Skip to content / Skip to navigation

Online teacher training videos win Westminster academic top educational award

06-09-2009

Innovative online multimedia training videos for teachers and lecturers have won University of Westminster academic Russell Stannard a major educational award.

Mr Stannard, a principal lecturer at the University’s Harrow School of Computer Science, received the Times Higher Education Award for Outstanding Initiatives in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) last night at a ceremony at London’s Marriot Hotel.

The award was for his website, www.teachertrainingvideos.com, which provides simple video walkthrough guides of computer programmes that educators can use to enhance their teaching skills. The website, which has over 10,000 hits a month from teachers and lecturers from around the world, features videos on how to use podcasting, RSS Feeds, Youtube and blogging, among many others.

Ann Mroz, editor of the Times Higher Education, said: “Russell Stannard’s website and video tutorials have demonstrated a praiseworthy commitment to open access for educational content. His website has proved popular with education providers and public because of his willingness to work together with them and respond to a need for interactive innovations that have real impact.”

He has also pioneered the use of video marking for his students, which involves recording his corrections and comments on student work using screen capture software, a video of which can then be watched by the student for in-depth feedback.

Mr Stannard said: “I’m delighted to win this award. It’s incredible that so many educators from around the world are using the site to develop their skills, and I’m looking forward to helping many more in the future.”

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Geoffrey Petts welcomed the award, saying: “Russell's work has helped thousands of academics deliver innovative teaching, both inside the University and across the country, and I’m delighted that he has been recognised for the huge amount of work he has put in to the project.”

The University’s scholarships department was also recognised for its achievements in the field of student financial assistance at the awards. The department, which gives over £4 million every year to students from around the world – the highest in the UK – was highly commended in the Outstanding Student Financial Support Package category.