Engaging, innovating and inspiring: the paradox of the mediated voice of award-winning teachers

Abstract

ABSTRACTAlthough there is no agreed definition of teaching excellence, ‘excellent teaching’ is an accepted notion. However, recent discussion about the recognition of quality teaching and the rise of standards frameworks has challenged the notion of teaching excellence as rewarded in teaching excellence schemes. It has raised questions about how we evaluate quality teaching and whether, and how, excellent teaching, as awarded in such schemes, differs from good teaching. Applicants for teaching awards are required to present themselves and their teaching for judgement in a prescribed genre. This article analyses two national teaching excellence award schemes which were established as comparable in geographical, temporal and socio-political terms. Erving Goffman’s theory of presentation of self is used to investigate the way in which university award winners have responded to the criteria required by the schemes. The task for the teachers is dual in that they must present themselves as excellent teachers and provide relevant evidence in a compelling presentation of self. The research approach was primarily interpretive, involving the close analysis of award winners’ texts from a period of five years. Discourse analysis was undertaken of both the criteria required for excellence and the response of applicants to the criteria in their presentation of self in the citation which accompanies the application. Adherence to the prescribed genre and skilful presentation of self are revealed as key determinants of the recognition of award-winning teachers as excellent teachers. Paradoxically, while the awards are for excellence in teaching, the mediation of the written word in skilful presentation of self is essential in order to receive an award.