LA TROBE UNIVERSITY Shepparton Campus lecturer Dr. Caroline Walta was taken by surprise when she was named ‘Teacher Educator of the Year’ by the Australian Teacher Education Association (ATEA) earlier this month.
“I was absolutely shocked,” Dr Walta said, who thought it was a joke when she was told about the honour.
“This is the kind of award that is normally received at the big universities in Sydney and Melbourne, you don’t often associate them with regional places like Shepparton. It has really put us on the map.”
Dr Walta gained the award for her work as coordinator of the university’s Graduate Diploma in Education (Middle Years), integrating new technologies such as the Apple i-Pod Touch into the course program as a new development in digital learning.
“I’m always looking for ways to make use of technology where I can,” she said.
“It’s the way of teaching in the future.”
Since Dr Walta’s appointment as coordinator of the course, enrolments have increased by 200%.
“It’s about flexibility. Structuring the course with the use of the i-Phone can be difficult for some students to get their heads around, as they may struggle with use of the technology initially, but they can still complete the course not using it,” Dr Walta said.
“It doesn’t prejudice against anyone but it has enabled people from all over the state and NSW to complete the course, including mums and those living in remote areas looking for a career change who otherwise wouldn’t be able to do so. It’s very exciting.”
La Trobe Education Faculty Dean, Professor Lorraine Ling congratulated Dr Walta on her achievement.
“This award is a very prestigious award. The ATEA is a highly regarded, peak body for teacher education in Australia,’ Professor Ling said.
“This is testimony to the innovative and excellent work Caroline is doing as an outstanding teacher educator. This national recognition of her work is further evidence of the esteem with which Caroline is held within the profession by her peers as well as her students.”
Dr Walta has plans to next make use of the Apple i-Pad in the course.
