Dr Daniel Czech honoured as exceptional educator
Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) lecturer Dr Daniel Czech has been recognised for outstanding teaching by those who matter most to him: his students.
The Monash Student Association honoured Dr Czech with the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (MNHS) Teaching Excellence Award at its annual awards evening last month.
The student-nominated, student-voted awards, which celebrate teaching excellence across Monash University’s 10 faculties, had the largest number of nominees (550) this year since their inception in 2014. Finalists are selected from hundreds of lecturers and tutors.
“I was really surprised. It’s extra special to be acknowledged by the people you’re really trying to help, who you want to do well and do Monash proud,” Dr Czech said.
Dr Czech was also one of three finalists in the overarching Above and Beyond Award, which recognises a teacher who has exceeded the requirements of their role to provide students with an exceptional learning experience.
Comments by his nominees for this award included that Dr Czech was, ‘the most responsive lecturer that I have ever had’ and that, ‘his dedication and enthusiasm are unparalleled.’
Dr Czech has acted in his current role as an education-focused lecturer teaching biomedical science for four years and was a teaching associate from 2008. He said his style of teaching was closely aligned with Monash’s current vision of student-centred learning.
“It’s really about helping students build knowledge themselves – a constructivist philosophy – rather than a didactic form of lecturing,” he said.
Passionate about teaching, Dr Czech said the rewards were simple.
“It’s hearing the students say ‘I get that now!’ when they understand something they might have had difficulty with before,” he said.
“It’s also about seeing students go on and do amazing things – we’ve had very successful students go out and find jobs, find careers and help their communities, and that makes me really happy because that’s why we do it.”
Research Fellow Nassif Hossain, lecturers Dr Elise Randle-Barrett and Dr Joshua Wiley, and Clayton Campus Bioscience Coordinator Dr Renee Rogers, were other finalists in the (MNHS) Teaching Excellence Awards.
About the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute
Committed to making the discoveries that will relieve the future burden of disease, the newly established Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University brings together more than 120 internationally-renowned research teams. Our researchers are supported by world-class technology and infrastructure, and partner with industry, clinicians and researchers internationally to enhance lives through discovery.