Teaching excellence recognised

Imparting an infectious enthusiasm for frogs and figures has won two University of Otago lecturers prestigious teaching awards.

The University of Otago's annual teaching excellence awards were presented to zoology lecturer Phil Bishop and statistics lecturer John Harraway for their outstanding capability as teachers in their fields.

Both said they were honoured to receive the award, which highlights the university's commitment to excellence in teaching.

To qualify, they had to prepare a substantial portfolio including student and peer evaluations.

Mr Harraway is one of the university's longest-serving staff members.

His first lecture, in 1966, was on a chalk board, and since then, he has shared his passion for statistics with an estimated 29,272 students in an estimated 6592 lectures.

Two key principles have always been incorporated in his teaching - he always attempted to make statistics come alive and he was always prepared extensively so lectures were never dull.

"My experience is that this enthusiasm is infectious, and enables students to become much more readily engaged with the topic, especially when exploring data from current research."

A self-confessed frog advocate, Dr Bishop believed education was not a career path.

Rather, it was a way of life.

"In everything I do, I am always, and often subconsciously, looking for ways to incorporate those experiences into a form of teaching and learning," he said.

"I feel it is very important to motivate students. The lecture is an important element of this process for me. Throughout my teaching, I use a wide variety of media to produce stimulating, humorous and highly professional classes."

Both Dr Bishop and Mr Harraway were presented with $10,000, to advance their teaching ability, by University of Otago vice-chancellor Prof Sir David Skegg during a function in the Clock Tower Building.