Excellence in Teaching

Winner

Dr Katrina Barker, Senior Lecturer in Educational Psychology, School of Education

Dr Katrina Barker is a multi-award-winning educator who has taught educational psychology in a Master of Teaching (Primary) and Bachelor of Education (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) programs at Western Sydney University since 2005.  Katrina's research interests directly inform and influence her pedagogy and have contributed to the development of strong theoretical knowledge in the field of education psychology.  Since her teaching and research are interconnected, they permeate all aspects of her curriculum design, assessment development and pedagogical approach.

Instrumental to her teaching philosophy is the importance of creating a positive learning environment through the valuing and respecting of her students' diversity.  This belief system encourages inclusiveness and participation.  Katrina's research-led practices are creative, engaging and are delivered in a flexible mode.  "Hands on" and "on your feet" teaching moments inspire students to see the relevance and good sense of university learning in the field.  Superior learning and teaching experiences crafted by Katrina in her educational psychology units work to produce high quality preservice teachers, who are keen to advance the status of the teaching profession.

Nominated

• Dr David Arness, Lecturer (Teaching Focussed), School of Social Sciences & Psychology
• Dr Timothy Hall, Academic Course Advisor, School of Business