Dr Chris Scott openly admits he loves the science of physiology.

 

Since his career move in 2003 as full-time medical researcher at Monash University to teaching and research at Charles Sturt University (CSU), Dr Scott has been sharing this love with first year students.

 

“During my physiology lectures to a mix of first year on campus and distance education pharmacy, nutrition and dietetics, medical science and forensic biotechnology students , I try to ignite their curiosity  and compel them to want to learn more about the subject so they are prepared for clinical practice,” Dr Scott said.

 

His success in igniting this fire within his students is shown in his national recognition by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC). Dr Scott, from the School of Biomedical Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga, is one of five CSU academics named recently as recipients of the ALTC citation awards for 2010.

 

“Initially when I made the move from researcher to teacher, I faced the challenge of how to pass on my passion for physiology to the first year students who are drawn from a variety of courses and who, at times, regard the subject as merely a pre-clinical subject to just get through.”

 

His teaching strategies for distance students include weekly messages on the forum (a web based subject related bulletin board); daily responses to student questions posted on the forum or by email; lecture podcasts available on the same day as delivered on campus; and use of audio and/or video Skype.

 

For on campus students Dr Scott makes use of Clicker technology during lectures for student interaction; humour; anecdotes from his research; weekly quizzes; and student activities in lecture.

 

Dr Scott said, “It can be as simple as getting to know the name of each of the 180 students in the lecture or inviting students who failed mid session exams to meet with me to discuss ways to improve their performance.”

 

While Dr Scott is not short of glowing student testimonials, the senior lecturer in physiology also has a fan in Dr John Harper, who was the Sub Dean of Learning and Teaching at the University’s Faculty of Science in 2009.  

 

“Chris exemplifies what poet WB Yeats meant when he wrote ‘Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire!’. Chris has developed many ways to light that fire in his students and develop skills for a life of learning.”

 

“The fact Chris has so many students clamouring to sing his praises is made more impressive because he teaches what is known as a ‘service’ subject to a large number of on campus and distance education students who can be less than interested in excelling in a subject they view as not directly relevant to their degree.”

 

Read more about the CSU academics recognised by the ALTC here.  

 

Dr Scott will receive his Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning during a ceremony from 4pm at Old Parliament House in Canberra on Monday 9 August.