Laura Pipe, PhD

Associate Director of the UTLC

Director of the Teaching Innovations Office

Laura Pipe directs the Teaching Innovations Office implementing pan-university faculty development initiatives. Throughout her career, Laura has developed academically enriched programs that promote integrated learning, teaching innovations and faculty collaboration. Her expertise is in inclusive teaching and integrated learning, and she serves on the editorial board of the Journal for Learning Communities Research and Practice and is a Consulting Editor for the journal College Teaching. Laura completed her B.S. in Journalism (Texas Christian University), her M.S. in Higher Postsecondary Education (Syracuse University), and her Ph.D. in Kinesiology (UNCG). She is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Culturally-Based Native Health (WCU). Her scholarly and teaching interests focus on action sports (bicycle motocross, skateboarding, stock car racing) and Native health, and center on the construction and regulation of public and private space. Laura’s research continues to have exciting resonance with her philosophies in interdisciplinary and application-based learning.

Area(s) of focus: Teaching Innovations/Faculty Development

Expertise: Integrated Learning, Applied/Problem-Based Learning, Collaborative Learning, Interdisciplinary Design, Curriculum Design

Ben C. Peterson, PhD

Coordinator of Faculty Programs and Services

Ben Peterson is the coordinator of faculty programs and services for the Teaching Innovations Office in the UTLC. He holds a B.A. in political science and economics from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Michigan. His research has focused on seriousness and playfulness as dispositions of citizens, and he is particularly interested in the recent phenomenon of “gamification” – the attempt to use game elements to enhance non-game activities. He is passionate about the interaction between curriculum design and the compelling form of engagement that is offered by games. His research and teaching interests are guided by a concern with student motivation and reflective learning, which he believes is central to the development of thoughtful citizens.

Area(s) of focus: Teaching Innovations and Faculty Development

Expertise: Engagement and Gameful Learning, Course Redesign, Rubrics and Assessment

Amy Brown, M.A.

Assistant Director of Technology Enhanced Pedagogy

Amy Brown is the Assistant Director of Technology Enhanced Pedagogy working directly with UNCG faculty members to assist them to use instructional technology in pedagogically-sound ways to move instruction forward. Amy completed her B.A. in Speech Communications (UNCG), her M.A. in Communication (University of Memphis) and Post-Master’s Certificate in Web-Based Learning (Appalachian State). She is working on a Graduate Certificate in Computer-Based Instruction (ECU). Her interests include collaborative learning, social constructivism, and learning analytics to find insight into student interactions in online environments.

Area(s) of focus: Teaching Innovations and Faculty Development

Expertise: Online Learning, Teaching with Technology, Backwards Course Design, Digital Resources

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