Faculty of Information Technology lecturer and developer of BlueJ Dr Michael Kölling has been awarded the Distinguished Dissertation Award by the Computer Science Association of Australasia.

Dr Kölling won the award for his thesis titled 'The Design of Object-Oriented Environment and Language for Teaching'.

Last year Dr Kölling won the Inaugural State Pearcey Award for BlueJ, an integrated Java environment specifically designed for introductory teaching.

Dr Kölling says the system is currently being used by 35 universities worldwide, with hundreds more showing an interest in it.

Dr Kölling's thesis was supervised by Faculty of Information Technology dean Professor John Rosenberg, who said he was delighted to learn of the award.

"His work has made a major contribution to computer science education and research, and the award is well-deserved recognition of this," he said.

Further information on BlueJ can be found at www.sd.monash.edu.au/bluej/html/what.html

• Award for InterLearn

Monash recently won an award at the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education conference for its "exemplary use of electronic technologies in Teaching and Learning in Tertiary Education".

The award-winning software, InterLearn, was developed by the Centre for Higher Education Development's Dr Len Webster and Associate Professor David Murphy, in collaboration with other centre staff.

According to Dr Webster, the primary aim of the software is to facilitate interaction between students in online courses, with the aim of encouraging collaborative learning.

"One of the major benefits the software offers university teachers is that it promotes independent learning through the use of activities, linked resources and a discussion group", he said.

Further information and a demonstration of the software can be found at www.adm.monash.edu.au/ched/courses/InterLearn/index.html