The E-Learning Unit in the School of Mathematics, Statistics & Physics at Newcastle University has received the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE). These awards recognise collaborative work that has had a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning, highlights the key role of teamwork in higher education.
The E-Learning Unit was praised by the judges for promoting the use of technology to support the teaching and learning of mathematics in the School, University and wider community through a number of collaborative initiatives and innovations.
Chris Graham, director of the E-Learning Unit, said:
We are absolutely delighted to receive the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence, recognising our E-Learning Unit’s contribution to our School, institution and wider community, in enhancing the teaching and learning of mathematics, with initiatives such as the Numbas e-assessment software.
The award celebrates our collaborative approach to establishing Numbas as a tool used here at Newcastle by over 3,000 students each year in Schools across all three faculties, and at our Malaysia and London campuses. And recognises our role worldwide, with several key international partnerships, a role in high profile national projects in primary and secondary education, and over 2,000 teachers worldwide using our assessment software.
We are very grateful to colleagues in Schools across the University who have worked with us, and particularly to everyone that supported us with our CATE nomination. We look forward to building on this success with new projects and collaborations!
This follows our Vice Chancellor’s Education Excellence Award last year.
Professor Suzanne Cholerton, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Education at Newcastle University, said:
It’s an extraordinary achievement by all – it’s rare to have three successful NTFS nominations in one year, and even more so two in consecutive years, but to be recognised with CATE as well is exceptional and a ringing endorsement of my colleagues who’ve been recognised, and Newcastle University’s long tradition of excellence in teaching and supporting colleagues to develop and demonstrate their expertise in education.
The award was primarily for our work on the e-assessment system Numbas and the Coursebuilder tool for creating web-based course notes.