Virtual Professor

Pam Watkins Develops New iTunesU App

Pam Capwell Watkins (’75) probably had the shortest retirement in history.

After working as a math professor for almost 27 years at Georgia Southern, she officially retired from teaching on Dec. 31, 2002.

Ten days later, she rejoined academia.

“I moved with my family to Pennsylvania and began teaching at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC). I was only 48-years-old and I still had a lot of work left in me,” said the veteran educator, who teaches courses ranging from developmental studies to calculus.

Luckily for struggling math students, Watkins’ quick transition from retirement back to the classroom has helped them in ways they wouldn’t have imagined. For the past several years, Watkins’ world of teaching has expanded from a traditional to a virtual classroom with her participation in an iTunes U library pilot program at HACC.

During her involvement with the pilot, she produced hundreds of podcasts – or lessons – for students to download. In the beginning of the pilot, she said that, “After recording our lessons we went back to our offices and uploaded them to iTunesU. At the time, the students could hear the lesson, but there was no video.” As technology evolved, Watkins began to create video podcasts. The 15 to 20 minute long podcasts are perfect for learning on-the-go, said Watkins, mentioning that students ranging from high school age to working adults are using their iPads, iPhones or laptop computers to download the free courses from iTunesU. “It’s a great way to give material in small bites, and a real bonus for students. The podcasts make our learning portable,” said Watkins about their appeal. In addition, the podcasts give students that extra bit of instruction they need, which sometimes can make the difference between passing and failing a course.

Due to the rising popularity of virtual learning and their longstanding involvement with iTunesU, Watkins and her colleagues from HACC were selected by Apple to join elite institutions such as MIT, Yale, Stanford, Duke and the Open University in the United Kingdom to produce an updated iTunesU app. “They contacted us because we had so many podcasts posted and they were some of the most popular,” she said. In addition to audio and video, the new iTunesU app provides students the ability to download handouts and worksheets to follow along with the embedded podcasts. The new app supplies a complete course that includes self- assessments so students can check their own progress.

As a result of her work with iTunesU, Watkins has received praise from students in Russia, Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, and from all over the U.S. about her instructional podcasts. “One student from Purdue told me that he wouldn’t have made it through his business calculus course without it. Another wrote to me that my podcasts make sense, and that he was able to pass his class,” she said. One letter from a former Georgia Southern student, however, shows that learning transcends generations. “I taught him in 1982, and he wanted me to know that his kids are now using my podcasts!” she said.

Watkins’ educational background includes three degrees from Georgia Southern – a bachelor’s in math education, another in computer science, and a Master of Science in Teaching – as well as various leadership roles both at the University and at HACC. At Georgia Southern, she was the assistant director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching, and received numerous awards, including an Award for Excellent in Instruction and Distinguished Professor of Teaching and Learning. At HACC, Watkins has also earned several teaching and leadership awards for her dedication in the field.

“I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher when I was in the seventh grade,” said Watkins, recently named the Alumna of the Year by the College of Science and Mathematics. After a 36-year-career as an educator, her priorities haven’t changed. “My number one focus is on students and teaching – this is what I’m all about.”

—Mary Beth Spence