Education
Ph.D. Engineering Education, Purdue University, 2015
M.S. Manufacturing Engineering, Western Illinois University, 2009
B.S. Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of Technology, Jamaica, 2007
Research Interests
- Difficult concepts in formal and informal learning environments
- Increasing students’ conceptual understanding
- Promoting collaboration and cognitive engagement
- Classroom assessment and evaluation
- Transformative power of knowledge on students identity
Research Statement
Based on the theory of conceptual change and the use of instructional strategies aimed at eliciting conceptual understanding, I am most interested in how we can design engineering learning environments and experiences to cognitively engage students. My main research focus is to optimize student learning by focusing on how to teach and assess students’ mastery of core and difficult engineering concepts. Primarily, using multiple representations of core engineering concepts I aim to connect real world application with theoretical principles in the classroom.
Biography
Nicole P. Pitterson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech. She holds a B.Sc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Technology, Jamaica, a M.Sc. in Manufacturing Engineering from Western Illinois University, and a Ph.D. in Engineering Education from Purdue University. Upon completion of her doctoral degree, Dr. Pitterson worked as a postdoctoral research scholar at Oregon State University. Her research interests include difficult concepts in engineering, increasing students’ conceptual understanding of circuit concepts, and promoting collaboration through using active learning strategies. Dr. Pitterson is dedicated to bridging the gap between theoretical concepts with practical applications. She also aims to guide students to develop critical understanding of core engineering concepts that goes beyond rote memorization so that they can adapt to the changing demands of a global workforce.