The Stephen Cole the Elder
Awards for Excellence in Teaching
The Stephen Cole the Elder Awards were first presented in 1991, and are the University of
Adelaide's premier teaching awards. Up to four Stephen Cole the Elder Awards for Excellence
in Teaching will be offered in 2015, each worth $8000 to the winner. Both undergraduate and
postgraduate coursework teams and teachers may be nominated. The two categories of
award are:


Stephen Cole the Elder Award for Excellence in Early Career Teaching (five
years or less) - one award
Stephen Cole the Elder Awards for Excellence in Teaching (more than five
years) - up to two awards
In any year, the Selection Panel may also recommend an additional award be made in either
category.
Each year, one awardee may also be selected to receive the Vice-Chancellor and President’s
Award for Excellence in Teaching.
2015 Deadline for Submission: Monday 28 September
SELECTION CRITERIA
All applications for Stephen Cole the Elder Awards for Excellence in Teaching will be
assessed by a selection panel convened by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Learning) on
evidence provided in relation to the following four criteria:
*Note that the selection criteria are the same as those used in the Office for Learning
and Teaching Citations and Awards.

Approaches to teaching and the support of learning that influence, motivate and
inspire students to learn.
This may include fostering student development by stimulating curiosity and
independence in learning; participating in effective and empathetic guidance and
advice for students; assisting students from equity and other demographic subgroups
to participate and achieve success in their courses; encouraging student engagement
through the enthusiasm shown for learning and teaching; inspiring and motivating
students through effective communication, presentation and interpersonal skills;
enabling others to enhance their approaches to learning and teaching; and developing
and/or integrating assessment strategies to enhance student learning.

Development of curricula, resources or services that reflect a command of the
field.
This may include developing and presenting coherent and imaginative resources for
student learning; implementing research-led approaches to learning and teaching;
demonstrating up-to-date knowledge of the field of study in the design of the
curriculum and the creation of resources for learning; communicating clear objectives
and expectations for student learning; providing support to those involved in the
development of curricula and resources; and contributing professional expertise to
enhance curriculum or resources.

Evaluation practices that bring about improvements in teaching and learning.
Evaluation comprises making judgements about the quality of programs and activities
that are part of the academic, cultural and social experience of higher education. This
may include showing advanced skills in evaluation and reflective practice; using a
variety of evaluation strategies to bring about change; adapting evaluation methods to
different contexts and diverse student needs and learning styles; contributing
professional expertise to the field of evaluation in order to improve program design and
delivery; and the dissemination and embedding of good practice identified through
evaluation.

Innovation, leadership or scholarship that has influenced and enhanced learning
and teaching and/or the student experience.
This may include participating in and contributing to professional activities related to
learning and teaching; innovations in service and support for students; coordination,
management and leadership of courses and student learning; conducting and
publishing research related to teaching; demonstrating leadership through activities
that have broad influence on the profession; providing innovative learning and teaching
for different contexts, including technology enhanced environments, for large and small
class sizes and/or to meet the needs of a diverse student cohort; and influencing the
overall academic, social and cultural experience of higher education.
In assessing applications against the four selection criteria, the selection panel will take into
account the extent to which the claims for excellence are supported by formal and informal
evaluation, and the extent of creativity, imagination or innovation represented by the
application, irrespective of whether the approach involves traditional learning environments or
technology-based developments.
The four selection criteria will be given equal consideration by the selection panel. However, in
assessing applications in the Early Career category against Criterion 4, the panel will take into
consideration the career stage of the applicant.
GUIDELINES
1. Eligibility
Application is open to academic staff who have been employed in teaching-related roles for a
minimum of three years at the University of Adelaide, including clinical, affiliate and adjunct
title holders.
Both individual and team applications are encouraged. Team applications should consist of a
maximum of four named applicants; while the written statement may acknowledge
contributions from other staff members, those who have had the most significant contribution
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should be selected to represent the team. Teams may include, but not consist solely of,
contract or sessional academic and professional staff.
Application for the Early Career Teaching category is open to staff with no more than five
years’ experience teaching in a higher education setting (this should be interpreted as five
cumulative calendar years and includes all tutoring, part-time teaching, and teaching at other
higher education institutions). In order to confirm eligibility, prospective applicants must submit
an ‘Intention to apply for Early Career Teaching’ form, along with their CV, to the Teaching
Awards and Grants Officer at least one month prior to the submission deadline.
Recipients of a Stephen Cole Award are eligible to re-apply six years after receiving the
Award.
2. Instructions
Each application for a Stephen Cole the Elder Award for Excellence in Teaching must include
the following elements:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Application form
Written statement (no more than seven pages, minimum 11pt font)
Two references (a single A4 page each)
Curriculum vitae (no more than four pages)
Optional supporting materials
Applicant photograph.
Application form
The completed application must have the endorsement of the Executive Dean of the Faculty
or their delegate.
Written statement
The written statement is the central element of the application. It provides the opportunity for
candidates to describe their teaching activities and achievements, and specifically address
each of the five selection criteria. The written statement should written by the applicant/s and
be presented under the following six headings, in order:
1. Overview
The overview provides the opportunity for applicants to commence the written
statement with a focus on the specific character of their teaching and achievements. It
is recommended that the overview be a single page or less, and that it include the
applicant’s educational philosophy and beliefs, a description of the teaching context,
and an integrated summary of the claims relating to the selection criteria.
2. Approaches to teaching that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn
3. Development of curricula and resources that reflect a command of the field
4. Evaluation practices that bring about improvements in teaching and learning
5. Innovation, leadership or scholarship that has influence and enhanced learning and
teaching and/or the student experience.
The majority of the written statement should be devoted to addressing each of the five criteria
in turn. Applicants must provide evidence in support of their claims against these criteria. The
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written statement is limited to seven A4 pages in total (11 point Arial or Calibri, narrow fonts
must not be used).
References
Two references, of no more than one A4 page each, must be provided by people who are able
to comment on the applicant’s teaching against the selection criteria. One of the referees must
be the Head of the nominee’s Faculty, School or Discipline. If the application is from a team,
the references should apply to the team.
Curriculum vitae
The curriculum vitae should outline the applicant’s educational qualifications, career history,
teaching positions and teaching experience. The curriculum vitae is limited to four A4 pages
for nominations from individuals. Teams may extend this limit, but a limit of one extra page per
team member is recommended.
Optional supporting materials
Selection is based primarily on the written statement addressing the selection criteria.
However, applicants may include selected teaching materials supporting their claims against
the selection criteria. The relevance of any such material must be made clear in the written
statement. Printed supporting material should be included in the application package
(maximum four pages); digital material should be accessible via URL links in the application
form and written statement (maximum three links).
Applicant Photograph
A high quality (minimum 300dpi) photograph of the individual or team in JPEG format. If you
do not have a suitable photograph, please contact the Teaching Awards and Grants Officer
(tag@adelaide.edu.au); 8313 4862 to arrange a photo session. For successful applicants, this
photograph may be used for publicity purposes.
3. Submission
The application should be sent as a single PDF file (excluding the Applicant Photograph,
which should be sent as a separate JPEG file), to (tag@adelaide.edu.au)
by 5.00 pm on Monday 28 September 2015.
Receipt of all nominations will be acknowledged by email. If you do not receive a confirmation
email within a week of submission, please contact the Teaching Awards and Grants Officer.
4. Notification
Applicants will be advised of the outcome in mid-October. Feedback for unsuccessful
applicants will be available via the Teaching Awards and Grants Officer. Successful applicants
will receive a certificate and a grant of $8000, to be awarded at the annual Festival of Learning
and Teaching, where the Vice-Chancellor and President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
will also be announced. Names of awardees will be published on the University website and
via other promotional outlets as appropriate.
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Stephen Cole the Elder Awards for
Excellence in Teaching
APPLICATION FORM
Please put a cross in (X) one box
Individual application 
Early Career
Teaching
Team application 
 I apply to be considered in the Early Career Teaching category
 I have received confirmation of eligibility from the TAG Officer
Contact details (for nominee, or one representative of a team)
Title
First name
Last name
Email address
Telephone
School
Position
For team nominations only
Team Name
Please list names of other team members (to a maximum of three).
Note that teams may of any size, but no more than three members may be named.
Title
First name
Last name
Optional Supporting Material
Printed Material
 I have included optional supporting material in printed form as part of the application
package (maximum of four pages)
Digital Material
 I have included links to optional supporting material in digital form within the written
statement (maximum of three links, listed below)
http://
http://
http://
Applicants’ Declaration
I/We, (print name of applicant or team rep.) ...................................................................................... , apply for a
Stephen Cole Award for Excellence in Teaching
Date:
Executive Dean of Faculty (or delegate) Support for Application and Authorisation
I support this application on the basis of the attached application package. I confirm that the contact details
provided are correct and that the applicant(s) referred to on this form is/are currently a member(s) of this
Faculty’s teaching staff.
Name
Signature
(may be electronic)
Faculty
date
Contact details
email:
phone:
Checklist for application package
The application package must include the following.
(Please use this Application Form as your cover sheet. Elaborate presentation is not required.)
1.
Completed and signed Application Form
2.
Written statement, including an overview and addressing each of the four selection criteria (max. 7
pages)
3.
Two references, as specified in the award Guidelines
4.
Applicant(s)’s curriculum vitae
5.
Optional supporting materials
6.
Applicant photograph (sent as separate JPEG file)
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