Elaine Cheng from Laurier’s Archaeology and Heritage Studies program and 2024 Early Career Excellence winner shares how she guides students through classroom and field experiences that blend real-world challenges with a mix of career-integrated and experiential learning. Elaine emphasizes the importance of both hands-on fieldwork and in-class activities to help students develop critical skills in teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving. Her inclusive course design invites students to explore personal interests, engage in debates, and learn how to approach ethical issues in heritage studies. By blending theoretical concepts with current events, she shows students how archaeology connects to contemporary issues and how students can meaningfully apply their degrees in the heritage sector.

Laurier’s Donald F. Morgenson Awards for Teaching Excellence honour those who, through their commitment to exemplary teaching, have made significant contributions to the educational experience of Laurier students. Learn more about award-winning teaching at Laurier!

Explore more from the Teaching Excellence and Innovation Team at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Simona Pruteanu from Laurier's Languages and Literatures department and recipient of the 2024 Excellence in Internationalization Award, shares her passion for creating a multicultural and inclusive curriculum that incorporates guest speakers, creative assessments like storytelling and comic book creation, and career-integrated learning opportunities. She discusses how teaching entirely in French helps students build linguistic confidence and how the pandemic reshaped student engagement in the classroom. Simona reflects on the impact of technology on language learning, the effects generative AI tools are having on language education, and why technology cannot replace the interpersonal aspect of language learning.

Laurier’s Donald F. Morgenson Awards for Teaching Excellence honour those who, through their commitment to exemplary teaching, have made significant contributions to the educational experience of Laurier students. Learn more about award-winning teaching at Laurier: https://bit.ly/award-winning-faculty

Explore more from the Teaching Excellence and Innovation Team at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Max Gwynn from Laurier’s Psychology Department and recipient of the 2024 Sustained Excellence in Teaching Award reflects on his mentors and the teachers who have shaped him as an educator, and discusses the importance of stories, humour, and personal anecdotes on engaging students. He shares how his focus on increasing students’ self-efficacy allows them to overcome their math anxieties and carry their newfound problem-solving abilities into their personal and professional lives. Max shares his strategies for keeping large classes engaged, including crafting lectures with narrative arcs and ensuring that students have opportunities to participate, and offers advice for colleagues on the importance of sharing their authentic selves with students.

Laurier’s Donald F. Morgenson Awards for Teaching Excellence honour those who, through their commitment to exemplary teaching, have made significant contributions to the educational experience of Laurier students. Learn more about award-winning teaching at Laurier: https://bit.ly/award-winning-faculty

Discover more from the Teaching Excellence and Innovation Team