Dr Michael Schmeisser of the Department of Horticultural Science is the second lecturer in the Faculty of AgriSciences in as many years to be awarded a Teaching Fellowship from Stellenbosch University. The Fellowship will for the next three years give him the freedom to find more innovative ways to pursue his first love: teaching.

"I have many innovative ideas, but   never really find the time for deep thought, design or implementation given the current teaching, administrative and research load," says Dr Schmeisser about why the fellowship is so valuable. "The fellowship opens the world for me to consider curriculum re-design that promotes innovative teaching."

Dr Schmeisser is a proponent of authentic learning. In the next three years he will among others be considering how to enhance meaningful learning by using software tools such as C-mapping to evaluate students' prior knowledge at the start of a module. Knowing at what level his students are will provide the opportunity to implement interventions before new knowledge is to be taught. It will allow struggling students to come up to speed so that the new coursework can be integrated into their prior knowledge structure.

In addition, Dr Schmeisser hopes to guide students to compile e-portfolios during the course of their time on campus. He believes it could provide them with a reflective journey of their degree, deepen learning and provide them with a type of CV that they can use if applying for jobs after the successful completion of a degree.

It is important to him that his teaching style and pedagogy ensures meaningful learning in his students.

"The so-called 'sage on the stage' style of teaching simply doesn't foster meaningful learning according to literature. Yes, students pass exams, but often cannot recall that knowledge a few weeks down the line," he notes. "Meaningful learning takes place when new knowledge becomes conceptually integrated into a person's prior knowledge structure in a logical, retrievable and importantly, a transferable manner."

This popular horticulture senior lecturer first studied at Stellenbosch University before starting to lecture on a contract basis in 2007 whilst pursuing his PhD. In 2010 he was appointed as a full-time member of the Department of Horticultural Science.

What would he rate as his most successful teaching innovation to date? "I think it's the introduction of a digital story type of project into my second year Crop Production module," says Dr Schmeisser. "In the process the students have to create a virtual plant propagation nursery, which enforces the application of a range of theoretical concepts taught during the module."

Group work, the use of digital media and creative design is part of the package. These are not necessarily all skills that one would associate with agriculturalists, but are skills that are becoming increasingly important in a world that is seeking creative thinkers and problem solvers.

"In general the project has been well received by students, and it seems to, in a creative way, ensure deeper learning," he adds.

Dr Schmeisser was also recently involved in the re-curriculation of the Plant and Soil Science Programme of the Faculty of AgriSciences. Based on his recommendations a new module for first year students will be introduced with the aim to imp