Two Otago mātaka have had their outstanding teaching ability recognised with Te Whatu Kairangi Aotearoa Tertiary Educator Awards.
Associate Professor Melissa McLeod (Ngāi Tahu), of the Department of Public Health, Wellington, will receive the Kaupapa Māori Individual Award.
Associate Professor Antonie Alm, with Te Pae Takata - the School of Arts, Kā Reo me kā Tikaka o te Ao Whānui - Languages and Cultures programme, will receive a General Individual Award under the category of 'Innovation in learning, teaching, and curriculum'.
They will be presented their awards alongside 25 other tertiary educators at a national ceremony in Wellington on November 5.
Te Whatu Kairangi celebrates those who are making a difference to learners, their whānau and communities.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Stuart Brock congratulates Melissa and Antonie on their awards and acknowledges the dedication and mahi behind them.
“It is fantastic to have their quality of teaching and commitment to students recognised at a national level.”
Associate Professor Melissa McLeod
(Ngāi Tahu)
Department of Public Health, Wellington
Melissa McLeod
Melissa’s passion for public health and epidemiology began in her childhood.
“I knew that whānau was everything. Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei,” she says.
Her awardee profile states:
She stands out as a taonga in her field; a highly regarded educator and one of a very limited pool who exemplify te ao Māori in epidemiology.
Melissa clearly embodies kaupapa Māori approaches to education and has used this positioning to inform her pedagogical practice.
She is a trailblazer for improved Māori health outcomes and has a strong influence on how health students and professionals engage with and understand te ao Māori. She is an educator who exemplifies a preparedness to address challenges as opportunities.
Her evidence-based approach, coupled with humour and a genuine connection with students, enables her to make transformative differences.
One student describes her as “an extraordinary teacher who builds connection with her class in a very short course and creates a safe environment to ask questions and explore the topics and concepts presented”.
Associate Professor Antonie Alm
Te Pae Takata - the School of Arts, Kā Reo me kā Tikaka o te Ao Whānui - Languages and Cultures programme
Antonie Alm
Her awardee profile states:
Antonie is a highly effective German educator. Innovation has stemmed from her creativity resulting in the innovative "intraformal" technique which is being cited in recent international research on innovative pedagogy for language learning.
The intraformal technique refers to the "dynamic interplay between formal classroom instruction and informal, self-directed language engagement, often facilitated through digital platforms".
This technique fosters meaningful language learning by validating the diverse ways students engage with a second language outside the classroom, promoting access, participation, and deeper learning.
She makes language learning a highly inclusive, accessible and safe experience for students. They refer to her as “an incredible teacher”.
She is also highly adaptive, evolving her teaching to accommodate the disruptive emergence of large language learning models and moving from teaching German to teaching other languages.
She has made long-lasting positive impacts on her students over the past 30 years and is active across her university and internationally.