About the Team
We represent the teaching team at the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork. We are a group of committed innovative and highly ambitious academic and technical staff. We work closely with our students to provide future doctors, health professionals, neuroscientists and anatomists with a world-class, student-centred education, based on current knowledge, informed by research and with an awareness of societal needs.
Key initiatives or approaches that contributed most to your DELTA Award success
Our success was driven by our use of innovative pedagogies, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, and adopting new technologies and current research to enhance student understanding and experiences. Student partnership was crucial in developing and evaluating central key initiatives. An important aspect of our anatomy and neuroscience teaching is small-group learning, which fosters peer discussion and collaborative problem-solving.
How has your focus on enhancing teaching, learning and assessment impacted your students
Absolutely! We found that students are integral to the design of their learning process and if involved early on they become more engaged, confident, and independent learners. Small group activities, hands-on resources including accessible digital tools have improved understanding of complex anatomy and neuroscience concepts and supported diverse learning needs.
Biggest lessons learned along the way
Collaboration across academic staff, technical staff, and students is crucial. Iterative development, flexibility, and willingness to experiment with different pedagogies lead to the most meaningful improvements. Listening to student feedback ensures innovations are practical and impactful.
Advice would you give other teams who want to achieve the DELTA Award
Focus on inclusive, evidence-based teaching practices, involve students as partners, and document the impact of your initiatives. Innovation doesn’t need to be complex; small, well-implemented changes can have a significant effect.
What winning the DELTA Awards means to your team
Winning the DELTA Award is a recognition of our team’s commitment to innovative, inclusive, and impactful research led Anatomy and Neuroscience teaching here in UCC. It validates our collaborative efforts and motivates us to continue to enhance learning quality and experiences for all our students.
Members of the DELTA Award Team
