Award recognises ecotoxicologist’s teaching skills

Tuesday, 6 December 2005

Extensive knowledge and an innovative way of teaching ecology and biology have earned a University of Newcastle teacher a 2005 Quality Teaching Award.

Dr Geoff MacFarlane, Lecturer from the Faculty of Science and Information Technology, received the award from the NSW Minister for Education and Training and the Australian College of Educators.

An expert in the field of ecotoxicology, the study of pollutant effects on plants and animals, Dr MacFarlane started teaching at the University of Newcastle in 2001.

During this time Dr MacFarlane’s achievements, enthusiasm and commitment to teaching include the completion of a professional qualification in tertiary teaching, the use of innovative methods and approaches to teaching practice, contribution to peer education, and an active research interest in teaching and learning in the Biological Sciences.

Dr MacFarlane says he is delighted to receive the award which recognises accomplished teaching practice.

“It’s an even greater honour to receive one so early in my career seeing how rigorously the awards were assessed. It involved workplace visits, interviews with colleagues, students and community members, and the submission of a professional learning portfolio,” says Dr MacFarlane.

“I believe teaching is part performance, part entertainment, part mentor, part facilitator, and part peer,” says Dr MacFarlane.

“My goal is to create an atmosphere where learning about the natural world within an academic context is student-centred, current, relevant, all consuming, infectious and above all fun.”

Dr MacFarlane’s innovative teaching methods involve creating authentic learning contexts with peer assessment.

“I try to expose students to a diverse array of environmental issues in a range of habitats and biological systems.”

“Students conduct field based research projects and write up their findings in scientific journal format. Drafts are sent to a fictitious journal for publication and distributed to other class members anonymously for peer review via an online medium similar to the current scientific publication process,” says Dr MacFarlane.

For interviews: Dr Geoff MacFarlane on (02) 4921 7858.

An electronic image of Dr MacFarlane is available from the Media Unit on (02) 4921 5351.