CNA Instructor Wins Award
7/30/2002 10:41:20 AM
July 30, 2002 – Holly Morris, Information Technology instructor at the Clarenville campus of College of the North Atlantic (CNA) has won the 2002 Mac Turner Professional Development Award.
The annual award (a cash grant of $2,500 and an award certificate), is in memoriam of Mac Turner, a former employee of CNA’s Clarenville campus. In his honour, it recognizes employees of CNA who have made a substantial personal commitment to their profession, have developed an individual program of professional development, and have improved the quality of programs and services offered by the college.
The grant is based on the applicant’s proposed program of professional development, which may include: college or university study; research; industry placement/exposure; attendance at a major conference or other field-related event; or any other project or assignment deemed appropriate, by the Selection Committee, to the professional development of the applicant.
Upon hearing of the award, Morris knew immediately that she wanted to apply.
“I received a general campus email with information about the award,” says Morris.
“Not everybody reads those, but I read them all! This one definitely caught my attention, and I felt it was important to take advantage of such a great opportunity.”
Morris says that she also knew exactly what she would apply for. She had already been inspired by a previous experience, and was waiting for an opportunity to expand on what she learned then.
“I had attended a conference in Nova Scotia in 2000, hosted by the Atlantic Colleges Development Institute (ACDI), where they spoke on faculty development and performance,” she says.
“They had us take part in some heavy duty team work. I love the techniques they taught us, and since have been using them in my classroom.”
With the award grant, Morris is attending a similar conference hosted by the University of Prince Edward Island’s Faculty Development Summer Institute on Active Learning. The conference takes place from July 29 – August 2. The institute (in its 19th consecutive year) is the only one of its kind in Canada, and promotes improved teaching and learning by enhancing the knowledge and skills of professors.
Morris is elated about winning the honour, and about attending the conference – one she feels will benefit her and her students.
“At this conference, they teach critical thinking, active learning, group dynamics, new teaching methods, and much more,” says Morris.
“I like taking these new things into the classroom - it keeps teaching fresh for me, and keeps the students interested.”
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For more information, contact:
Stephen Lee
Communications Manager
(709) 643-7929
or
Tanya Alexander
Public Information Officer
(709) 643-7928