Award for taking the 'grr' out of grammar

16 January 2009
Grammar is not sexy, but management communication lecturer Dr Nittaya Campbell does her best to make it so and has won an outstanding teaching award for her efforts.

Campbell is one of two from Waikato University's Management School's Management Communication Department to win the School's annual Outstanding Teaching Award. The other recipient is popular professor David McKie.

Dr Campbell teaches writing papers at Waikato and says while she'd like students to arrive at university with a good knowledge of grammar, it's often not the case.

"So I've got to try to get them enthusiastic about something they're negative about. I have a stockpile of chocolate fish for when they spot my mistakes, I run game-show style classes and hold grammar quizzes with prizes. I do my best to take the 'grr' out of grammar using every trick I know, including bribes!"

But just as importantly Dr Campbell says she works at getting her senior students to develop a real sense of professionalism in their writing so they're prepared for writing in the workplace. "Things like reader analysis, careful planning, rationale, cost analysis, design, ethical considerations, rewriting, editing and proofreading. There's a lot to know."

Prof McKie lectures in communication and leadership at all levels, including executive education. The awards judging panel noted how he sets up conditions for self growth, self realisation and encourages transformation in his students.

"I've been teaching a long time, more than 30 years, and I've learnt that teaching has got to be more about meeting certain learning objectives; it's about challenging students to think creatively and that means daring to take new and different approaches to content – moving out of well-established grooves," says Prof McKie. "And in the classroom, I'm as much a learner as my students."

While his teaching may sometimes seem unorthodox, it has workplace relevance, and his students say his lessons extend far beyond the classroom and into their personal and professional lives.

Both Prof McKie and Dr Campbell receive a plaque and honorarium of $2500 to go towards teaching resources or research.