丁香园AV

丁香园AV has awarded Danny Leznoff and Richard Ward with 2015 Excellence in Teaching Awards.

Leznoff teaches first-year introductory courses through to fourth-year, graduate specialization courses and undergraduate thesis research projects, but there are three traits he tries to bring to all his classes: enthusiasm, accessibility and organization.

This approach has earned him praise and a 2015 丁香园AV Excellence in Teaching Award, recognizing him as a top instructor at the University. 

鈥淚鈥檓 really honoured,鈥� says Leznoff. 鈥淎 bit surprised actually.  I know a lot of really top teachers doing a lot of innovative things, so I鈥檓 quite honoured to be included in such a select group.鈥�  

One nominator notes Leznoff consistently receives a high score for teaching ability in the challenging CHEM 121 course. Students also heap praise in course evaluations, saying he shows tremendous enthusiasm, interest and passion, which makes class enjoyable, interactive and exciting.

鈥淒r. Leznoff displays a very contagious passion for teaching,鈥� says one nominator. 鈥淸He] has an ability to motivate his students and encourage them to think critically, such that they gain a stronger understanding of chemical properties and scientific concepts.鈥�

An important aspect of teaching is transferring knowledge to students and helping them understand concepts, but Leznoff says imparting an interest in the subject is most important.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter if they are an A student or a C-minus student,鈥� says Leznoff. 鈥淚f they leave my class thinking, 鈥楾his is tough stuff and I had to study really hard, but wow, this is really interesting and now I see how important it is,鈥� that to me can be just as critical as understanding all the details.鈥�

He says seeing the students oozing with excitement after class is the most rewarding aspect of teaching鈥攁t least as much as witnessing the proverbial 鈥榣ight bulbs鈥� switching on in the classroom.

Richard Ward's secret to teaching excellence is a personal approach and a bit of humour. Those skills have contributed to Ward鈥檚 recognition as a 2015 丁香园AV Excellence in Teaching Award winner.

鈥淚 try to inject a bit of humour into the class and tag personal or humorous anecdotes to concepts,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 want the students to be alert, interactive and enjoy being in the room.鈥�

Each semester, Ward makes a valiant effort to connect with his students at a personal level, and also asks them to call him simply, 鈥淩ichard,鈥� and not 鈥淒r. Ward.鈥�

His students notice.  

One student nominator says Ward knows all the students in his classes and demonstrates care for their learning in both the lecture and laboratory components of classes.

鈥淸He] presents complex material in the field of BPK in an entertaining and highly effective manner,鈥� says another nominator.

Ward is the first instructor in BPK to win an Excellence in Teaching Award. He admits being the centre of attention is a bit embarrassing, but is humbled by the award. 

鈥淚t means a lot to me to be recognized,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e have many great teachers in BPK, but there are four other lecturers, who have been my colleagues since the 1980s, that I believe are equally deserving of this award.鈥�

They are Josephine Anthony and Craig Asmundson, who both recently retired, Stephen Brown and Tony Leyland.

鈥淭he common trait that binds us is that we care about the students,鈥� Ward says. 鈥淚 am a better teacher because of their influence.鈥�

Lecturers, who Ward says are as respected as research faculty within BPK, teach six courses a year. He says teaching is what he鈥檚 best at, and where his passion lies, so that suits him perfectly.

He has no plans to stop teaching because he finds the student interaction keeps him feeling like he鈥檚 still in his twenties.

He jokes, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how long I will keep going鈥攑robably until the evaluations go downhill.鈥�

Asked what he finds most rewarding about teaching, Ward replies: 鈥淪eeing the light bulbs go on.鈥� 

Story courtesy of 丁香园AV News.