We are thrilled to celebrate Dr. John Roosa as a recipient of this year’s Killam Teaching Prize.
The Killam Teaching Prize is awarded annually to faculty nominated by students, colleagues and alumni in recognition of excellence in teaching.
Thanking the whole History department for the prestigious accolade, Dr. Roosa said, “I have learned a lot about teaching from my colleagues in the department. I have sat in on their lectures, studied their syllabi, and discussed pedagogical matters with them. They have created an environment that has promoted high quality teaching.”
Dr. Roosa also highlighted the crucial role played by his students. “I have paid attention to their responses and imagined myself in their position. In teaching history, we usually ask students to imagine themselves as particular individuals from the past so that they can understand different perspectives. We teachers have to be able to understand our courses from the perspective of the students. Whatever teaching techniques we adopt, we have to begin with a fundamental sense of respect for them and a sincere commitment to helping them learn.”
“We teachers have to be able to understand our courses from the perspective of the students. Whatever teaching techniques we adopt, we have to begin with a fundamental sense of respect for them and a sincere commitment to helping them learn.”
Dr. Bonnie Effros, Department Head, praised Dr. Roosa’s contributions. “In his courses, Dr Roosa has developed what he calls a critical pedagogy of “teaching as caring”, in which he helps students cope with the difficult histories of violence his classes on human rights and social justice address. During the pandemic, Dr Roosa also devised what he describes as the “history as dramaturgy” in order to convey key concepts in his course from the perspective of different characters. Both approaches have made his courses productive and memorable to many of his students as he teaches them lessons from a broad variety of perspectives,” said Dr. Effros.
Dr. Roosa’s research and teaching interests include Southeast Asia, nationalism, imperialism, oral history, and human rights. He teaches courses such as Imperialism and Nationalism in Southeast Asia, Postcolonial Southeast Asia, and Human Rights in World History.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Roosa on this well-deserved honour!
