Pit Stop: FAQs
Who should apply?
- Participants must have a faculty appointment at North Carolina State University
- Participants should teach in a curricular or other instructional capacity.
- Participants are expected to attend all in-person and virtual sessions.
- Participants should be prepared to work autonomously on their projects between sessions, utilizing cohort meetings as a springboard for feedback and refinement. The program is most successful for those ready to drive their own progress with the support of a project liaison.
- Participants should be interested in exploring both open pedagogy and interactive technologies. Participants who have taken part in either the Open Pedagogy Incubator or the Alt-Textbook Project are also eligible to apply.
- Participants will be expected to give a brief lightning talk about their project at NC State’s Conference for Faculty Excellence
What is the time commitment?
The program runs September through to February and includes ten scheduled 90-minute meetings, held on Fridays at 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
In addition to attending these sessions, participants are expected to make ongoing, independent, progress on their projects.
We recommend an average commitment of approximately 2 hours per week.
Is this program primarily for brainstorming and ideation?
No. While we value creative thinking, Pit Stop is a project-based incubator designed for action. The goal is to move beyond the "idea phase" and into the "development phase." Applicants should arrive with a general concept in mind, as the sessions are structured to help you build, test, and refine a tangible teaching solution.
How do I choose a project for Pit Stop?
To get the most out of the experience, we strongly recommend arriving with a specific teaching challenge in mind. The program is most rewarding for instructors who are ready to move from inspiration to development and create a tangible resource they are excited to launch in their own classrooms.
What kinds of projects have participants typically worked on during Pit Stop?
Pit Stop is a launchpad for diverse, technology-enhanced teaching tools. Recent cohort members have rapidly moved from concept to creation, developing projects such as:
Please view Past Projects for information on recent Pit Stop projects.
How much work is expected outside of the scheduled Friday sessions?
Pit Stop follows a "you get out what you put in" philosophy. While our 90-minute sessions provide framework and community, the heavy lifting happens independently between meetings. You should expect to spend roughly 2 hours per week working on your project autonomously to ensure you have meaningful progress to share during group check-ins.
What is the role of the project liaison?
Each project liaison is available to provide support, guidance and feedback between sessions. However, the onus is on the participant to drive their project forward and reach out to their liaison when necessary.
How are the workshop sessions structured?
Our workshops provide collaboration, peer feedback, and shared discovery. They are intended to act as a springboard for your project. You’ll use this collective time to pivot, polish, and problem-solve, while continuing to build your project independently between sessions.
What other requirements are there?
- Participants are encouraged to implement the skills developed during the program in their teaching environments.
- Participants must have access to a personal computer and will be provided with recommended software to install.
- Participants should expect to take part in hands-on, active workshops & labs.
- Participants should expect to contribute towards group discussions.
How much does the program cost?
Pit Stop is free of charge to NC State faculty, thanks to grant support from the NC State Foundation & the Betsy Etheridge Brown Open Education Resource and Pedagogy Endowment.
How does the application process work?
All interested faculty are asked to submit an application in order to be considered for the program.
The program is designed to create an interdisciplinary faculty community, comprised of participants at various stages of their career and with different levels of experience.
Who is facilitating the Pit Stop program?
Pit Stop is a collaboration between the Libraries, DELTA and the Office of Faculty Excellence. Program facilitators are as follows:
- Colin Keenan, Experiential Learning Services Librarian
- David Tully, Principal Librarian for Student Affordability
- Katya E. Mueller, Libraries Fellow
- Maria Gallardo-Williams, Associate Director for Faculty Development, OFE
- Tyler Kroon, Research Librarian for Engineering
- Will Cross, Director, Open Knowledge Center & Head of Information Policy
The program will also include some guest speakers, including from within the technology community as well as experienced practitioners.
How do I apply to the program?
Please apply by completing the application form: go.ncsu.edu/apply_pitstop