A Cambrian College professor is one of this year’s recipients of a national nursing education award.
The Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) has named Laura Killam as a winner of an Excellence in Nursing Education (Non-Tenured) Award.
The award recognizes a nursing educator who “demonstrates sustained teaching activities of high quality, a commitment to mentorship of students and colleagues, an ability to introduce innovation in educational activities, leadership in influencing the quality of education within the academic and practice areas and promotes excellence in nursing education.”
Killam was cited for her work on co-creating learning materials and experiences.
Co-creation means sharing decision-making power with students over course design. Over the course of her career, Killam has co-created rubrics, assignment instructions, components of the syllabus, elements of exams and simulations.
“I am deeply honored to have been nominated for this award and even more honored to have been chosen as a recipient,” said Killam. “My vision for nursing education is that we come to a place where we keep equity at the forefront of all our decisions. I believe that to accomplish this goal we need to engage in ongoing dialogue, critical reflection, research, and innovation that includes students as partners in the process of improving learning.”
Killam is a respected nurse and educator who has been published 18 times in peer-reviewed journals. She is sought out and is a must-see speaker at provincial, national, and international nursing events and conferences.
“Laura’s service to the Cambrian College community has impacted how we approach student inclusion and educational innovation,” said Paula Gouveia, Cambrian’s vice-president academic. “Laura helped to shape our definition of scholarship in a way that invites participation from people with various academic backgrounds. She encourages open dialogue and reflection on how involving students in creating learning opportunities can promote meaningful learning.”
Cambrian College recently announced its new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Learn more online here.
