Congratulation to Dr. Simon Lolliot, recipient of a 2024-25 UBC Killam Teaching Prize.
Dr. Simon Lolliot, an associate professor of teaching in UBC’s department of psychology, received this award in recognition of his teaching excellence and dedication to student learning.
The Killam Teaching Prize is awarded annually to faculty nominated by students, colleagues, and alumni in recognition of excellence in teaching.
“When I think back on the people who had the greatest impact on my life, they were all educators. I strive to have that same kind of impact on my students. Receiving this award feels like recognition that I'm on the right path toward making a difference in their lives.”Simon LolliotAssociate Professor of Teaching, UBC PsychologyDr. Lolliot’s teaching is defined by a commitment to both learning and human connection. Whether he’s running a live in-class experiment or building a sense of community in large lecture halls, his goal is to make psychology come alive.
“I love teaching psychology because it lends itself so well to live demonstrations. I aim to run at least one in-class experiment each session to show, in real time, how psychological processes shape our thoughts, memories, and behaviours,” says Dr. Lolliot. “Whether we’re creating false memories or exploring attribution biases, I find students grasp concepts more intuitively when they see them in action.”
And when things don’t go as planned?
“It becomes a valuable opportunity to model curiosity and intellectual humility—reminding students that learning to navigate the unexpected is just as important as getting things ‘right.’”
Dr. Lolliot fosters an inclusive and supportive classroom environment that helps students thrive.
“Building community in the classroom is central to my teaching practice. I find that when there is a strong feeling of community, students ask and answer more questions, participate more actively, and support one another. This sense of connection is especially important in large classes, where it can be easy to feel unseen; I work to build that sense of community in a variety of ways, including through in-class activities, shared class playlists, informal coffee office hours, and by learning as many student names as I can. A strong classroom community can go a long way in helping students feel valued and included.”Simon LolliotAssociate Professor of Teaching, UBC PsychologyDr. Lolliot’s passion for teaching extends beyond the classroom.
In partnership with Dr. Kayli Johnson, an associate professor of teaching in UBC’s department of chemistry, he won Impressive Use of Multimedia at the second annual H5P Awards—one of five category winners out of 140 entries. Their interactive video, which helps instructors design engaging educational videos, reflects a broader mission to embed evidence-based teaching practices into widely used educational formats.
Watch their award-winning video: Watch here
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Simon Lolliot on this well-deserved recognition!
