Teaching Excellence Award for Research-Centered and Experiential Learning
This award recognizes educators who design learning experiences that integrate research, inquiry, community engagement, or real-world application. Recipients demonstrate how they connect academic learning to practice, encouraging students to think critically, act creatively, and apply knowledge in authentic contexts that prepare them for continued scholarship, civic participation, or professional growth.
| Category | Exemplary Evidence (4 pts) | Strong Evidence (3 pts) | Some Evidence (2 pts) | Minimal Evidence (1 pt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching Philosophy and Reflection (20%) | Clearly connects inquiry, research, or real-world application to learning goals; reflection demonstrates rationale and improvement grounded in evidence or scholarship. | Describes experiential or research-based approaches with relevant examples; some reflective linkage to outcomes. | General references to hands-on or applied work with limited reflection. | Minimal or unclear connection to research or experience. |
| Teaching Materials and Practices (35%) | Materials integrate authentic inquiry or application (community projects, labs, fieldwork, research tasks) with clear scaffolding and purpose. | Materials provide strong opportunities for discovery and application with reasonable structure. | Some experiential elements present but uneven or under-scaffolded. | Materials lack authentic inquiry or real-world application. |
| Evidence of Student Impact (35%) | Compelling, varied evidence shows gains in critical thinking, creativity, or real-world skill application attributable to the experiential design. | Clear evidence of engagement and applied learning linked to activities. | Limited or indirect evidence of applied learning outcomes. | Minimal or unclear evidence of impact from experiential design. |
| Innovation and Growth (10%) | Demonstrates innovative partnerships, project models, or research experiences; reflection documents iteration and lessons learned. | Shows adaptation and growth in experiential approaches over time. | Some innovation or reflection, but scope is limited. | Minimal evidence of innovation or reflective growth. |
