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From the launch of several ²Ô±ð·ÉÌý±è°ù´Ç²µ°ù²¹³¾²õÌýto the commemoration ofÌý30 years of lifelong learning, 2019 has been a remarkable year for the McGill School of Continuing Studies.ÌýThis year,Ìýthe SchoolÌýalso recognizedÌýtwo lecturers’ÌýexceptionalÌýcontributionsÌýto continuing education. During the Spring 2019 Convocation ceremony onÌýMay 28,ÌýDr. DianeÌýDechiefÌýand JeffreyÌýSacksnerÌýwere presented with theÌýAward for Distinguished Teaching.ÌýÌý

Dr.ÌýDechiefÌýis a faculty lecturer focused on Scientific and Technical Writing for the McGill Writing Centre since 2015, andÌýJeffreyÌýSacksnerÌýisÌýin his fifth yearÌýasÌýaÌýCourseÌýLecturer in Entrepreneurship for the Career and Professional Development unit. The recipients for the prestigious award were selected based on theirÌýoutstanding contribution as lecturers and were strongly supported by student feedbackÌýgathered fromÌýcourse evaluations.ÌýÌý

Earlier this year, we spoke withÌýDechiefÌýandÌýSacksnerÌýto discuss what receiving this award means to them.ÌýÌý

How did you react when you learned you were receiving the award?Ìý

Dechief:ÌýWhen I learned that I was receiving a distinguished teaching award, my first thought was of the terrific students who had been in my courses in 2018: I felt deeply appreciative that we’d had a chance to connect during their studies—that my students recognized the significance of the courses that I had designed and facilitated for them was really satisfying to me.ÌýÌý

Sacksner:ÌýI was thrilled and felt very proud when I learned that I would be receiving theÌýAward forÌýDistinguished Teaching.ÌýIt means so much to be recognized for something I absolutely love doing especially knowing it came from the most important people in the learning processÌý—Ìýmy students,Ìýor as I refer to them,Ìýmy family.ÌýThese are my real customersÌý—Ìýour future leaders, entrepreneurs and business professionals.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
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What does the award mean to you?ÌýÌý

Dechief: For me, the distinguished teaching award is recognition of my work to create interesting, relevant writing courses and assignments for students: nominations were from students in two of the new courses that I designed over the past two years, CCOM 315 Writing the Internet and CCOM 314 Communicating Science. I’m thrilled that undergraduate students are enrolling in writing courses as electives and recognizing the value of what they’re learning.ÌýÌý

One of my main goals as an educator is for young people to see themselves as writers who can effectively share their knowledge and ideas. Winning the award is encouraging;ÌýI want to keep designing and teaching writing courses and it’s great that the relevance of this work is being recognized.Ìý

How have your students impacted you as a lecturer and educator?Ìý

Dechief:ÌýStudents impact me in many positive ways. The first thing that jumps to mind is that I learn so much from my students in terms of what they’re studying and how they see the world. InÌýtheÌýMcGill Writing CentreÌýcourses,Ìýwe always discuss the importance of knowing our audience. As an educator, students are my audience. During class, I make plenty of room for students to share their views and ask questions. This helps me know my audience: I learn what really matters to students and this lets me better tailor courses to students’ interests and needs. Plus, McGill students are interesting, funny, and inspiring!Ìý

Sacksner:ÌýMy students have had a tremendous impact on me both academically as a lecturer and professionally with my full-time work in the [entrepreneurship] industry. Seeing firsthand the students' desire to learn new concepts, their creativity, passion and the different ways they have of looking at things has inspired me to continuously innovate and findÌýdifferent ways of creating interesting and stimulating lectures and courses. The students force me to stay current and help me look at things from a different perspective which I know has had significant benefits to my full-time work in the corporate world.ÌýÌý

Learn more about theÌýMcGill Writing Centre Communicating Science program, and theÌýEntrepreneurship programs.ÌýÌý

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