Edmonton-If mechanical engineering professor Pierre Mertiny could summarize his teaching style in a few words, they would be the title of his favourite German children's novel: The Flying Classroom. Erich Kästner's classic 1933 tale about students visiting various geographical locations via airplane embodies Mertiny's belief that student engagement and experiential learning are essential for an outstanding learning experience.
Three teaching dimensions define Mertiny's innovative approach to education: clarity of instruction, student engagement, and experience-based learning. By enhancing his courses with state-of-the-art technology, engaging students in active dialogue, and promoting an anecdotal and activity-based approach to lecture material, Mertiny ensures that students are excited about and relate to the information he presents.
For his outstanding dedication and impact as a teacher, Mertiny has won the 2015 Excellence in Education Award from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta.
Mertiny says winning the award means a lot. "Being a professor and trying to do an excellent job is a demanding, especially when it comes to teaching, and recognition like this goes a long way. While research has some tangible manifestation-papers, funding, equipment-teaching is more transient, altruistic. As soon as a term is finished, the students move on and all that's left are literally memories. I'm therefore grateful that these teaching awards exist that honour academics for their above and beyond efforts in education."
Mertiny joined the University of Alberta's Department of Mechanical Engineering in 2006. Prior to receiving his doctoral degree, he studied mechanical engineering in Germany while also working as an engineering trainee for Airbus Germany. German universities generally require extensive practical experience for an engineering degree, and Dr. Mertiny's involvement with Airbus Germany enabled him to incorporate this focus on active, experiential learning into his teaching style.
He says awards such as this give teaching a profile closer to that awarded to research.
"Research is a fun and tremendously important part of my career. But, it seems that there are many awards associated with research, and many of them are quite specialized. Teaching awards recognize a rather broad part of our work and lend some gravity to it," he said.
"I credit my achievements in teaching to hard work and the help of many supporters. There are the leaders in engineering education. In my case, Suzanne Kresta and U.T. Sundararaj really sparked the interest in improving my teaching and making it a better experience for the students and myself. In my department I treasure the collaboration and discourse with my colleagues whose drive for teaching excellence and critical thinking influences my work greatly. Professors David Nobes, Roger Toogood and Jason Carey have been outstanding colleagues in this regard. And there are many more, including teaching assistants and the students themselves. All of them have provided invaluable contributions over the years. Most of all, I am grateful to my wife and kids whose everyday appreciation and encouragement is my biggest support."
Since joining the U of A, Mertiny has received numerous awards for his leadership in education, including the prestigious Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award by SAE International. His Universal Student Ratings of Instruction are consistently very high, and his courses, while time-consuming and challenging, receive extremely positive feedback from students.
Mertiny was one of two Faculty of Engineering professors recognized at this year's APEGA Summit Awards. The other was Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering professor Anastasia Elias, who won the APEGA Early Accomplishment Award.
--Video and story courtesy APEGA, with files from Richard Cairney