Teaching success as lecturer enters the world of "digital natives"

BUSECO Bulletin, July 2007

Peter Wagstaff from the Department of Marketing, recipient of two Dean’s teaching awards, was recently honoured with a Carrick citation “For innovative use of communication technologies to effectively engage large cohorts of students and to motivate them as independent learners.”

Carrick citations are granted to people who have made a significant contribution to the quality of student learning in a specific area of responsibility over a sustained period, whether they are academic staff, general staff, sessional staff or institutional associates.

Peter is well known among students for his innovative use of technology in his teaching.

“The underlying intention of the approaches to teaching that I have adopted has been to influence, motivate and inspire students to learn” says Peter. “I have effectively moved a large part of the learning process into the world of the learner, and I deliver the curriculum to students in ways with which they are familiar and comfortable.”

Peter’s students are motivated to creatively utilise their learning materials, not only in formal class time, but now at times and in places that suit them – catching the train to and from university with their iPods in their ears, driving in their car, or downloading content on their mobile phones – a truly student-centred approach.

“Undergraduate students today are so familiar with technology that they are described as ’digital natives’ and we as teachers and lecturers of a different generation are seen as ‘immigrants’ in their world” Peter explained. “My focus is to use the tools and technology in my teaching that students are already using in their day to day lives.”

“I do not see myself doing anything other than continuing to push the boundaries in the classroom and beyond to motivate and engage my students” says Peter.