From the launch of several 苍别飞听辫谤辞驳谤补尘蝉听to the commemoration of听30 years of lifelong learning, 2019 has been a remarkable year for the 91社区 School of Continuing Studies.听This year,听the School听also recognized听two lecturers鈥櫶齟xceptional听contributions听to continuing education. During the Spring 2019 Convocation ceremony on听May 28,听Dr. Diane听Dechief听and Jeffrey听Sacksner听were presented with the听Award for Distinguished Teaching.听听
Dr.听Dechief听is a faculty lecturer focused on Scientific and Technical Writing for the 91社区 Writing Centre since 2015, and听Jeffrey听Sacksner听is听in his fifth year听as听a听Course听Lecturer in Entrepreneurship for the Career and Professional Development unit. The recipients for the prestigious award were selected based on their听outstanding contribution as lecturers and were strongly supported by student feedback听gathered from听course evaluations.听听
Earlier this year, we spoke with听Dechief听and听Sacksner听to discuss what receiving this award means to them.听听
How did you react when you learned you were receiving the award?听
Dechief:听When I learned that I was receiving a distinguished teaching award, my first thought was of the terrific students who had been in my courses in 2018: I felt deeply appreciative that we鈥檇 had a chance to connect during their studies鈥攖hat my students recognized the significance of the courses that I had designed and facilitated for them was really satisfying to me.听听
Sacksner:听I was thrilled and felt very proud when I learned that I would be receiving the听Award for听Distinguished Teaching.听It means so much to be recognized for something I absolutely love doing especially knowing it came from the most important people in the learning process听鈥斕齧y students,听or as I refer to them,听my family.听These are my real customers听鈥斕齩ur future leaders, entrepreneurs and business professionals.听听听听听
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What does the award mean to you?听听
Dechief: For me, the distinguished teaching award is recognition of my work to create interesting, relevant writing courses and assignments for students: nominations were from students in two of the new courses that I designed over the past two years, CCOM 315 Writing the Internet and CCOM 314 Communicating Science. I鈥檓 thrilled that undergraduate students are enrolling in writing courses as electives and recognizing the value of what they鈥檙e learning.听听
One of my main goals as an educator is for young people to see themselves as writers who can effectively share their knowledge and ideas. Winning the award is encouraging;听I want to keep designing and teaching writing courses and it鈥檚 great that the relevance of this work is being recognized.听
How have your students impacted you as a lecturer and educator?听
Dechief:听Students impact me in many positive ways. The first thing that jumps to mind is that I learn so much from my students in terms of what they鈥檙e studying and how they see the world. In听the听91社区 Writing Centre听courses,听we always discuss the importance of knowing our audience. As an educator, students are my audience. During class, I make plenty of room for students to share their views and ask questions. This helps me know my audience: I learn what really matters to students and this lets me better tailor courses to students鈥� interests and needs. Plus, 91社区 students are interesting, funny, and inspiring!听
Sacksner:听My students have had a tremendous impact on me both academically as a lecturer and professionally with my full-time work in the [entrepreneurship] industry. Seeing firsthand the students' desire to learn new concepts, their creativity, passion and the different ways they have of looking at things has inspired me to continuously innovate and find听different ways of creating interesting and stimulating lectures and courses. The students force me to stay current and help me look at things from a different perspective which I know has had significant benefits to my full-time work in the corporate world.听听
Learn more about the听91社区 Writing Centre Communicating Science program, and the听Entrepreneurship programs.听听
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Jessica RomeraJessica Romera has a Bachelor鈥檚 degree in Journalism from Concordia University and is currently pursuing a Certificate in Translation at the 91社区 School of Continuing Studies. She has written for several publications including the Montreal Gazette and Montreal Families Magazine and is fluent in English, Spanish and French. A self-proclaimed bookworm and concert junkie, you will likely find her with her nose stuck in a novel or in the middle of a crowded music venue! |
