McManus to receive Distinguished Teaching Award at convocation

Known as an innovator in the classroom and a beloved history professor, Sheila McManus will earn another title today.

McManus will receive the Distinguished Teaching Award at the University of Lethbridge’s 2018 Spring Convocation, Ceremony II, at 2:30 p.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre gym.

The core values that have guided her teaching practice from its earliest days centre around maintaining respect for her students as adults and learners, U of L officials said in a recent news release.

McManus has reduced or eliminated lectures in her classes to focus on student-centred active learning opportunities. These include workshops where students gain hands-on experience with primary sources or develop specific research and writing skills, as well as classroom debates about issues and evidence.

Since 2012, she has co-facilitated teaching workshops for faculty and instructors at the U of L, Lethbridge College and Olds College. During her two-year term as Board of Governors’ Teaching Chair, her initiatives included creating a “Doors Open” series for faculty to visit the classrooms and observe some of the best teachers at the university.

The Distinguished Teaching Award was established in 1987 to recognize the importance of teaching to the philosophy and goals of the university.