Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award (OGTA)

Guidelines

Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award (OGTA) Guidelines 2011/2012 (.pdf)

Application Form

 Application Form for Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award 2011/2012 (.doc)

Aim

The purpose of the teaching awards scheme is:

  • To recognise and reward individual postgraduate teachers for their contribution to the quality of the learning experience in AU
  • To publicise the University’s commitment to teaching excellence.

Number of awards

Three awards of £200 each to be made annually.

Eligibility

Postgraduates who are acting as part-time teaching assistants, demonstrators or providing learning support.

Application

Applications should be made using the official application form. It should make a case for your application (no more than four sides), obtain an assessment from your Director of Teaching, a reference from an appropriate staff member you have worked with, and needs to be signed by your Head of Department. Your case for the award should contain:

  1. A brief description of current context i.e. role, and learning and teaching responsibilities;
  2. A short reflective account of teaching philosophy i.e. approach to learning and teaching and of the values that inform your practice;
  3. At least two examples of how you try to engage students in their learning within your teaching context (in small groups, in the laboratory, in a one-to-one situation etc) and how you judge the effectiveness of what you do.

Applications should be submitted to your Departmental Director of Learning and Teaching who will forward applications to CDSAP, G19 Cledwyn Building, Penglais Campus, SY23 3DD.

References

The Director of Teaching’s assessment is to support and evidence your application and will be an important part of the judging process. You should enable her/him and your referee to view your statement so they may comment on it where relevant. The assessor should confirm the statement and the context in which you teach, and supply further information using her/his knowledge of your teaching. These views should be informed by evidence, for example, student feedback, the module review process and the views of the Module Convener (s) with whom the teaching assistant has worked.

Referees may wish to consider how the applicant has supported learning, or enabled students to understand better the subject, or how they have enthused students, or supported them. They may have supportive evidence from observations, from student responses, etc.

Guidance

Applicants may contact the Centre for the Development of Staff and Academic Practice (CDSAP) for guidance on completion of their applications (x 2117 or staff.dev@aber.ac.uk).

Timescale

Applications should be submitted by 16 April 2012, the assessment panel will meet in May and their decisions ratified by Academic Affairs.

Decision process

Applications will be considered by a group chaired by the Pro Vice-chancellor (Learning and Teaching) and composed of the Deans, the Guild President, a representative from CDSAP and a representative from the previous winners.

Presentation of awards

Successful candidates will be contacted by a member of CDSAP. Arrangements will be made for payment of the award in your pay. You will also be required to attend graduation to be presented with your award certificate in July.

Promotion of best practice

If successful, award holders may be asked to present at learning and teaching events within the university and may be requested to assist with university promotional activities.

Review

The scheme will be reviewed annually to see if adjustments need to be made to its operation prior to the following session.