E. Phillips Knox Distinguished Teaching Award
Description of Award
Established by Miami alumnus E. Phillips Knox, a 1968 graduate, the award recognizes creative, innovative and engaging teaching methods at the undergraduate level. This award is conferred upon faculty members whose achievements unequivocally merit the recognition for excellence in teaching. Award winners receive a professional expense allocation of $3,000 in support of their teaching and for professional activities related to the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Nominations are due to CTE@MiamiOH.edu by October each year.
First Round Selection Process Criteria
- Member of the Miami faculty for at least two years; be in good standing with the department; and be recognized by students for disseminating knowledge, improving the learning experience, and being engaged with the learning experience through creative and innovative teaching methods.
- Documented qualities of a creative and innovative educator with a demonstrated record of fostering critical thinking and engagement of undergraduates along one or more of the following dimensions:
- learning through inquiry, experimentation, and discovery
- heightened awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity and the importance of global contexts
- active participation in experiential learning and community partnerships
Excellence in Teaching Definition
Your application packet (due February 1st) will be evaluated based on the aforementioned criteria and using the following aspects of teaching excellence:
- Positive student-faculty contact
- Effective active learning
- Achievable and high expectations
- Respects diverse talents and ways of learning
- Effective communication skills
- Commitment to teaching well
- Documented evidence of student learning outcomes
Application Information
Applications are due February 1st to cte@MiamiOH.edu and should consist of three components:
- At least two letters (no more than 5 letters). One letter should be from your nominator and discuss how your teaching meet the criteria. The second letter should also address the criteria. At least one of the letters should be from a faculty or staff member at Miami.
- A teaching narrative or statement of 2000 words or less. Please reflect on your teaching and discuss how you met the criteria and definition of teaching excellence. Please reference materials provided in your supporting materials and documented evidence.
- Supporting materials and documented evidence supporting the aforementioned aspects of excellence in teaching. Evidence might include, but is not limited to:
- letters from students
- examples of assignments/ student work with professor reflection on the work
- evidence of teaching innovation over time;
- video (limited to 15 minutes) of teaching or student work
- course evaluations (summative, formative, peer review, SGID)
- rationale for the selection of course materials
- examples of teaching artifacts (e.g., electronic teaching portfolio, links to game or website of teaching materials; syllabi; assessments)
Supporting materials and documented evidence should be 12-15 pages, 12 point Times New Roman font, 1 inch margin, single or double spaced, and include some reflection or narrative on the evidence with the materials
Past winners of the Knox Teaching Award or the Distinguished Teaching Award are not eligible for the teaching award for 10 years from the Knox or DTA award date.
Timeline
Shortly after February 1st, the review committee will meet to discuss all applications. Finalists will be selected based on the application information submitted. Finalists will be invited for an interview (30 minutes or less) with the selection committee by mid-February. Interviews will be standard across finalists and provide the selection committee an opportunity to explore the finalists' teaching achievements further.
The recipient of the award is announced in April.