One of Dr. Kaitlyn Towle‘s most memorable teaching moments came as an email.
“A student messaged me at the end of a course to say that even though they didn't enjoy the subject, they learned a lot about how to learn,” says the assistant professor. “I’m pretty sure they decided that chemistry wasn’t for them after that class – not everyone has to love it – but the fact that they learned something through that process was incredibly rewarding.”
That makes sense because, in recent years, the focus of Dr. Towle’s research has moved away from organic chemistry and toward improving post-secondary chemical education. Her goal? Identifying practices and interventions that can take students who are struggling to a place where they are confident in what they’re learning.
Here, the Early Career Teaching Excellence Award recipient walks us through her admiration for perseverance, what we should all know about organic chemistry and why she loves research.
When you think of your most memorable teaching moments, what ties them together?
For me, it’s memorable students – those who really show perseverance throughout a course. The ones who might not love chemistry, but still consistently show up and put in effort to learn by coming to my office hours to re-hash class material or practice problem-solving.
These students may not walk out of my classroom with a newfound love of chemistry, but they do walk away with pride that they stuck with something really challenging and didn’t give up. I am incredibly proud of these students and their growth over a semester.
Do you have any teaching role models?
Years ago, I listened to a CBC podcast – I can’t remember the name or the person being interviewed – but one line stuck with me. “Community is defined as a group of people pulling towards the same goal.”
That reflects how I think about the people who have shaped and influenced the way I approach teaching. Peers, friends and colleagues make up this group of people who want students to succeed and are all pulling in the same direction to make chemistry more engaging and accessible. There are a lot of people who have influenced my teaching style and who I have garnered advice from over the past few years, including many of my colleagues at MacEwan. I have been particularly fortunate to have had people who have supported me through every stage of my career (Dr. Hayley Wan) and others who push me to think critically about my teaching approaches and how they impact student learning (Dr. Owen Scadeng).
What do you wish everyone knew about organic chemistry?
Many modern materials are at least partially made up of synthetic organic compounds. I wish everyone knew how many aspects of their everyday lives are made possible by organic chemistry. If you have a prescription for a medication, organic chemistry helped make it. Your favourite shampoo or lotion? Organic chemistry helped formulate it. Love your yoga pants? Organic chemistry was involved in creating synthetic fibres that make up some clothing.
Understanding a compound’s structure helps us understand its characteristics and can help us predict its reactivity. This allows us to make new compounds or products that we can all use in many aspects of our everyday lives.
What was your reaction to receiving this award?
Grateful. Surprised. Overwhelmed. I am gratified that my teaching style resonates with my students at MacEwan, and I feel incredibly encouraged by the support from my colleagues who nominated me. I am also grateful that both the Centre for Teaching and Learning and the university recognize and value my contributions to teaching and learning.