Change One Thing Challenge
If so, you are invited to participate in the Change One Thing Challenge, inspired by Dalhousie University. This is a low-risk, high-reward opportunity to showcase your innovation and receive a grant for your professional development.
Join us in shaping the future of education—one change at a time.
View the gallery of grant recipients.
One person. One moment at a time.”
— Libba Bray
Applications for 2025 are closed
What is it?
The Change One Thing Challenge differs from typical seed grants. Instead of starting with an idea and seeking funding, we celebrate the small-scale changes that educators like you have already implemented and that make a difference. It can be anything that enhances student learning or their experience, and that you have developed or implemented in the last two years. Examples could include:
- Collaborative assignments and projects
- Peer feedback models
- Undergraduate research experiences
- Service, community, work, or place-based learning
- Capstone projects
- Experiential or inquiry-based learning
- Technology-enhanced engagement, feedback, or assessment
What are the benefits?
Selected submissions receive:
- A grant of $1,000 for conferences or professional learning of your choice, e.g., workshops, online courses, conference fees or subscriptions, etc.
- Recognition on TeachWell Digital. Your idea may be captured as a case study in teaching for others to learn from.
2025 grant recipients
Celebrating our 27 Change One Thing Challenge 2025 recipients.
Associate Professor Eileen Lueders
Faculty of Science
Inventing a 'Hot Seat' activity for psychology seminars
Eileen’s “Hot Seat” activity in 4th-year psychology seminars enhanced communication skills and confidence by having students answer spontaneous questions, creating a supportive and engaging learning environment.
Profile: Eileen Lueders
Dr Nuddy Pillay
Business School
Utilising FeedbackFruits for team-based learning
Nuddy used FeedbackFruits in a Team-Based Learning course to ensure fair recognition of individual efforts through AI-supported peer assessments, improving teamwork skills and fostering constructive feedback.
Profile: Nuddy Pillay
Dr Alex McAuley
Faculty of Arts and Education
Providing students with choice in Classics and Ancient History
Alex revitalised the Classical Tragedy course with creative assignments, allowing students to choose various formats, fostering engagement and personalised learning, and replacing traditional exams.
Profile: Alex McAuley
Blair Sowman
Faculty of Science
Improving lab inductions with AI-generated video
Blair modernised lab inductions with AI-generated videos covering safety and equipment usage, including interactive quizzes, enhancing engagement and knowledge retention.
Profile: Blair Sowman
Selena Donaldson
Faculty of Science
Relocating a weekly clinic to an aged-care setting
Selena relocated a weekly clinic to an aged care setting, providing Speech Language Therapy students with hands-on experience and enhancing their understanding and confidence in real-life environments.
Profile: Selena Donaldson
Dr Pippa Bresser
Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
Bringing a 'sales pitch' session to medical imaging
Pippa transformed a Medical Imaging course exercise into a brainstorming and ‘sales pitch’ session using AI-generated images, encouraging creativity and collaboration.
Profile: Pippa Bresser
Dr Judy Thomas
Faculty of Science
Introducing movement-based activities in tutorials
Judy introduced movement-based activities in tutorials, such as “Game, Set, Match” and “Think, Pair, Walk, and Share,” to reduce sitting time and increase engagement and active learning.
Profile: Judy Thomas
Dr Minh Kieu
Faculty of Engineering and Design
Enriching data analytics skills in Civil Engineering
Minh enriched Civil Engineering courses with individualized datasets and AI tutoring, fostering authentic problem-solving and improving data analytics skills.
Profile: Minh Kieu
Dr Andrew Hall
Faculty of Engineering and Design
Applying real-world applications to theoretical concepts
Andrew enhanced the Acoustics for Engineers course with live lab demonstrations, helping students understand real-world applications of theoretical concepts.
Profile: Andrew Hall
Dr Nicole Perry
Faculty of Arts and Education
Encouraging creative assessment in a Folktales course
Nicole’s “Interpreting Folktales” course featured a creative assessment where students developed their own folktale characters, enhancing their understanding of folktales and improving writing skills.
Profile: Nicole Perry
Dr Courtney Ruha
Faculty of Science
Using Gen-AI to connect theoretical knowledge with practical applications
Courtney’s project in chemistry courses used AI to design artwork and posters, connecting theoretical knowledge with practical applications and fostering teamwork and research skills.
Profile: Courtney Ruha
Xin Cheng
Faculty of Engineering and Design
Promoting hands-on creativity and sustainability in the Design Programme
Xin’s prototyping kit, using locally sourced materials, promotes hands-on creativity and sustainability in the Design Programme, enhancing critical thinking and research skills through collaborative prototyping.
Profile: Xin Cheng
Amanda Di Ienno
Faculty of Engineering and Design
Improving teamwork in ENGGEN courses
Amanda improved teamwork in the ENGGEN course series with Team Charters, Feedback Fruits evaluations, and Team Debriefs, fostering better team dynamics and conflict resolution.
Profile: Amanda Di Ienno
Dr William Lee and Dr Jesin James
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND DESIGN
Developing post-test reflection quizzes for self-regulated learning
William and Jesin introduced non-invigilated post-test reflection quizzes in ELECTENG 101, promoting self-regulated learning and deeper understanding, and improving student engagement.
Profiles: William Lee, Jesin James
Associate Professor Anne Gaskett
Faculty of Science
Revamping BIOSCI207 through highlighting the diversity of sex and reproduction
Anne revamped BIOSCI207 by highlighting the diversity of sex and reproduction, using diverse examples and themed outfits to create an engaging and inclusive learning environment.
Profile: Anne Gaskett
Dr Hazim Namik
Faculty of Engineering and Design
Utilising Inspera’s Numerical Simulation Questions to improve assessment and feedback
Hazim improved MECHENG 222 with Inspera’s Numerical Simulation Question Type, providing fairer assessments and better feedback, leading to increased participation and higher scores.
Profile: Hazim Namik
Associate Professor Nawawi Chouw
Faculty of Engineering and Design
Applying real-life situations and analogies to complex concepts
Nawawi transformed “Structural Dynamics” teaching by using real-life situations and analogies, making complex concepts more relatable and engaging for students.
Profile: Nawawi Chouw
Dr Reza Arjmandi
Faculty of Engineering and Design
Enhancing CHEMMAT 205 with computational modelling and live demos
Reza enhanced CHEMMAT 205 with computational modelling and live demos, providing valuable tools for solving engineering problems and improving student engagement.
Profile: Reza Arjmandi
Associate Professor Christopher Squire
Faculty of Science
Fostering active participation through interactive poster sessions
Christopher engaged students in China with interactive poster sessions on drug molecules, fostering active participation and collaboration, and plans to implement this model in first-year biochemistry at UoA.
Profile: Christopher Squire
Dr Udayangi Muthupoltotage
Business School
Enhancing students' technical proficiency and critical thinking with Gen-AI
Udayangi integrated Generative AI into data analytics coursework, enhancing students’ technical proficiency and critical thinking for AI-integrated workplaces.
Profile: Udayangi Muthupoltotage
Dr Chris McMillan
Faculty of Arts and Education
Introducing a Personal Learning Survey to foster a collaborative learning
Chris introduced a Personal Learning Survey to foster a collaborative learning environment and enhance student engagement by understanding their backgrounds and learning preferences.
Profile: Chris McMillan
Associate Professor An Hertogen
Auckland Law School
Fostering active learning through written and oral briefings
An transformed the International Economic Regulation course with written and oral briefings, ensuring thorough reading and enhancing presentation skills.
Profile: An Hertogen
Dr Anthony Gampell
Faculty of Science
Bridging classroom learning with real-world sustainability practices
Anthony’s SUSTAIN Citizenship Portfolio bridges classroom learning with real-world sustainability practices, enhancing coursework and developing practical skills.
Profile: Anthony Gampell
Dr Andrea Kolb
Faculty of Engineering and Design
Equipping students with essential research writing skills through an inquiry-based intervention
Andrea’s initiative equips students with essential research writing skills through an inquiry-based intervention, significantly improving writing performance.
Profile: Andrea Kolb
Dr Kathryn Jones
Faculty of Science
Improving engagement via an interactive guessing game
Kathryn’s interactive guessing game in her Cellular Regulation course enhanced student engagement, creative thinking, and factual recall.
Profile: Kathryn Jones
Associate Professor Stephanie Budgett and Leila Boyle
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
Leveraging Interactive Oral Assessments to enhance engagement and preserve academic integrity
Stephanie and Leila’s Interactive Oral Assessment in STATS 150 enhanced student engagement and preserved academic integrity, boosting confidence and pass rates.
Profiles: Stephanie Budgett, Leila Boyle
Dr Ofer Marmur
Faculty of Science
Addressing common misconceptions of complex mathematical concepts
Ofer’s method of incorporating both expert and student perspectives in lectures enhanced engagement and understanding of complex mathematical concepts.
Profile: Ofer Marmur
See also
Previous award recipients
Page updated 25/03/2025 (added 2025 winners)