by Katharine Tuerke, Faculty of Science
Teaching the next generation of scientists is a job our faculty takes to heart. Each year, the Faculty of Science recognizes the teaching quality and impact of our faculty through the Excellence in Science Teaching Awards (ESTA).
The 2015 ESTA were awarded to Dr. Andrea Edginton and Chemistry Department Chair Bill Power for their sustained, high quality teaching in their undergraduate and graduate courses.
Edginton, an Associate Professor in the School of Pharmacy, has taken a highly innovative approach in teaching pharmacokinetics.
She was a pioneer at the University of Waterloo in using the “flipped classroom” model. This approach places most of the core instructional material online allowing classroom time to be used to address questions and provide supplementary explanations of difficult concepts.
Despite the challenges in teaching such a difficult subject, Edginton has consistently been one of the most highly rated teachers in the School of Pharmacy.
The annual ESTA award was established to recognize and reward excellence in teaching and outstanding instructors within the Faculty of Science at the University of Waterloo. Winners of the ESTA receive a certificate and a monetary award, which is used to support teaching activities.