Prize winner Günter H.J. Peters. Photo: Mikal Schlosser
Dean Martin Vigild presents the prize of DKK 25,000 to Günter H.J. Peters. Photo: Mikal Schlosser
The real sculpture is 6 metres high, but the artist had brought a model for the occasion. Photo: Mikal Schlosser
Photo: Mikal Schlosser

Prize for excellent teaching

Chemistry
DTU has presented a new prize for the development of teaching and learning for the first time. This year's prize was awarded to Günther H. J. Peters, Associate Professor at DTU Chemistry, who has worked hard to develop the difficult 'Physical chemistry for life sciences' foundation subject. The prize includes a travel grant to the value of DKK 25,000 and custody of a six-metre-tall sculpture for one year.

DTU's Executive Board has decided to introduce a prize for the development of teaching and learning at DTU.

The prize recognizes remarkable input from an individual lecturer or team of lecturers in the development of learning, teaching and study programmes at DTU. The prize will be awarded annually at a DTU teaching seminar, and was presented for the first time in autumn 2016.

"The new prize is to reward the huge effort that goes on behind the scenes as our lecturers develop new learning methods. It can be difficult to find time for this amid a busy daily schedule, yet passionate lecturing staff still make time. These are the people we want to reward," says Martin Vigild, Senior Vice President and Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Student Affairs.

He notes that the new prize should in no way be viewed as a competitor to the ‘Lecturer of the Year’ title that students award every year on Commemoration Day. The new prize rewards a process, while the ‘Lecturer of the Year’ award recognizes performance in the auditoriums. So the two are not comparable.

"The prize is awarded to lecturers who have made a special effort to systematically initiate, investigate document and share experiences with development of their teaching and student learning. We are keen to encourage DTU lecturers to continually and systematically investigate how their students' learning is supported through various teaching methods, and contribute to the ongoing improvement of the quality of our tuition and study programmes," says Martin Vigild.

Students present the theory themselves 
In the words of the judging panel, this year's winner, Günther H. J. Peters, has "worked systematically and persistently over a long period to develop the 'Physical chemistry for life sciences' foundation subject, which has been traditionally viewed as difficult by students".

He has developed the course from having a very traditional focus on theoretical communication to being a course with a focus on student learning and difficulties understanding the theoretical content. Lectures in the course have now been largely replaced with project days and student presentations of the theoretical content. This has been supplemented by online video material reviewing the theory and online quizzes, which support student learning.

"It is a really great honour to receive this award. An early Christmas present, you could say. The award recognizes the extensive work I've put into developing the course, and while I was already passionate about doing so, it's always an encouragement to have others see and recognize one's efforts. It has been an incredibly exciting process, and although the students might have been slightly frustrated initially over trying something completely new, they have been supportive throughout. The basic idea of having one-to-one contact with students, meeting them on their own terms and learning to listen to their needs and input, has proven to be a very effective learning method—so a big thank you to the students as well," says Associate Professor Günther H. J. Peters.

In an interview, students report that they learn a lot in the course and are motivated about the content. They describe the lecturer as committed and responsive to their feedback and frustrations. The new teaching strategy has also had a positive impact on the average grade.