We are thrilled to share the winning Executive Dean’s Teaching Awardees for the faculty!
Awardees
Lead | Dr Nicole Sugden
Co-applicants | Amita Krautloher, Dr Leigh Grant, Dr Jenni Greig, Dr Claudia Diaz
This recognises the teaching team’s work in transforming assessment in undergraduate Biopsychology. These awards celebrate excellence in teaching and acknowledge contributions that align with Charles Sturt University’s education strategy, ethos, and values.
The effective assessment practices that bring about improvements in student learning category has a focus on academic integrity or digital solutions, or any assessment strategies that bring about change. Since 2023, the teaching team has introduced a reflective e-portfolio assessment designed to promote authenticity, metacognitive reflection, and academic integrity. Implemented over three years (2023–2025), this innovation has positively impacted around 650 students, enhancing engagement, performance, and emotional wellbeing. It has been recognised at university, national, and international levels for delivering inclusive, high-impact, and authentic assessment that strengthens digital integrity and supports success for regional and online learners.
This redesign was driven by challenges with traditional assessments, such as disengagement, academic integrity concerns, and barriers for students with diverse needs. This cohort of students spans ages 19–71, with many studying online, living with disability or neurodiversity, or coming from equity backgrounds. Timed exams and referencing-heavy tasks often disadvantaged these students, while conventional formats failed to capture creativity or multimodal strengths. The e-portfolio approach changed that. Students now demonstrate understanding through self-selected formats, e.g. comics, podcasts, and storytelling, paired with reflective commentaries linking their work to psychological theory and real-world applications. Scaffolded activities and feedback ensure students feel supported academically and emotionally.
This achievement reflects a commitment to inclusive, student-centred learning and reimagines how knowledge is demonstrated in psychology. Congratulations to the team for leading this transformative change!
The full list of teaching award recipients can be found here.
