Learn how to define, measure, improve, communicate, align, and celebrate teaching excellence in academia, and how to seek and apply for rewards that match your teaching achievements.

Being vocal about the bigger picture of your experience is very important for educators. Social media can be used effectively to advocate teaching. The impact a teacher can create on the community and the way they can touch lives and make a remarkable difference should be shared with others. This is one way to let people know how teachers can transform lives. This will also give teachers an opportunity to connect and collaborate with others.

How can faculty members be recognized and rewarded for their contributions to teaching?

Teaching is a core function of higher education, but it is often undervalued and underappreciated by institutions, peers, and students. How can faculty members be recognized and rewarded for their contributions to teaching? In this article, we will explore some strategies and best practices to enhance the status and quality of teaching in academia.

1 Define teaching excellence

To recognize and reward teaching, it is necessary to define what teaching excellence means and how it can be measured. Teaching excellence is not a generic concept, but rather a contextualized phenomenon that mirrors the goals, expectations, and outcomes of teaching and learning. Content knowledge and expertise, pedagogical skills and innovation, student engagement and feedback, curriculum design and alignment, scholarship of teaching and learning, and leadership and collaboration in teaching are all potential dimensions of teaching excellence. Faculty members should be aware of the criteria and standards for teaching excellence in their discipline, institution, and accreditation bodies, so that they can use them to guide their teaching practice and development.

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Dr. Aswathy Rajan

Education Counselor I Scientific Advisor I Public Speaker I Founder-Director of Success E-Learning
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Teaching excellence is the reflection of the impact created on the students. It is measurable both quantitatively and qualitatively. Secondly, A teacher is progressive who adapts his/her teaching with changing times. For eg. Incorporating technology in the lessons, organizing integrated projects etc. Thirdly, teacher should show self improvement by upskilling themselves. Accreditation, certifications or gaining credits through various workshops and training programs can add value to their professional role. Last but not the least, measuring the impact created on the community. Teaching is not limited to the 4 walls of a classroom. These points can be considered to identify excellence in teaching.

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2 Collect evidence of teaching impact

The second step to recognize and reward teaching is to collect evidence of teaching impact and effectiveness. Sources of evidence include student evaluations, peer observations, teaching portfolios, student learning outcomes, teaching awards, grants, publications, and presentations. Faculty members should document and showcase this evidence in a systematic and transparent way to demonstrate their value and contribution to teaching and learning.

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3 Seek feedback and improvement

The third step to recognize and reward teaching is to seek feedback and improvement on teaching performance and practice. Feedback and improvement can come from a variety of sources, including self-assessment and reflection, mentoring and coaching, professional development and training, communities of practice and networks, research and scholarship, and innovation and experimentation. Faculty members should continually seek feedback on their teaching as an ongoing process in order to improve the quality and effectiveness of their teaching.

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4 Communicate and advocate for teaching

The fourth step to recognize and reward teaching is to communicate and advocate for teaching within and beyond the institution. This could involve sharing best practices and experiences, participating in committees and initiatives, collaborating with colleagues and partners, engaging with students and alumni, disseminating research and innovation, and influencing policies and decisions. Faculty members should view communicating and advocating for teaching as a strategic endeavor, using it as an opportunity to elevate the profile of teaching and learning.

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Dr. Aswathy Rajan

Education Counselor I Scientific Advisor I Public Speaker I Founder-Director of Success E-Learning
Report contribution
Being vocal about the bigger picture of your experience is very important for educators. Social media can be used effectively to advocate teaching. The impact a teacher can create on the community and the way they can touch lives and make a remarkable difference should be shared with others. This is one way to let people know how teachers can transform lives. This will also give teachers an opportunity to connect and collaborate with others.

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5 Align rewards with expectations

The fifth step to recognize and reward teaching is to align rewards with expectations for teaching performance and practice. Rewards can range from recognition and appreciation to feedback and improvement, as well as autonomy and flexibility. Other rewards may include promotion and tenure, salary and benefits, or awards and honors. Faculty members should negotiate and articulate their teaching roles and responsibilities, while seeking rewards that match their teaching achievements and aspirations. This will ensure that the rewards they receive are in line with their expectations for teaching.

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6 Celebrate and inspire teaching

The sixth and final step to recognize and reward teaching is to celebrate and inspire teaching among the faculty and the wider academic community. This can be accomplished by establishing a culture of teaching excellence, building a community of teaching practice, fostering a sense of teaching identity and pride, highlighting teaching success stories and role models, encouraging teaching innovation and diversity, and promoting teaching scholarship and leadership. It is essential to celebrate teaching as a rewarding and fulfilling career, motivating and supporting faculty members to pursue excellence in their teaching endeavors.

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Jonathan Branski

Application Developer @ Moraine Park | Adjunct Instructor @ WCTC | React, WordPress, Python
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Teaching can be very rewarding, but it can also be very taxing—especially depending on how supportive the administrative side is. Teachers should feel like they have a strong support system. One that makes them feel confident to tackle issues that may arise. Like many areas in life, if you take care of it, they will take care of you. If we properly acknowledge and support teachers, I believe it will reflect greatly in their work, and within their students!

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can faculty members be recognized and rewarded for their contributions to teaching?

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1 Define teaching excellence

2 Collect evidence of teaching impact

3 Seek feedback and improvement

4 Communicate and advocate for teaching

5 Align rewards with expectations

6 Celebrate and inspire teaching

7 Here’s what else to consider

Teaching

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How can faculty members be recognized and rewarded for their contributions to teaching?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Define teaching excellence

2 Collect evidence of teaching impact

3 Seek feedback and improvement

4 Communicate and advocate for teaching

5 Align rewards with expectations

6 Celebrate and inspire teaching

7 Here’s what else to consider

Teaching

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