Core Teaching Awards

Nominations for these awards are now open - closing date cob Friday 26th July 2024

Please send nominations to: Mehak Madan at CORE (admin@core.edu.au) 

The CORE Teaching Awards recognise the importance of providing high-quality education teaching for undergraduate and postgraduate students in Computing. The awards are for an outstanding contribution to teaching or an exemplary innovation in teaching by a team or an individual and specifically recognise the ability to arouse students’ curiosity, interest, creative endeavour and enthusiasm for computing. The two awards recognise outstanding accomplishments of established teachers in the general award and trajectories of early career teachers in the Early Career Award, respectively.    The next award will be presented at ACSW 2025.

The differences between the two awards are summarised in the table above.

Nominations

Nominations may be initiated by students, former students or colleagues of the staff member or team. Former students should have been taught by the person or group concerned within the previous three years.  

Criteria

Applicants address 1, 2 or more criteria depending on the award they are applying for.

Approaches to teaching and the support of learning that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn within the area of Computing
This may include fostering student development by stimulating curiosity and independence in learning; participating in effective and empathetic guidance and advice for students; assisting students from equity and other demographic subgroups to participate and achieve success in their courses; encouraging student engagement through the enthusiasm shown for learning and teaching; inspiring and motivating students through effective communication, presentation and interpersonal skills; enabling others to enhance their approaches to learning and teaching; and developing and/or integrating assessment strategies to enhance student learning.

Development of curricula, resources or services that reflect a command of the field.

This may include developing and presenting coherent and imaginative resources for student learning; implementing research-led approaches to learning and teaching; demonstrating up-to-date knowledge of the field of study in the design of the curriculum and the creation of resources for learning; communicating clear objectives and expectations for student learning; providing support to those involved in the development of curricula and resources; and contributing professional expertise to enhance curriculum or resources.

Evaluation practices that bring about improvements in teaching and learning within the area of Computing

Evaluation comprises making judgements about the quality of programs and activities that are part of the academic, cultural and social experience of higher education. This may include showing advanced skills in evaluation and reflective practice; using a variety of evaluation strategies to bring about change; adapting evaluation methods to different contexts and diverse student needs and learning styles. Depending on the award type this might include contributing professional expertise to the field of evaluation in order to improve program design and deliver (general award)  or contribution to course development and practice (early career award); and the dissemination and embedding of good practice identified through evaluation.

Innovation, leadership or scholarship that has influenced and enhanced learning and teaching and/or the student experience within the area of Computing

This may include participating in and contributing to professional activities related to learning and teaching; innovations in service and support for students; coordination, management and leadership of courses and student learning; conducting and publishing research related to teaching. Providing innovative learning and teaching for different contexts, including technology enhanced environments, for large and small class sizes and/or to meet the needs of a diverse student cohort; and influencing the overall academic, social and cultural experience of higher education.  For the general award, this also includes demonstrating leadership through activities that have broad influence on the profession, while for the early career award this includes  a trajectory of  leadership through activities that have broad influence on the profession. 

Application Process

Each application must include the following elements:

• • Written statement (no more than six pages, minimum 11pt font)

  • One reference (a single A4 page)

  • Curriculum vitae (no more than four pages)

  • Optional supporting materials

  •  Applicants should state which award they are applying for.

Written statement

The written statement is the central element of the application. It provides the opportunity for candidates to describe their teaching activities and achievements, and specifically address the selection criteria. Applicants should be clear in their identification of the impact of their activities in improving the learning and teaching environment. The written statement should start with an overview, and then address at least two of the selection criteria.

Panel: 

A/Prof Claudia Szabo (chair) Adelaide University

Prof Andrew Luxton-Reilly University of Auckland
A/Prof Raina Mason Southern Cross University
A/Prof Negin Mirriahi University of South Australia

CORE Online Seminar: Preparing an evidence-based teaching portfolio (14 June 2024)

Session recording 

PowerPoint Presentation