SOH Teaching Innovation Award

The Society of Homeopaths launched a new educational award this year to celebrate the innovation amongst its recognised courses. Salisbury Homeopathy College was awarded first place.

A judge commented “Impressive, highly professional preparation for an innovative and totally relevant learning experience. Excellent. I wish I’d been there. Thank you for sharing your expertise.”

The college’s Principal’s first response to hearing of this win was “Well done team!”. This may not be an innovative comment (!) but it went right to the heart of the reason for this award. The teaching staff are very much a team working towards the whole team of staff and students enjoying achievement and success.

Debbie, a student about to graduate, sent her congratulations; “Just to say a big congratulations on winning the Society’s teaching innovation award, you all work hard at making the college the success it is and I am glad that I made the right decision to join you! I know that as a result of the last 2 years I will become the best homeopath that I can be, and the ability to help any student achieve that is the most that any college can accomplish. So congratulations again – you deserve it for all the hard work that you put in and thank you for helping me to complete my college course.”

The award was made at the recent Society of Homeopath’s annual conference in London. Sue and Suzie were delighted to collect the award and would liek to thank all the people who gave and sent their congratulations. Linda Wicks, leader of the Society of Homeopath’s Education Department, presented the award after the following speech;

“Every homeopath is here today because they have been inspired and motivated by teachers. Whatever experience or interest initially led you to study homeopathy grew as you were encouraged to learn and explore.

Teaching is a creative art – the most inventive programmes and activities lead people to reach their own understanding and find answers for themselves.

This summer, teachers of homeopathy had the opportunity to air their creative ideas for our first ever Teaching Innovation Awards.  All entries described a specific lesson or learning experience which students had undertaken in the last year.  The main criterion was to show how the students were engaged actively in their learning.

The entries, from courses and individual teachers, demonstrated a very high standard of work and – above all – the sheer enjoyment of teaching and learning.

I have great pleasure in announcing the winners of the award for 2011.

Third place goes to Elaine Watson, known for her pioneering work on medical science programmes which are used in a number of homeopathy courses across the world.  Her entry provided an entertaining take on the wonders of the human digestive system.

Mo and Ali Morrish, who now run the British School of Homeopathy in Exeter, gained second place for their student-run hayfever clinic which brought in new patients from the busy shopping centre.

First place goes to Salisbury Homeopathy College. Their entry was a team-teaching event based on groups of students pitching a homeopathy business plan to a local charity.  Congratulations to Sue Stotter and Suzie Nicholls who devised the experience and have come to collect their award.

Congratulations to the winners!  We intend this to be an annual award which will celebrate the continuing achievements of teachers in our recognised courses. ”