Picture by Shane O’Neill / Copyright Fennell Photography 2014.
THREE lecturers at two Limerick institutions have been recognised at the National Teaching Hero Awards held in Dublin Castle this week.
LIT engineering lecturer Dr ALan Kavanagh was one of the 53 teachers from 27 higher education institutions across Ireland who received Teaching Hero Awards.
Meanwhile, Dr Mary Maloney, Department of Reflective Pedagogy and Early Childhood Studies and Diarmuid O’Driscoll, Head of Mathematics and Computer Studies at Mary Immaculate College were nominated for the awards by their students.
The aim of the awards is to identify inspirational lecturers who might not have previously received public recognition.
Dr Kavanagh has engaged engineering students for many years in LIT’s Active Learning philosophy through the use of innovative teaching techniques in practical laboratories and workshops. He has also promoted engineering among first and second level students by visiting schools with an innovative and interactive presentation.
“Although my work title is a lecturer, I considered myself a teacher – they are very different roles. LIT gives me the opportunity to teach in small group numbers, which is so important for the teaching and learning of today’s students I believe,” he said.
The patron of the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, which established the awards in partnership with the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), is former President, Professor Mary McAleese.
Speaking of the winners, she said: “Excellence in teaching is about much more than simply getting students through their exams. It is about inspiration, passion, generosity of spirit, and a genuine desire to make a positive difference to students’ lives.”
Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan said she looked forward to the awards becoming an integral part of the teaching and education calendar.
“Any celebration of excellence is worthwhile and to be welcomed but these innovative awards are doubly so in that they not only recognise marvellous teachers but give their students a voice in that process at the same time. All of us involved in the education system want to see the best outcomes for students; not just in the form of results or career paths but in terms of their overall experience and its impact on them as people,” concluded Minister O’Sullivan.
