Sept 22, 2000
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THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA Sept 22, 2000 |
| — Excellence in teaching —
When she was a bush pilot, Roberta Taylor had to handle tricky situations in the skies. Now, the senior instructor in the school of social work maneuvres through difficult situations in the classroom and, according to her students, her skills are as sharp as ever. Their testimonies contributed to Taylor being named as one of two recipients of the inaugural faculty of human and social development Teaching Excellence Award. Dr. Gwen Hartrick of the school of nursing is the second recipient. “I’m really thrilled with the award because the nomination comes from former students,” says Taylor. “I’m particularly pleased because the process was initiated by members of the student body.” Taylor flew planes for 10 years in northwest Ontario and 10 years in B. C. before coming to Vancouver Island in 1990, and throughout her aviation career she taught courses, both inside and outside the industry. She developed protocols for substance misuse among pilots and taught employment orientation programs for women in non-traditional trades. When she moved to Victoria, she resumed the work with First Nations women she began in Ontario by instructing employment orientation courses through Camosun College. Taylor taught at UVic while working on her master’s thesis on the sexual harassment of women pilots. She has since developed a new course in substance misuse while serving as a consultant on the development of two additional courses to be offered by colleges and universities throughout B.C. She sees consistencies “I’m always challenging people’s assumptions and beliefs,” says Taylor. Students describe her as “funny, questioning, strong and full of heart,” and recall how she “relentlessly encouraged” them as part of her mentoring style.Taylor admits to having a special affinity with mature students and single moms because “it comes from knowing the obstacles they face. When I was a student, I was a single mother too.” Hartrick initially came to UVic to assist the school of nursing in developing its collaborative nursing curriculum. During that work, she became involved with instructors at each of UVic’s nine partner colleges and universities, helping them develop course content and teaching methodology. “Overall, I view myself as a ‘learning-teacher. Through each initiative or teaching activity I engage in I learn more about myself and about the art and science of learning and teaching,” she says. Hartrick was a sessional lecturer before joining the faculty as an assistant (now associate) professor in 1995. A nurse and a psychologist, she also maintains a private practice through the Island Loss Clinic where she specializes in loss and grief counselling. At UVic, she teaches relationship communications (“nurse to nurse, nurse to patient, nurse to family members”) and the “philosophical underpinnings of nursing practice.” Her students describe her as being “transformative,” “emancipatory,” “empowering,” and “exciting.” As part of a “very collaborative” team, Hartrick admits it took some adjustment to be singled out for her accomplishments. “I’m very touched to nominated by my faculty and to be seen as worthy of this recognition.” Both Taylor and Hartrick were honored at a reception on Sept. 14. |