President's awards for teaching and learning
9 May 2002

Barry McMullen, Micheal Gannon, Naoimh O'Reilly, Ann Sinnot, Prof Ferdinand von Prondzynski, Richard O'Kennedy, Joanne Lynch and Shane Martin

Recognition for career commitment is always gratifying, but even more so when the praise comes from your target audience in this case the student's, who were involved in the nomination process. The President's awards for teaching and learning took place here at DCU on 9 May 2002.

The winners were Professor Richard O'Kennedy, professor of biological sciences who recently also won the Royal Irish Academy Biochemistry award, and a marketing team from the Business School comprising Dr Anne Sinnott, Dr Michael Gannon, Ms Naoimh O'Reilly, Ms Joanne Lynch and Mr Shane Martin.

"The awards are a recognition for those lecturers who, in the view of the students, have really delivered above and beyond the normal obligation of teaching", said Barry McMullin, Dean of Teaching and Learning. "The two winning projects, one by an individual and one by a teaching team, demonstrate the commitment to innovation by using a combination of new techniques which involve technology".

Professor O'Kennedy, no stranger to online news, has played a key role in the teaching of anatomy to nursing students at DCU. He employs a computer-based interactive teaching system, which has proved not only effective but also popular amongst the student nursing body.

Prof Richard O'Kennedy and Prof Ferdinand von Prondzynski

"While the main objectives in teaching are to enlighten, motivate and inform, we are moving away from a traditional learning environment". said Prof O'Kennedy.

The lectures in DCUBS, which are traditionally lecture-based, have been redeveloped to incorporate interactive technologies. A traditional lecture-hall format such as 'Introduction to Marketing', previously taught to over 600 first-year students, has now become more accessible with online tutorials, which include research links, and an academic and administrative chatroom that all in all have made a previously impersonal lecture scenario more accessible for all students.

The technology link in this year's teaching awards gives a strong indication for the university lecture of the future.