Dancing and teaching have much in common if you want to do either well, according to the 2001 Charles Sturt University Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence winner, psychologist Dr Paul Casey.

Dr Casey, who has developed his teaching practices by drawing upon his own experiences as a student, believes like dancing, teaching should be “engaging, interactive and skilful”.

“Good teaching should flow, have rhythm, pattern, life and passion. It also requires work, repetition, dedication and sacrifice on the part of all those involved, both teachers and students,” he said.

His philosophy has been developed in part during the course of completing a PhD in psychology and undergraduate degrees in philosophy and theology.

“Teachers are the models for their students – they should encourage students to find their own creative talents,” Dr Casey said.

“A good teacher should always be the learner, always look for new insights, and at the same time communicate to students that education for everyone is a lifelong process of discovery and rediscovery,” he said.

Dr Casey, a specialist in memory and reasoning, balances his teaching in research methods and statistics, with his research work, which includes the supervision of higher degree students.

CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter said the annual awards recognise and encourage excellence in teaching and acknowledge the central place of teaching and learning in the University. 

“The selection committee was very impressed with the enthusiasm and application Dr Casey demonstrates towards teaching,” Professor Goulter said.

“Quality teaching is crucial to the University’s success, and we were very impressed with the high calibre of nominations we received for this award.”

In addition to the overall winner, one winner from each of CSU’s five faculties also received an award.

A full list of winners follows:

2001 Charles Sturt University Teaching Excellence Award winners

CSU Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award

• Dr Paul Casey, Faculty of Arts, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Wagga Wagga Campus.

Faculty of Commerce Teaching Excellence Award

• Mr Craig Latham, School of Accounting, Bathurst Campus.

Faculty of Health Studies Teaching Excellence Award

• Orana Health Unit (group award), Dubbo Campus
  The Orana Health Unit is: Louise Lawler, Lorraine Holland, Patricia Logan-Sinclair, Dona Powell, Lyn Croxon, Gwen Troutman and Jean Walker
   
• Dr Todd Walker, School of Biomedical Science, Wagga Wagga Campus 

Faculty of Science and Agriculture Teaching Excellence Award

• Dr Paul Bowyer, School of Wine and Food Sciences, Wagga Wagga Campus