St. Jerome’s University social history professor Dr. Steven Bednarksi has been selected from applicants around the world to be one of five 2017 D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning winners. The award, which recognizes educators that are redefining the learning experience through innovative practices, is presented by The Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE).
 

“Dr. Bednarski is well recognized at both St. Jerome’s University and the University of Waterloo for his enthusiastic pursuit of meaningful, experiential education opportunities for his students in and outside the classroom,” noted St. Jerome’s president Dr. Katherine Bergman. “His innovations lie in his translation of teaching methods typical of STEM disciplines to the humanities and in particular to Medieval History, a discipline that traditionally values the work of a solitary scholar. We congratulate his efforts being acknowledged in this way by STLHE.”

Dr. Bednarski is the first professor at St. Jerome’s University to receive this award. His efforts are being recognized for developing a collaborative, cross-disciplinary, hands-on learning model that has been applied to a number of initiatives, including The Herstmonceux Experiential Learning Adventure and the Medieval Digital Research Arts for Graphical and Environmental Networks (D.R.A.G.E.N.) Lab. His other achievements include his book A Poisoned Past: The Life and Times of Margarida de Portu, an Accused Poisoner, which is used internationally as a teaching tool.

"I am delighted that the scholarly collaborations I have undertaken with my students over the past five years have received this terrific recognition. I share this honour with my student partners, and thank them for helping to build new ways of studying the past,” Dr. Bednarski said.

The STLHE strives to be the pre-eminent national voice and a world leader for enhancing teaching and learning in higher education.  The organization partners annually with software leader D2L to present awards to applicants selected from around the world. The 2017 Award recipients will be recognized at the STLHE Annual Conference, June 20-23 in Halifax, and at FUSION, the Brightspace Global Conference, July 19-20 in Las Vegas. Each of the five winners will receive a two-year membership in STLHE as well as $2,200 toward travel and registration costs for both STLHE’s Annual Conference and FUSION. For further details about the award visit: https://www.stlhe.ca/awards/brightspace-innovation-award/2017-recipients/

-30-

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Marilyn Caird,
Administrative Manager

President’s Office
St. Jerome’s University
(519) 884-8111 x28245