Among those recognized was Economics Teaching Assistant Zain Virani (MBE \u201919), who received this year\u2019s TA Award. The honour is presented annually to a teaching assistant in recognition of an outstanding contribution to teaching and learning at Brock.<\/p>\n
Virani, who has worked as a TA at Brock since 2017 and graduated from the University with a Master of Business Economics in 2019, said he could not have enhanced his own teaching without the help of the CPI team.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Zain-Virani-photo-1050x822.jpg\")
Zain Virani received Brock\u2019s 2021 TA Award.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cCPI has helped me appreciate the importance of reflecting on and constantly improving my practices as an educator,\u201d he said. \u201cI have learned to accept and incorporate student feedback into my teaching, which has enabled me to improve the quality of learning experience that I am able to offer to my students.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though winners of the awards received monetary prizes, Virani said the greatest reward is seeing his students succeed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to let our students know, with our tone and actions, that we genuinely care about their learning,\u201d he said. \u201cI have noticed that when students feel valued and taken care of, they enjoy learning and consequently perform better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Neivin Shalabi, a Higher Education Sessional Instructor with a PhD from the University of Denver and almost 17 years of higher education teaching experience, also keeps her students\u2019 needs as a top priority.<\/p>\n
\u201cI put my heart and soul into my teaching, aiming to build inclusive learning environments where my students are welcomed, appreciated, supported and challenged to become their best selves,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Shalabi is the recipient of Brock\u2019s 2020 Clarke Thomson Award for Excellence in Sessional Teaching, which honours part-time\/sessional teaching staff who contribute significantly to student learning at the University.<\/p>\n
Shalabi\u2019s teaching practices are informed by her years of work as an educator and pedagogical trainer, and by participation in a wide array of professional development activities, including workshops led by CPI.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy participation in CPI\u2019s Instructional Skills and Facilitator Development workshops helped fulfil some of my professional development goals,\u201d she said. \u201cMy communication with the technical support staff helped establish seamless virtual learning environments for my students.\u201d<\/p>\n
While both Virani and Shalabi have received individual honours, each believes they are among elite company as part of Brock\u2019s teaching and learning community.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom participating in TA workshops organized by CPI, I have come to the realization that Brock has some outstanding TAs who truly care about their students’ learning,\u201d said Virani. \u201cI’m absolutely thrilled and humbled to have been chosen for the TA Award out of this pool of amazing educators.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shalabi was also thankful and encouraged all instructors to continue to deliver excellent teaching.<\/p>\n
\u201cI urge fellow educators to inform their teaching practices with students\u2019 feedback and to engage in ongoing professional development activities,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
CPI\u2019s Assistant Director Giulia Forsythe said the awards highlight just a small sample of the amazing teaching taking place in every Faculty at Brock, even despite the difficulties created by the pandemic.<\/p>\n
“I wish I could give an honorary teaching award to all the amazing instructors, teaching assistants and lab demonstrators at Brock University after these extremely challenging past 14 months,\u201d she said. \u201cWhile many people are deserving, the teaching award winners stand out because they demonstrated their excellence through their impressive dossiers and numerous letters of recommendations and support. I feel this is a testament to the high-quality teaching and learning that happens at Brock, even in the most trying circumstances.”<\/p>\n
A full list of Brock-wide teaching award winners, teaching assistant award winners and the Distinguished Teaching Award winner can be found below and on the Awards Showcase 2020-21 website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Brock-wide teaching awards<\/strong><\/p>\n Teaching assistant awards<\/strong><\/p>\n Distinguished Teaching Award<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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