change in how Trinity awards Teaching Excellence, with a new two-phase process initiated. In the first phase, each School convened a panel tasked with identifying a deserving candidate from applicants within their respective schools to be honoured with a prestigious School Award for Teaching Excellence. In the second phase, School Award winners were invited to submit their application to be considered by an institutional review panel for a Trinity Excellence in Teaching Award. Chaired by the Dean of Graduate Studies, Prof Martine Smith, this year’s institutional panel included:
the Senior Lecturer, Dr David Shepherd;
the Head of Academic Practice, Dr Pauline Rooney;
Academic staff representatives: Dr Annemarie Bennett (Faculty of Health Sciences), Dr Cormac McGuinness (Faculty of STEM), Dr Julie Regan (Faculty of AH&SS);
Postgraduate Student representative, Mr Oran Cassidy;
Dr Jane Pritchard, Head of Education Development at the University of Oxford.
A special thank you to our panelsthis year, including our external reviewer, Dr Jane Pritchard. And finally, thank you to Ms Jade Concannon, (Education Support Officer, the Centre for Academic Practice), for coordinating the Awards process each year.
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Teaching excellence can be defined as achieving and sustaining outstanding quality of teaching and positive educational impact through the effective use of pedagogies that engage and enhance student learning.
Trinity Excellence in Teaching Award Winners 2023
Dr Yvonne Lynch, School of Linguistic, Speech & Communication Sciences
“Yvonne is a good-hearted person and an academic who is trustworthy in word and deed. Yvonne's teaching is of a very high standard because she ensures she walks the talk in her lectures; she is approachable, passionate, well prepared and if this were not enough, she also ensures effective workshop-based activities in her lectures. Yvonne is a good model of an academic person who really knows how to bring concepts across in a way that will be of best benefittothefutureclientswhomherstudentswillbeworkingwith.”
Student Nomination
Dr
Brendan
O’Connell, School of English
“Brendanis a warm, empathetic andunderstanding individualwho is always engaging and bright in every lecture. He feels like an approachable individual and has proven to be so on many occasions whenIhaveneededhelpandadvice,onwhichoccasionshehasgone out of his way to be more than helpful. Brendan also went out of his way to console us in terms of being nervous for exams and essays, reminding us ofsupportswe hadandjustbeingrealwith us”.
Student Nomination
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Dr Jonathan Dukes School of Computer Science & Statistics
“[This professor's passion for his subject, his understanding of how studentslearn,andhiswillingnesstoimplementnewtechnology into his module was outstanding… I felt this professor's 'hybrid' way of running his module, with the use of up-to-date software and automatic marking, was fit for what will inevitably be the future of teaching & learning for undergrads... I think he is worthy of an award forattheveryleast:modernisingamodule forthe new generationof students”.
Student Nomination
Dr Liam Kneafsey, School of Social Sciences & Philosophy
“To put it anecdotally- when the whole class applauds you after a lecture,youknowyou’vedoneagoodjob.Whenhegives alecture, it feels like he is explaining something he cares about and wants you to understand too…Dr Kneafsey has helped me truly enjoy the study of Political Science, and I am sure many other students as well…Dr Kneafsey is undoubtedly the best lecturer I have had and has a clear love and understanding for the material he teaches”.
Student Nomination
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School Award for Teaching Excellence: 2023 Award Winners
Prof Maeve Caldwell, School of Medicine
“[She] was very kind and supportive to me. She helped me a lot withallthequestionsIhadandmade mefeelverywelcomedasa new student. Thanks to her lab works and lectures [I] feel much more confident about my gained knowledge and skills. She has organised amazing lab works during which I had a lot of practice. Sheisverypassionateaboutteachinganditmakestheprocessfor students easier and more motivational”.
Student Nomination
Dr Rebecca Carr, School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies
“'What distinguishes Dr Carr's pedagogy as exceptional and worthy of an award is that it is impactful both in the classroom andbeyond.DrCarrhasaremarkablecapacitytopresentcomplex ideas in humanities and social sciences in a way that is educational, enjoyable and relatable to student's lives…She prepares extensively for each class… she is one of the most empathetic,kindandjoyfulteachersinTrinitywhoiswelladmired by staff and students alike”.
Student Nomination
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Prof Catherine Comiskey, School of Nursing & Midwifery
“There are not enough awards that Catherine can receive to demonstrate the impact she has on her students, but the School of Nursing and Midwifery is extremely fortunate to have someonelikeCatherine.Ihavebeenineducationfor25yearsand I have never once come across a person like Catherine, she is a leader, a role model, an inspiration and someone to look up to and admire. If I can be half the teacher Catherine is, then I will consider myself lucky.”
Student Nomination
Dr Mauro Ferreira, School of Physics
“Ibelievethatheisamongthebestlecturers,infactprobablythe best lecturer I have had during my time in Trinity...I believe that he has been the most successful at making the material seem highly interesting and easily understandable, simply by virtue of howhedeliveredhislectures.Personally,Ifeelthathehasshown a uniquely high level of dedication to those of us he teaches”.
Student Nomination
Dr Breiffni Fitzgerald, School of Engineering
“Dr Fitzgerald has an outstanding way of teaching complicated engineering topics in a simplified and understandable manner. This approach greatly motivated me and my fellow classmates in the subject… I think [his] teaching methods are worthy of an award because they are encouraging and motivating.The way he simplifiesatopichelpsinremovinganyreservationsthatstudents may have about their capability”.
Student Nomination
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Dr Clare Kelly, School of Psychology
“I have not attended a lecture like Dr Kelly's Psychology of the Climate Crisis. Dr Kelly does outstanding work in engaging students in this difficult topic, while simultaneously giving different members of staff a platform to present their work on ClimateAction.Crucially,shehasdonewhatisthecentralgoalof anyteacher:Shehasinspiredmetotakeamoreactivepartinthe world”.
Student Nomination
Dr Ewa Komorek, School of Law
“She never ceases to inspire her students and make them want tolearnmoreeveryday.Notonlydoesshesmileateveryoneand is extremely friendly and approachable, but she also actively reaches out and tries to support us whenever we might seem stressedoroverwhelmed.Sheissobeautifullyhumaneandatthe same time radiates somuch knowledge andwisdom”.
Student Nomination
Dr Gerard McHugh, School of Business
“Thorough. Passionate. Prepared. The way Dr McHugh was able tobringthecohortalongonanexcitingjourneythroughFinancial Statement Analysis, where majority of us had no previous experience in the topic, was well paced and perfectly executed…His passion for the topic made it intriguing…. He was able to simplify complex theories into understandable chunks whichis somethingonly good teacherscando”.
Student Nomination
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Dr Miriam Logan, School of Mathematics
“Dr Logan has an incredible approach to teaching that isn’t often found among our other lecturers… her lessons are structured in such a way that it becomes how I think about that problem. It carved out the path in my brain such that even when I’m reviewing the material for the firsttime since we last covered it, I can picture her saying the lessonto me again”.
The Centre for Academic Practice would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to each staff member for their remarkable achievement in being honored with an Award. Your exceptional dedication and contributions have truly set a remarkable standard for excellence.
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Student Nomination
The Centre for Academic Practice
"Ourvisionistostrengthenculturesandcommunitiesofteachingand learningatTrinitythatareunderpinnedbyresearch,innovation,inclusivity, sustainabilityandcollaboration."
“Ourmissionistofosterandfacilitateopportunitiesforcolleaguesto advancetheirpracticeinteaching,learning,andassessment."
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