We are pleased to announce that Katie Plaisance was selected as the University of Waterloo’s recipient of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) Teaching Excellence Award for 2022.
This award "recognizes educators who excel at unlocking the potential of Ontario’s young people. Successfully engaging individuals in the learning experience depends on an instructor's ability to spark students' curiosity and desire to learn."
From the OUSA announcement:
"Katie designs her courses to meet each learner where they are and build on their existing interests, goals, and motivations. She integrates insights from guest lecturers across disciplines and issues outside of academia to make these learning experiences truly engaging. Katie's authentic assessments give students opportunities to develop critical research, communication, and collaboration skills that are crucial to their future success.
Students appreciate her incredibly useful feedback that encourages them to bring any work to the next level, along with scaffolded peer feedback and reflection opportunities that further develop their confidence and capabilities as members of a learning community. Through Katie's courses, her students come to better understand and embrace their multifaceted ways of knowing.
Katie's care for students and commitment to inclusion shines through in all her teaching and mentorship. She constantly strives to foster psychological safety in her classes while educating students on their own roles in those practices. She seeks out and adapts innovative pedagogical practices and shares her insight with other instructors, contributing to instructional excellence across and beyond the University of Waterloo. Her mentorship and advising are incredibly valuable to both her students and colleagues.
Katie is an exemplary professor who demonstrates a deep commitment to her students and her practices. WUSA is excited and honored to present OUSA's Teaching Excellence Award to Dr. Katie Plaisance – thank you for everything you do!"