CQU Mackay academic Ashley Holmes and Rockhampton-based Kate Ames, Dr Philip Robertson and Jeff Young have been recognised as the 2004 joint recipients of the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Quality Teaching.

They were recognised during the CQU Rockhampton graduation and the recent Teaching and Learning Showcase cocktail night.

The quartet are from the School of Contemporary Communication in the Faculty of Informatics and Communication.

They have worked together as a team to develop and manage a new and innovative course titled Contemporary Photomedia.

This course was first offered in Winter Term 2003 and was developed in response to an identified need for a photography course within the journalism, multimedia and professional communication programs.

The challenges faced by the team in developing and teaching this course were enormous, as they were required to develop ways in which to offer the course in a flexible, online, on-campus and multi-campus environment.

The team worked extremely hard to develop a course that was both stimulating and exciting for their students.

Due to their commitment and desire to provide an online course that would integrate the latest developments in digital imaging, visual and design theory, and media practices, this course has received an overwhelming response from students who have found the course to be enjoyable and rewarding.

The award citation notes that Kate, Ashley, Philip and Jeff have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to excellence in teaching and learning, together with an innovative approach to offering practical courses to students online. These attributes make this team of staff highly valuable members of the University community.

Photo (above): Jeff Young, Kate Ames and Ashley Holmes with the Vice-Chancellor Professor John Rickard at the Teaching and Learning Showcase cocktail night.

Photo (left): Dr Phil Robertson, Kate Ames and Jeff Young at graduation.