"A university has two core functions – teaching and research. The Teaching Fellows, as leaders in teaching practice, will share with their colleagues best practices and innovative teaching approaches that hopefully will assist student learning. The Teaching Fellows I am sure will do their best to raise teaching quality and student learning to a new level within their Faculties." Former Vice-President Academic and Provost, Geoff McBoyle
In 2011, the University of Waterloo conducted an extensive examination of teaching on campus entitled Innovative Teaching Practices to Promote Deep Learning (PDF). The report recommended that Faculties establish Teaching Fellows - faculty members tasked with providing leadership in teaching in order to enhance student learning. The first Teaching Fellows were appointed in 2012.
While Teaching Fellows pursue projects appropriate to their individual Faculties, they share a common purpose: to foster a culture of teaching at the University of Waterloo, marked by an interest in engaging students and a commitment to professional development. Waterloo Teaching Fellow share the following common goals:
- Raise the profile of teaching and learning at the University of Waterloo
- Establish communities of practice, pertaining to teaching and learning, with interested faculty members and administrators
- Provide or coordinate assistance and mentoring to any instructor
- Work with services on campus, such as the Centre for Extended Learning and the Centre for Teaching Excellence, to provide faculty members with information on resources and instructional practices
Current Waterloo Teaching Fellows:
| Faculty | Teaching Fellows |
|---|---|
| Health |
Zara Rafferty (Recreation and Leisure Studies) |
| Arts | Katherine Acheson (Associate Dean of Arts, Undergraduate Programs) |
| Engineering | Carolyn MacGregor (Systems Design Engineering) |
| Environment |
Su-Yin Tan (Geography and Environmental Management) |
| Mathematics | Diana Skrzydlo (Statistics and Actuarial Science) |
| Science | Robert Hill (Physics and Astronomy) |
