Professor Jon Scott

National Teaching Fellow 2012 A deep commitment to enhancing the experience of the student learning journey, at all stages, characterises Professor Jon Scott's approach to his work. This begins well before university entry through engaging students from regional schools in practical classes and then supporting the processes of transition through a mentor scheme that is now being adopted across his whole University. Jon has led on a range of key projects at institutional level, including retention, assessment and feedback, use of the virtual learning environment (VLE) and academic integrity, all of which are underpinned by active contributions to current research in the areas and relate back to the commitment to enhancing the student learning experience. As part of these developments, Jon also works to support colleagues in improving their practice. This is achieved at School level through the Pedagogical Research Group which he established and more widely, through an annual series of focused staff-development workshops that he organises. Leading by example is also vital and he is continually striving to ensure that his own teaching and assessment practice is always improving: "Encyclopaedic knowledge of the subject, and presented in an easy to understand way. Couldn't ask for better." "I just want to say thank you very much for being such a good tutor. Your very prompt and informative feedback was much appreciated. As a student I find such support very important and was always grateful to receive it." Jon has actively promoted teaching and learning on the national stage through membership of the education committees of learned societies. He was vice-chair of the Advisory Group for the HEA Centre for Bioscience and is now leading on the HEAs Special Interest Group in pedagogical research for the biosciences. Through these he has organised and hosted a number of national workshops, for example on qualitative methods in pedagogical research in the biosciences in June 2012. His national contribution to bioscience education was recognised through being named Bioscience Teacher of the Year in 2011: 'An individual who genuinely puts student engagement at the heart of his academic practice'.