Biology professor and digital classroom pioneer Jon Houseman has been awarded the 2007 3M Teaching Fellowship. Prof. Houseman is a leader in establishing multimedia teaching at the University of Ottawa. He was one of the earliest users of the digital teaching technologies that uOttawa professors now use daily in the instruction of students.
Co-sponsored by the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and 3M Canada, the fellowships are presented each year to recognize both teaching excellence and educational leadership in Canada. The competition is open to Canadian university teachers from all disciplines.
“Teaching is not often recognized at the university level, and this award brings attention to teaching and the excellent work done by university teachers across Canada. I take pride in being a part of this special group of faculty, and in having my work here at the University of Ottawa recognized,” said a delighted Houseman. His contributions in the areas of teaching and learning have earned him several nominations and awards, including the 2005 Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations Teaching Award.
Prof. Houseman is an exceptional innovator in the development of computer-based instructional resources for teaching biology. He establishes new strategies to take full advantage of the instructional potential of these tools in new undergraduate biology laboratories that are unique to North America.
An active member of various committees advising the University Senate on teaching issues, Houseman’s interests extend beyond the use of technology. He has demonstrated educational leadership in contributions to his department and faculty, and the University as a whole. As chair of the Biology Department Curriculum Committee for more than 10 years, he has helped restructure programs.
When asked what he sees on the horizon for instructional technologies, Houseman commented, “If I were to gaze into a crystal ball, I suspect collaborative software and tools will become important. Wikipedia is the classic example of technological collaboration, and wikis have transformed approaches to team work.
He also pointed to the use of digital portfolios, through which students can easily share projects they are working on with other students and instructors. “Portfolios vary in their uses, but they will become important as students collect their best materials from different courses, strengthening the links between things learned in one course and how they are applied in another,” said Houseman.
