The Amit & Meena Chakma Awards for Exceptional Teaching by a Student recognize up to four students from across the University of Waterloo for excellence in teaching of all kinds (e.g., teaching assistant, laboratory demonstrator, sessional lecturer) by registered students.
This year, two of the four winners were from the Faculty of Science: Melanie Mungalsingh from the School of Optometry and Vision Science, and Quinn Worthington from Earth and Environmental Sciences.
A colleague remarked that “Quinn creates a positive atmosphere and students are naturally drawn to her and feel very comfortable asking her questions.” Worthington creates a risk-free learning environment by taking students’ incorrect answers and pointing out other criteria for students to consider, guiding them to the correct answer. In the end, “students have turned their failures into a success.”
Students have found Worthington to be exceptionally helpful. A student remarked that “I found Quinn to be exceptionally helpful. My first impression was how she was very approachable and knowledgeable, which made me feel more comfortable inquiring about geology.”
Worthington has been a TA for EARTH 251 and EARTH 390.
Congratulations to Melanie and Quinn!