Every term a professor, lecturer, or laboratory instructor who has done an exceptional job of going above and beyond for their classes is selected to receive the Waterloo Engineering Society’s Teaching Excellence Award.
This award is given to an instructor who has shown immense dedication to ensuring their class’ success, has employed unique and unconventional teaching methods, and has allowed opportunities for experiential learning. The winner is selected based upon the number, and quality, of student applications received as well as information collected through the course critiques.
When her CivE 105 class was polled, there were common themes in all of the responses: her students can genuinely tell how much she cares about their success; it is evident that she goes above and beyond to ensure everyone understands; students truly appreciate her enthusiasm for the course. In the words of one student, Dr. Al-Hammoud is the "the best professor I have ever had".
Her interactive teaching methods emphasize concepts and promote deep learning, where students can learn where they went wrong and how to fix it. Another method she has incorporated is horizontal integration. Students tend to learn elements separately but Dr. Al-Hammoud believes it is important to show students early on how all these elements relate to, and rely on each other.
Her advice to students?
I would say not to let any failure point devastate you. Take it as a learning experience and see how you can improve on it... It's what you've learned, and the skills you've gained that really matter the most
While she's not teaching at UW, Dr. Al-Hammoud divides her time between mountain biking, teaching and performing folk dancing, playing basketball and spending time with her family.
Read the full story, and interview at The Iron Warrior