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UniSA Enhancing Learning Awards

UniSA Enhancing Learning Awards recognise teaching and learning support activities and services that make an outstanding contribution to the quality of student learning and the quality of student experience at the University of South Australia. Two awards of $5000 each may be made annually, winners being announced and celebrated in November.

• Categories
• Eligibility
• Nominations
• Selection criteria
• Essential documentation

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Categories

Applications for the Enhancing Learning Awards may be made in ONE of the following categories:

1. Assessment and feedback
   This encompasses assessment initiatives that encourage students to develop and demonstrate higher-order skills and attitudes such as academic independence, ethical practices and values, and critical thinking and feedback that is timely and supports students’ learning development
2. Educational partnerships and collaborations with other organisations
   This encompasses partnerships between universities, and universities and other organisations - such as schools, professional bodies businesses and industries - in collaborative approaches to learning and teaching
3. The first-year experience
   This encompasses the academic and social transition to higher education, learning and teaching within large student groups, and the quality of the first year student experience
4. Flexible learning and teaching
   This encompasses approaches to learning and teaching that afford flexibility in time, place and/or mode of learning
5. Innovation in curricula, learning and teaching
   This encompasses innovations that encourage novel approaches to learning and teaching, innovations that encourage or support multidisciplinary, research-based learning and teaching approaches, innovations that utilise the potential of new and/or emerging technologies
6. Postgraduate education
   This encompasses programs that focus on postgraduate students, postgraduate coursework learning and teaching, postgraduate research supervision and research higher degree candidature, and postgraduate learning support
7. Services supporting student learning
   This encompasses 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

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Eligibility

• Nominees, whether as a team or individuals, may not apply concurrently for an Enhancing Learning Award and another UniSA Teaching Award.
• Winners of Enhancing Learning Awards are eligible for renomination for the Enhancing Learning Awards in later years, only if they can demonstrate significantly different achievements in later years.
• Unsuccessful nominees for the Enhancing Learning Awards are eligible for renomination in later years

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Nominations

Nominations are made through the Deans: Teaching and Learning. The Deans may use a number of strategies to identify prospective candidates. Support for the nomination from the respective Head of School (or equivalent) will be confirmed prior to notifying staff of their nomination and confirming their acceptance.

Nominations are made either of individual staff members or of teams. Nomination as part of a team does not qualify a staff member to apply for an individual award. Staff members who wish to apply individually for awards must first be nominated on an individual basis. Staff members are encouraged to advise their Divisional Dean: Teaching and Learning of their own interest in the awards scheme or to identify colleagues as prospective nominees.

A Nomination form is available (Word 28kb - opens in a new window) UniSA staff access only. Nominees normally will remain in the pool of nominees for a period of up to three years.

Nomination for the UniSA awards will provide candidates with University support should they wish to proceed to the ALTC awards, subject to the condition that they first secure a competitive UniSA teaching award. The University is committed over the three year nomination period to assist nominees achieve success in the UniSA awards scheme and to help them prepare for the national ALTC (formerly Carrick Institute) awards. At the conclusion of their three year period, nominees will need to be renominated by their Divisional Dean: Teaching and Learning if they are to continue in the awards process. Similarly, nominees who withdraw from the pool of nominees during their three year period of nomination will need to be renominated by their Divisional Dean: Teaching and Learning in order to re-enter the awards programs.

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Selection Criteria

All nominations for the Enhancing Learning Awards will be assessed on evidence they provide 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, staff, and UniSA and/or other institutions, consistent with the purpose of the program.
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.

The four selection criteria will be given equal consideration by the Grants and Awards Selection Panel.

In assessing nominations against the four selection criteria, the Selection Panel will take into account:

• demonstrated evidence of the effectiveness of the program in formal and informal evaluation;
• the degree of creativity, imagination or innovation;
• evidence of the sustained effectiveness of the program; and
• evidence of a strategic approach to disseminating program outcomes and deliverables and, to the extent that is appropriate, of facilitating their uptake across disciplines, UniSA and other institutions.

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Essential documentation

The following items in support of the nomination must be submitted (original and electronic copy) no later than 4.00pm, Friday 2 September 2011:

Cover sheet

UniSA Enhancing Learning Awards Cover sheet for application (Word 30kb - opens in new window)

Written statement

The core element of a nomination for an Enhancing Learning Award is a written statement which describes the program, and specifically addresses each of the four selection criteria. The written statement should be presented under the following five headings, in order:

• Overview
• Distinctiveness, coherence and clarity of purpose
• Influence on student learning
• Breadth of impact
• Concern for equity and diversity

It is recommended that the overview be no more than one page. It should describe the aims of the program, the institutional context and summarise the claims that follow relating to the selection criteria.

The majority of the written statement should be devoted to addressing each of the four criteria in turn. Evidence in support of the claims against these criteria must be provided. The views of students, collaborators and/or colleagues, as appropriate, will be a key element in the assessment of the nominations. The written statement is limited to twelve A4 pages in total (minimum 11 point type in Arial, Times New Roman or similar font, margins at a minimum of 2.45cm). Material in excess of this limit will not be considered by the Grants and Awards Selection Panel.

 

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