Geography
Patricia Fitzpatrick, as a graduate student in the Geography Department, has been an instructor and TA at the University of Waterloo since 2001. Her students described her as "an animated teacher who commanded attention" and "extremely well organized, highly motivated and with strong attention to detail." Geography requires students to connect ideas to current issues and other relevant information. Patricia uses class discussions on important issues such as the national elections to highlight current issues. She also integrates other relevant subjects such as history into Geography to allow her students to have a greater context. A student mentioned that she "excelled at integrating Canadian history and politics, industry and manufacturing, and arts and literature into our geography class." She adds visual aids such as videos and PowerPoint slides to enhance the learning environment.
Patricia does a great deal in order to enhance the learning experience, even if it means using her own personal time. She completed the Certificate in University Teaching in addition to her degree study work. Also, when she wasn't satisfied with outdated statistics in a textbook or in a course, she would find the latest statistics for her students.
Her teaching efforts to step beyond the boundary of lecturing and use innovative teaching elements are admirable. Patricia's teaching, as described by a student, "demonstrates Ms. Fitzpatrick's enthusiasm to integrate the study of geography beyond the four walls of the classroom."