Professor Steve Wolfman's Passion for Students Recognized with National Award for Excellence in Teaching
Professor Steve Wolfman has been named one of two 2024 recipients of the CS-Can|Info-Can Excellence in Teaching Award, a prestigious recognition for outstanding contributions to computer science education in Canada. The award is presented annually by CS-Can|Info-Can, a national organization for computing research and education. It celebrates computer science faculty at Canadian institutions who demonstrate outstanding contributions to teaching.
A Rigorous Selection Process
The nomination process is extensive. It requires a departmental endorsement, 4–6 letters of support from colleagues, students, or alumni, plus a personal statement of teaching philosophy, and a summary of the nominee's teaching achievements and impact. The application process invites nominees to reflect deeply, not just on their experience and accomplishments, but also on their core teaching philosophy, methodology, and the impact of their work on student learning.
"Students do the learning. A good teacher provides the space for it."
For Steve, that philosophy has remained consistent over the past twenty years: great teaching motivates students and creates a supportive environment for learning.
"Students do the learning. A good teacher provides the space for it," he explains.
"The goal is to build an exciting environment that aligns with student values and creates intrinsic motivation. That can be tricky with required structures like grades, which are extrinsic motivators that can erode confidence. So we look for ways to make even grading part of the learning.",
Steve draws on research-backed principles such as self-determination theory, which emphasizes autonomy and motivation in effective learning.
Early Inspiration
Steve's passion for teaching began with his own university experience. As an undergraduate at Duke University, he was inspired by professors who brought both energy and clarity into the classroom.
"Susan Rodger and Owen Astrachan were amazing teachers. At the time, I didn't realize they were so top-notch. Owen introduced creative problems and had a lot of energy. Susan was incredibly structured and organized. I naturally tend to be like Owen. I'm still learning to be more like Susan."
Choosing Teaching Over Research
While completing his PhD, Steve had the opportunity to teach two courses and explored computer science education in some of his research. He quickly discovered where his heart was.
"When things go well in research, I feel relieved. When things go well in teaching, I feel energized."
Since joining UBC, Steve has been instrumental in many program and course improvements. For example, as director of UBC's Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) program for most of the last 15 years, Steve has played a key role in guiding mature students transitioning into computing careers.
"BCS students are motivated and have sparked many of my teaching contributions, including the creation of two courses. Students came to me wanting to gain experience with something more practical."
Steve co-led the development of CPSC 455: Applied Industry Practices with BCS alums and CPSC 491: Interactive Digital Media Practicum with a former colleague. Both allow students to apply their skills to real-world projects and are now widely taken by students beyond the BCS program. He has also helped modify other courses to improve student engagement and learning outcomes.
Teaching as Inquiry
Although his role does not require formal research, Steve often approaches teaching as a form of inquiry-based practice. He collaborates with colleagues to test and refine new methods, occasionally publishing findings in the process.
"We're not trying to prove something to the world—we're trying to improve the experience for our students. Publishing is a side effect of looking for ways to improve the learning experience."
One project with Professors Patrice Belleville and Reto Achermann investigated ways to implement second-chance testing to improve learning while maintaining academic standards. The work is founded on existing research, and Patrice, Reto, and Steve hope to contribute what they learn from its implementation back to the scholarly community.
Why UBC?
Steve began with a broad approach when seeking his first faculty position, including both research universities and liberal arts colleges that focus on effective undergrad teaching. During interviews and visits to potential institutions, he was most attracted to collaborative environments that emphasized student development. UBC stood out—both for its atmosphere and its rare commitment to tenure-track teaching positions.
"At UBC, people didn't just seem productive and successful—they seemed happy. That really stood out to me. Teaching is a first-class role here. In our department, teaching faculty even serve on promotion committees for research-track colleagues."
Learning from Others
Collaboration and reflection are central to Steve's approach. He attributes many of his professional accomplishments to valuable collaborations both within the department and across the university. As an example, Steve describes a biology class he attended during a project for cross-faculty observation and learning.
"The instructor brought in real research about dominant and recessive genes that raised interest in the room, and suddenly the whole concept made sense—even to me. That one lecture contributed to how I think about introducing ideas in my courses."
He encourages teachers to observe colleagues whenever possible and recommends participating in teaching award committees to discover new ideas and effective techniques.
A Well-Deserved Honour
Steve's energy, curiosity, and deep commitment to student learning make this national teaching award fitting and well-deserved.
Congratulations, Steve. We are fortunate to have you in the department and our classrooms.
For more Information:
Award Announcement: https://cscan-infocan.ca/current-year-winners/