U of T honours outstanding teachers across university
An evolutionary biologist and paleontologist fascinated by birds – including an aquatic, carnivorous bird that lived 80 million years ago. An expert on intracellular signalling trying to improve our understanding of diabetes. And a professor of electrical and computer engineering who teaches students to design the next life-changing mobile apps.
The three University of Toronto professors were among dozens celebrated at a reception for exemplary teachers at Massey College on Monday. Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr recognized the winners of teaching awards across the university's three campuses, saying their efforts have helped U of T cement its reputation as the top university in Canada and one of the top 10 public universities in the world.
Kathy McGilton, an associate professor in the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, was nominated for an award by her students. “I think it's the pinnacle of your career if you can have students think you did such a wonderful job,” she said.
U of T News caught up with McGilton and other winners and asked them how their most influential teachers affected their own teaching style.
Sanja Hinić-Frlog
The evolutionary biologist and paleontologist is an assistant professor, teaching stream, in the department of biology at U of T Mississauga
“My biology and high school teacher did a lot of active learning. We had to read up on materials, prepare on our own and then do an activity or do problem-solving in class. It's the first time I experienced that learning can be not just reading a textbook. It taught me that people learn in different ways, and that you have to think about all the different ways students learn to reach a wider audience.”