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Macquarie University Outstanding Teaching Awards (2006)

Click here for audio interviews with 2005 Outstanding Teachers.

Dr Kim Hawtrey - Economics

Dr Kim Hawtrey is an exceptional and highly committed teacher who believes students should be empowered to apply their learning outside the limits of the classroom. Kim encourages his students to be academic in their thinking, they don’t just hand in assignments for marks, they get them published in the press. He makes them think about their learning by keeping a learning journal. He teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate level and has developed impressive resources for both. He prepares students for future research as well as their professional life. An excellent researcher himself, Kim ensures his curriculum incorporates up-to-date research, including his own. His research into Economics education combines his passion for his discipline and his love of teaching. Kim Hawtrey is an outstanding recipient of this prestigious award.

Professor Rod O’Donnell - Economics

Professor Rod O’Donnell is an excellent teacher with an unwavering commitment to producing high quality educational outcomes for students, staff and the university. He is one of the few professors that make a point of teaching 100 level units, believing that good teaching by a passionate professional at this level is critical to maintaining economics majors in later years. It is not just his commitment to, and expertise in, teaching these students that is impressive but his obvious enjoyment of the experience. Rod’s leadership in educational issues can be seen in his being the enthusiastic driving force in the peer assisted learning project at Macquarie. Rod O’Donnell stands out as an academic because he applies his academic skills across the spectrum of scholarly activity. Some academics are fine researchers, others are fine teachers and some are fine leaders. Rod is one of the very few who excel in all aspects of scholarship and deserves the recognition of this award, for both his skill inside the classroom and enhancing the richness of his students’ experience of university life.

Dr David Cairns - Psychology

Teaching a topic ranked as one of the most detested by psychology students everywhere has not stopped David Cairns’ commitment to, passion for and expertise in the subject of psychological statistics. He has developed a way of teaching advanced data analytical techniques that is painless to students and has even been described as ‘fun’. Psych students, initially uninspired by the idea of studying statistics and apprehensive about their ability to master the content, are turned around by David’s engaging and encouraging manner. At the end of each course, anew group of students join those who already remember David with gratitude for the positive impact his teaching had on them. David is not just a good teacher, he is an exemplary educator with a deeply held commitment to sharing his knowledge with others in what is, for him and his students alike, an exciting and collaborative adventure in the world of research.

Mr Alex Reilly – Law

Alex Reilly’s approach to teaching is underpinned by a deeply reflective philosophy and an understanding of the role of education in general as well as his role as a teacher of law in this process, not just for the legal profession, but society in general. Through his own enthusiasm for the law and teaching, he stimulates learning at all levels of the LLB programme. He brings to all his teaching a rich knowledge of the history, theory and doctrine of the law and moreover, has a sense of judgement and creativity in his design and delivery of courses so that often complex matters are challenging, manageable and vibrant for the students. He is an outstanding contributor to all aspects of academic life within the division – teaching, research and administration. He is one of those rare teachers who attains a high technical standard of work from his students while at the same time motivating and encouraging students to engage with the law in ways that inspire them. He is one who has truly earned, in every respect, the title of outstanding teacher.

Dr Nicole Graham

Although Dr Nicole Graham only joined the Division of Law in 2004, she has greatly impressed both students and colleagues alike with her maturity, generosity and real conscientiousness that she has displayed. Nicole has taken a true leadership role in the curriculum enhancement in the LLB programme, making a real contribution to teaching and learning development in the division. She has also played a significant role in the division’s administration as part of the undergraduate studies committee by taking charge of a number of key learning and teaching issues including the honours rules, lateness policies and the treatment of external students. She has always championed the students’ interests and continues to make a marked impact on the quality of both teaching and administration. Outstanding teachers are special people who combine a technical mastery with an empathic ability to connect with students and Nicole Graham is one of these people.

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