Class Act: Anonymous donor honours top teachers

An anonymous donor has funded a new award to publicly and formally recognize teaching excellence by mid-career professors at the Faculty of Information. In honour of Dean Emeritus and Professor Brian Cantwell Smith, the award embodies the Faculty’s commitment to maintaining and building the best possible learning experience for students.  

In this interview, the donor explains the thinking behind the gift, which led to the creation of the new Faculty of Information Teaching Award. 

What inspired you to make a donation for a teaching award? 
I love that our [Faculty] is truly committed to education while continuing to conduct first-class research. Achieving such a balance is not easy. Leading educational institutions often focus more on research because it brings prestige in a more tangible way. The quality of education, however, is a long-term, somewhat invisible investment.  

Have teachers had a big impact on your life? 
Both of my parents are teachers, so you can imagine how much they’ve influenced me. I’ve been fortunate to have many great teachers, from my primary school teachers to my PhD supervisor. They not only imparted knowledge but also shared their passion, love, and attitude toward others, which has shaped me into the person I am today. 

One of my high school teachers, Mr. H, did something that really impressed me. On the morning of the university entrance exam, he showed up with about 100 boiled eggs. He knew from past experience that students often skipped breakfast, which would affect their focus during the three-hour exam. Only someone who wholeheartedly loves their students would do something like that. 

Given the effects of technology, including AI, are we going through a period where teaching needs to be radically rethought? 
I think we definitely need to adapt to an era where new technology, including AI, offers unprecedented help to both students and teachers. However, the change in teaching may not be radical. Much of the most valuable knowledge exists in tacit form.  In these cases, students learn through discussions, interactions, experiences, and practice. That said, new technology might significantly change how we learn explicit knowledge, such as computer programming. 

How do you see teaching changing? And not changing? 
Students today are exposed to more engaging and interesting forms of content than ever before. Our “information product” – teaching – needs to compete for their attention. If we don’t make lessons more interactive and engaging, students will lose focus more easily. 

What stays unchanged is the Fundamentals of Pedagogy. While tools and methods evolve, the core principles of good teaching – clear communication, understanding learners’ needs, and effective content delivery – remain constant. 

Why is this type of award especially important mid-career? 
I personally believe that recognizing excellence in teaching is important at all stages of a teacher’s career. Newer teachers may bring fresh ideas and relate more closely to students’ generation. Mid-career and experienced teachers have deep knowledge of both students and subjects, allowing them to develop more relevant and validated teaching methods. 

To help us recognize outstanding teaching at the Faculty of Information, please consider making a donation through the Faculty of Information Teaching Award giving page or by contacting Stephanie Sim at stephanie.sim@utoronto.ca or 416-978-7609.