Two lecturers in the School of Education at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham, have received a prestigious teaching award from the Design and Technology Association.
St Mary’s Senior Lecturers Sally Aston and Dot Jackson have received the Outstanding Teacher Training Design and Technology Award in recognition of their outstanding contribution to Design and Technology Education (D&T).
Sally and Dot have worked together for more than 20 years, originally working in primary schools in London where they specialised in science and D&T. They later moved to St Mary’s to work with Initial Teacher Training students and have taught hundreds of trainee teachers during their time here.
The award was given for Sally and Dot’s work in this specialist field. They have developed D&T modules for students who have a particular interest in the subject, and have introduced innovative design diaries to enable students to reflect on their work in the classroom. They also actively work with students without a specific qualification in D&T to develop their enthusiasm and creativity.
Most recently the pair have co-edited and written the 20th edition of the D&T Primary magazine, and three of their former students have gained Outstanding Newcomer Awards from the Design and Technology Association.
Dot and Sally commented, “We feel deeply honoured to receive this award. We are really grateful to our colleagues in the School of Education for all the support and autonomy that we have been given to develop Design and Technology modules at St Mary’s. Being funded to attend D&T conferences and work with colleagues in other universities has contributed to our achievement.”
Head of St Mary’s School of Education Dr Maureen Glackin commented, “I am thrilled that Dot and Sally have had the quality of their teaching here so warmly affirmed by their peers. This award gives recognition to their professional wisdom and practice, borne out of scholarship but characterised by a passion for relational engagement with students which nurtures a commitment to excellent practice in the classroom. This is most elegantly realised by the achievements of their former students. They are wonderful colleagues to work with and we are all enormously proud of them.”
Dot and Sally will be presented with their award at an awards ceremony on Friday 8th March at the Institute of Engineering and Technology in London.
Lecturers Win Design and Technology Award
Lecturers at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham have received the Outstanding Contribution award from the Design and Technology Association.