University of Auckland
stats team wins national teaching excellence award
A statistics teaching
team at The University of Auckland's Department of Statistics has won
one of New Zealand's most prestigious teaching awards, a National
Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award for collaboration in teaching.
The first-year
statistics teaching programme was originally developed ten years ago
to cope with the large number of students taking the course, and to
ensure the consistency and ongoing improvement of the learning
resources in the department.
There are more than 3700
student enrolments in first year statistics papers at the University
every year. In 2002, these enrolments involved 17 streams spread over
three semesters, four campuses, 14 lecturers, 29 tutors, 25 laboratory
demonstrators and 60 student markers.
Department of Statistics
Head, Professor Chris Wild, says the department developed a team-based
model to cope with the large numbers of students and teachers
involved.
"There is little
point having one course taught superbly to one group of students by
one teacher. Our aim was to capture the good ideas permanently into a
system that everyone used, so the courses improved each time they were
taught, regardless of who taught them," says Professor Wild.
New improvements include
the development of an interactive CD-Rom that contains a full set of
lecture slides, videoclips, interactive worksheets and a soundtrack.
The University of
Auckland Vice-Chancellor, Dr John Hood, says the award is welcome
recognition of the strong emphasis the University places on the
quality and innovative nature of its teaching programmes.
"Statistics is the
backbone of much of the research undertaken at the University, so it
is important that a wide group of students are enthused and encouraged
to carry on in the subject," says Dr Hood.
Professor Wild says the
key to the success of the programme has been the sharing culture and
selfless teamwork within the Department.
"We wouldn't be at
the point we are today, where we can cope with the huge numbers of
students, without the teamwork and systems we now have in place. These
have enabled us to build a set of tools that is far richer than any of
us could have produced alone."
A 10-member team from
the University was presented with the award at a ceremony at
Parliament last night. The award includes a $20,000 grant.
