Science’s Karl Laroche and Architectural Technology’s Michael Lancione receive 2021-2022 Vanier College Teaching Excellence Awards

If ever there was a time to recognize excellence in teaching, it has been over the past two years when teaching has been challenged as never before because of COVID 19. From March 2020 to August 2021, most classes took place online and most in-person events were cancelled, including the Teaching Excellence Award of 2020-2021. However, this year, Vanier College is making up for the loss and is pleased to honour two teachers with the 2021-2022 Vanier College Teaching Excellence Award: Biology teacher Karl Laroche and Architectural Technology teacher Michael Lancione.

Biology teacher Karl Laroche

Biology teacher Karl Laroche has an impressive track record of work, accomplishments, and contributions to Vanier. The purpose of the Teaching Excellence Award is to honour a teacher who has exhibited excellence in teaching, whose teaching methodology and philosophy have contributed to the success of students and programs alike; and who has exhibited institutional engagement and commitment to the Vanier community. Karl is a teacher whose work embodies all of these criteria and more.

In terms of student success, his students feel Karl keeps them engaged and motivated through his innovative use of learning platforms and the fact that he varies his teaching methods to meet the needs of all students. Students report that Karl is organized, available, dedicated to his students, and above all – passionate. He creates opportunities for his students to work collaboratively, think critically, and to take on leadership roles in the classroom – skills needed for university and the professional world. One impressive example of Karl’s engaging teaching methods is a Biology lab that he created to allow students to assess the impact of an invasive plant species in Cote-de-Liesse Parc – he organized a field trip so students could collect and analyze the data themselves and reflect on the topic of ecology and the environment.

Karl has also had a positive impact on his department and his program. Through his involvement in the Performa program, he constantly strives to innovate his teaching, with a particular focus on digital technology in order to engage students with methods they are already comfortable with. He also incorporates principles of UDL in his methods to meet the needs of all students, regardless of learning style. Karl has also been very involved within the Vanier community through his coordination roles and participation in College committees. Karl’s support was particularly invaluable through the Vanier Teacher Community of Support created during the pandemic to help teachers adapt their course materials into a digital format.

In summary, in the words of his colleagues: “Karl is an exemplary teacher who inspires others to improve their teaching practice. He is a passionate and reflective practitioner who listens to the voice of his students and is committed to their success. He is highly deserving of the Vanier College Teaching Excellence Award.”

Architectural Technology teacher Michael Lancione

According to his colleagues, Michael Lancione, who also received the 2021-2022 Teaching Excellence Award, is a “natural teacher” who can transform complex ideas and make them easy for students to understand. He is also seen as a leader who is frequently involved in initiatives and files related to student success.  Students themselves highlight his empathy and understanding, as well as the importance of his approach, his methods and his creativity in nurturing their success.

Beyond the classroom, they praised how Michael Lancione played a key role in creating a “seamless transition” to online classes during the constraints of the pandemic and in fostering a sense community – not only within their program, but also by getting students involved in local community projects. For example, Michael founded a committee called Students Without Borders, which encourages students in the program to use their skills for volunteer projects such as helping communities with property damage assessments after local flooding. He also had students design a new outdoor learning commons and garden for a local elementary school.

The selection committee was impressed with Michael’s efforts to teach his students about sustainability and relate their classroom learning to the real world. For example, one student said: “Mr. Lancione has always encouraged teaching sustainable architecture that takes into account the environment and is less harmful for our planet by emitting less carbon dioxide in the air. As a result, I believe a lot of our graduates are going to make a huge environmental impact when we join the workforce.”

Students also mentioned Michael’s use of field trips to help them understand what they are learning – even if it meant just going outside to take a look at Vanier’s buildings. Always thinking about their future, he helped students find interesting internship opportunities – close to home and abroad, and in many cases supported them in their search for jobs after graduating. There is no doubt that Michael Lancione is utterly devoted to teaching and to helping his students succeed.

Congratulations to these two outstanding teachers for their excellence in teaching and their contribution to student success.