Teaching

"Great teaching never just happens; it requires enormous commitment, repeated and studied experimentation, and constant evaluation." - Thomas Cronin

I do not delude myself into thinking that the world will remember me for some great, humane effort on the part of all mankind. Instead, I fervently hope that my small, modest efforts in teaching and personal involvement in the development of the minds of the upcoming generation may contribute to the overall betterment of this world and universe.

In the last 20 years I have been involved in a wide diversity of teaching and instructional opportunities, including undergraduate university and college level technical courses, graduate instruction, international workshops, and science education directed to the school system. Some of these activities are listed below:

Undergraduate courses I presently instruct are:

CHEM1000 General Chemistry I
CHEM1001 General Chemistry II

Until my half-time appointment as Dean of Internationalization I also enjoyed teaching:
CHEM3010 Bio-Analytical Chemistry
CHEM3007/CHEM3008 Food Chemistry II
FOOD3000 Food Quality Assurance

Graduate level instruction:

Previous instruction to technology students
Teaching students in a skills-oriented technology program requires a modified approach with a greatly enhanced emphasis on the commercial industry. My years of extension to the food industry in Alberta coupled with on-going interaction with the industry in Nova Scotia was invaluable as I instructed the following courses:

CS40 Food Laboratory Methods
CS55 Quality Control and Consumer Acceptance
CS73 Laboratory Organization and Management
CS95 Food Lab Practicum

Science in the Public School System

I have contributed to furthering science in the public school system by participating as Science Fair Judge, being an invited speaker at numerous Annual Conferences of the Association of Science Teachers, developing and leading 2 full day workshops for science teachers at NSAC (1992, 1993), being a guest speaker in high schools ("Understanding Science Articles in the Media"), participating in the ag awareness professional development for public school teachers (biotechnology, food safety, food labels), as well as tutoring high school chemistry. Each year I am also involved with advising several groups of students as they embark on their science fair projects. Several years ago, a colleague and I compiled and staffed a mall display on science for Science and Technology Week. I have been the invited keynote speaker at the Educator Workshop (PEI Agricultural Human Resource Council) and have presented at several of the APICS Education Conferences and been a foudnign member of the ACASE (Atlantic Canada Association of Science Educators).

Articles on Teaching and Learning:

Following are some of the articles that I have authored to date:(in pdf format)

Circles and Boxes - Incorporating Postmodernism into the University Curriculum
Learning Outside the Box?? - An Examination of Postsecondary Learning Communities
Explorations in Thermochemistry - An Inquiry Lab for First Year Inorganic Chemistry
Analogies, Metaphors, and Comparative Explanations in Introductory Chemistry
My Personal Experiences in University Science
Constructive Critique of the APEF Chemistry 12 Curriculum
Students with Special Needs at the University-College Level
Amelia goes to University (contact me directly for a copy)

Recent Facilitation of Teaching-Learning Workshops:

Curriculum Consultant to the National Curriculum Workshop on the M.Sc. in Post-harvest Management, JUCAVM, Ethiopia; April 2010

Curriculum Consultant to the National Curriculum Workshop on the B.Sc. in Post-harvest Management, JUCAVM, Ethiopia; April 2009

Short-term training on University Instructional Methods for the CIDA-funded PHMIL project; in Ethiopia; 3 weeks, May-June 2009

N.L. Pitts. May 2008. Advances in Curriculum Delivery. A workshop and manual for 30 hours of training under the NSAC-JUCAVM Agricultural Sustainability Project

N.L. Pitts. May 2008. Needs Based Curriculum Development. A 10 hour workshop for Jimma University, Ethiopia as part of the NSAC-JUCAVM Agricultural Sustainability Project

N.L. Pitts and F. Malang. February 2008. Curriculum Evaluation of Programs in the School of Agriculture, Gambia College. A part of the Sustainable Food Security Project (NSAC-GC).

N.L. Pitts and A. Fitzgerald (Facilitators). Sharing our Successes: Methods to Improve Student Learning. A workshop organized and facilitated at NSAC for the NSAC Instructional Development Committee. August 2007.

N.L. Pitts. October 2007. Teaching and Learning Techniques and Considerations. Professional development designed and offered as part of the Developing Rural Entrepreneurs in Ghana Project.

N.L. Pitts and M. Mason. September 2007. One Step Further: Applying Teaching and Learning Techniques. A manual and workshop for the NSAC-RUA Agri-Education for Extension Project (NSAC).

N.L. Pitts. August 2007. Enhancing Teaching and Learning at the Polytechnic. Workshop sessions offered in Wa, Bolgatanga, and Tamale, Northern Ghana.

N.L. Pitts and M. Wyse. August 2007. Entrepreneurship Training for Educators (ETE). A workshop manual and a 5 day series of workshops incorporating entrepreneurship and adult education. Compiled and tested as part of the Developing Rural Entrepreneurs in Ghana Project.

N. L. Pitts and M.Mason. 2007. Teaching Skills and Methodologies Workshop Manual. June 2007 as part of the NSAC-JUCAVM Agricultural Sustainability Project (NSAC)

N. L. Pitts and M. Mason. 2007. Manual and Workshop on
Enhancing University Teaching and Learning as part of the NSAC-RUA Agri-Education for Extension Project (Cambodia)

Professional Development as an Instructor

As an instructor, I am committed to continually developing an exploring new avenues or content as well as delivery and evaluation methods.

Education, Design and Leadership: ASPIRE Foundational Program, Level One, Tatamagouche Centre, Summer 2009

Certificate of Training in Institutional Gender Analysis, Gender Mainstreaming in Program and Projects, Gender Auditing. Karen Craggs-Milne, Gender Equality Incorporated. October 23, 24, 2008

August 2007. Sharing our Successes. NSAC Teaching Workshop.

July 2007. Gender Sensitivity Training. Shaun Hayward, Former CIDA Gender Expert, Ethiopia

August 2006. What is STLHE and SoTL? Eileen Herteis. Sponsored by the NSAC Instructional Development Center.

August 2006. Qualitative Research Workshop. Raewyn Bassett. NSAC, Truro.

July 2006. Atlantic Canada Association of Science Educators Annual Conference. Fredericton, N.B.

October 2005. AAU Teaching Showcase. Truro, N.S.

October 2004. AAU Teaching Showcase. Halifax. N.S.

July 2004. Atlantic Canada Association of Science Educators Annual Conference. Sackville, N.S.

June 2002. “Fostering the Spirit of Inquiry”. STLHE Conference, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON. June 2002

June 2002. E-learning. Nova Scotia Community College, Truro, NS.

May 2002. “Pedagogy First: Supporting Learning and Teaching with Technology”. Dalhousie Conference on University Teaching and Learning. Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.

December 2001. “Managing and Avoiding Conflict” (in the Classroom). Frank MacCormick. A workshop sponsored by the NSAC Instructional Development Committee.

December 2001. "Diversity in the classroom". Brown Bag Information Session. NSAC.

November 2001. "Where should instructional development go now?" Dr Zoe Hayes, Dept of Psychology, St FX. Seminar presented by the AAU Tour Speaker. NSAC.

June 2001. "In-House Experiences of Teaching with Cyberspace" NSAC.

June 2001. " Expectations - State of Higher Education in the Maritimes" MPHEC Annual Conference, Charlottetown, PEI.

February 2001. "Choosing Directions in Higher Education", Alan Wright, Fred McGinn, David Patriquin, sponsored by the NSAC Instructional Development Committee (on a literature review of the uses of technology in the classroom)

November 2000. "The New Millenium", The Professional and Organizational Development Annual Conference, Vancouver, B.C.

August 2000. New Technologies for Teaching, Jeff Zabudsky, Bill Iseley, sponsored by the NSAC Instructional Development Committee

July 2000. "Bridging the Gap between High School and University", the Chemical Institute of Canada AGM and Conference, Moncton, N.B.

May 2000. The Fourth Annual Dalhousie Conference on University Teaching and Learning, Dalhousie, N.S. (Writing Coaches, Incorporating Humor into Teaching and Learning, Reflective Practice, Web Linked Collaborative Learning for the Classroom, How to Teach Type I and II Errors, p- Values, and Confidence Intervals by L. Thabane)

August 1999. Educators Workshop, PEI Agricultural Human Resources Council (as well, presented "Cultivating Agriculture in your Classroom")

August 1999. APICS Education Conference, Halifax, N.S. (presented "How about Carrots ... or Potato Chips to Help Bridge the Gap?")

May 1999. "What's Going on with Distance and Continuing Education", NSAC

August 1998. "Teaching Large Classes", Allan J. Gedalof, NSAC

June18-20 1998. STLHE Conference, Sackville, N.B.

May 1998. "Technology for Teaching and Learning", J. Zadbudsky, D. Dunlop, J. Hoyle, NSAC

Dec 1997. "Course Evaluation and Student Evaluation of Teaching", Harry Murray, UWO

Oct 1997. Canadian Vocational Assoication Conference, Truro, N.S.

Sept 1997. "Improving Assessment Practices in College Classrooms", Peter Knight (Lancaster Univ.) and Alan Wright (Dal.)

Oct 1995. "Problems and Course Design Strategies"; " Leading Effective Discussions", Graham Gibbs, Oxford Brooks University

Mar 1995. "Enhancing and Evaluating College Teaching and Learning", video conference sponsored by AAU Faculty Development Coordinating Committee

1994 "Insights into Teaching and Learning", A. Wright and E. Herteis, Dalhousie

1994 "Preparing a Teaching Dossier, A. Wright, Dalhousie

Apr 1993. "Problem Solving Workshop", Dr. Don Woods, McMaster University

1993 "Student Evaluation of Teaching", Dr. Harry Murray, University of Western Ontario

Oct 1992. "Why am I a Science Student Anyway?", Dr. Dale Tetallack, NSAC

Sept 1992. "Looking for Glotto" a presentation by Alex Fancy, Mt Allison University

June 1992. Attended ACCC Annual Conference

1991 "Cooperative Learning", Dr. S. D'Appolonia and colleagues,

Formal Instruction in Teaching:

B.Ed. (Secondary Science and Math) earned 2003 which included:
Secondary Math Methods
Secondary Science Methods
Content Literacy
Assessment Methods
Psychology of Education
Sociology of Education
Children with Exceptionalities

M.Ed. level courses taken as electives in my B.Ed. program:
Research Methods (M.Ed. level course taken as an elective)
Curriculum Development
Specific Problems in Curriculum Development
Principles of Learning

Masters in Adult Education ("Mature Students at Waterside University- College"), granted May 2007 from Saint Francis Xavier University.
My research revolved around the cognitive and affective experiences of mature students. My research was based in both my classroom and at the institutional level.

My recent international work has spawned my current interests in gendered learning both in Canada and internationally.