Teaching Supplement

Think the pressures associated with research, the old "publish or perish" paradigm, are rough? Undoubtedly so, but think, for a moment, what psychology professor Don Taylor is facing in the photo at left. Hundreds of students. All looking at you and expecting you to be thoughtful, insightful and energetic.

Thankfully, Taylor is up to the task. He earned the Leo Yaffe Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Faculty of Science a few years back. In this section of the paper, we focus on the most recent winners of teaching awards from McGill's various faculties. We asked them to do some homework. What, we queried, are the biggest challenges facing McGill in the realm of teaching? And what can be done to address those challenges? We garnered some interesting replies.

We also asked some fairly recent McGill graduates who their favourite teachers were. We look at a novel approach to teaching that is taking place in the Faculty of Management. And we check in with a centre, right here at the University, where professors can get some support and advice aimed at honing their pedagogical skills.

Photos of teaching award winners: Owen Egan