Andrew Charleson
National Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award Winner

"One of my life goals is to make a positive contribution wherever I find myself.

"At present, teaching is a significant component of that contribution. Through my courses, the knowledge and understanding gained by my students lead to safer, and more economical and aesthetically pleasing architectural structures.

"For me, teaching is an exciting challenge - one that requires and stretches all my personal skills and personality attributes, as well as my professional knowledge and experience. It exposes the duality within me - a quiet understated approach laced with self-deprecating humour and the contrasting requirement of performing in front of large classes. It is this awareness of challenge that motivates me to innovate. I break away from tried and tired approaches and continually improve my teaching. Of course, there is always room for improvement. I always strive to offer a clearer explanation, or use a more apt anecdote. Innovative teaching has enabled me to change student perceptions of my subject area and then to maintain those positive attitudes.

"In almost every teaching situation I am conscious of the need to demonstrate my subject's relevance. I am always making connections between structures and the architecture they serve and can enrich. A key objective is to integrate Structures with other courses, and in particular, with Architectural Design. As much as possible I keep emphases real, drawing upon practical examples in order to provide a counterpoint to the necessary theory. Students are better able to engage with teaching material when it relates to their world of architecture, which I endeavour to enter. I speak the language of architecture, referring to the work of its heroes as I identify with the students' journey towards becoming architects and building scientists."