National Design Competition 2009

What does excellent teaching mean to you?
What image does it conjure up?
Apples, chalk boards? Maybe it’s time for a revamp.

The National Academy is inviting 3rd & 4th level students to submit a design for its national design competition before the 9th of October 2009. The entry should symbolise good teaching and we are particularly interested in the notion of integrating research, teaching and learning.

Confused? Don’t be! All we want is a sketch, photo or a computer graphic of a 3D design that symbolises excellent teaching for you.

Entry guidelines and design specifications

• Submit your design electronically: sketches should be scanned, digital photos taken of 3D designs, and files converted into jpgs, gifs or pdfs
• The design should reflect the theme integrating research, teaching and learning
• The design should be accompanied by a 300 word abstract (max) outlining what inspired it
• All submissions should be the student’s own work. The winning design will become property of NAIRTL for use as appropriate
• All submissions should be submitted electronically to nairtl@ucc.ie and care taken to reduce file size where possible
• The final date for submission of entry is 5pm on October 9th 2009 and the winner will be contacted shortly thereafter

And the winner is….
The successful student will win a Samsung NC10 Notebook and will also receive an invitation to the 2009 National Awards for Excellence in Teaching to be held in Dublin Castle. The winning entry may be used by NAIRTL as an award for 3rd level teachers displaying excellence in teaching or used in NAIRTL promotional materials.

NAIRTL aims to promote innovation, support development and sustain good practice in the integration of research, teaching and learning in higher education. Students have an important role to play in this regard and will be encouraged through this competition to reflect on the student learning experience when teaching and research are effectively integrated.