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LAIC Instructional Design Team
This page is all about the Learning and Applied Innovation Center ID Team!
Melissa Stotz
LAI Manager
As the manager for Learning & Applied Innovation, Melissa Stotz contributes to the strategic planning and direction of LAI initiatives and services. She facilitates the collective support of a growing suite of academic technology tools and platforms that serve the campus community, including instructional resources, learning spaces, training, and media services. Having worked at NDSU since 1992, and earning a Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership, Melissa has a broad understanding and passion for collaborating across the campus community. Her thesis research focused on the impact the Student-Centered Active Learning Environment for Undergraduate Programs (SCALE-UP) method, which incorporates active learning pedagogies into a space designed to facilitate effective active learning, has on student achievement. This experience has prepared her to continue measuring the impact of educational and technical interventions used in courses.
Instructional Technology / Design Team
Shar Kurtz
LAI Assistant Manager, Instructional Designer
Shar Kurtz holds a Master of Science degree in Instructional Design and Technology and a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Athletic Training from the University of North Dakota. Shar has 15 years of experience in instructional design and higher education. Currently, she supervises the LAIC staff and operations, facilitates processes and solutions, and provides technical support. Before she arrived at NDSU in 2018, Shar worked as an Instructional Designer at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and the University of North Dakota. Her passion is assisting instructors in designing instruction and integrating technology into their courses to enhance student learning.
Ademola Amida
Instructional Designer
Amida holds a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning with an emphasis on Instructional Design Technology and a Master of Science degree in Technology at the University of North Dakota. He earned his Bachelors in Automation Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences, HAMK in Finland. Before Amida arrived at NDSU in 2021, he worked as an Instructional Designer at the University of North Dakota. He is passionate about collaborating with instructors in analyzing and designing instruction utilizing evidence-based strategies and integrating emerging technologies. Amida’s research interests include instructional design systems, active learning strategies, problem-based learning, students’ motivation, student-centered learning, and Universal Design for Learning.
Tammy Cummings
Instructional technology specialist
Tammy Cummings holds a M.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration from NDSU and a B.S.W. Degree in Social Work from Minnesota State University, Moorhead. She is an instructional services specialist, with NDSU’s Instructional Technology division. She assists in planning and implementing training for instructors related to teaching methods and/or the use of Blackboard and other supported NDUS technologies. Her focus area is on Class Collaborate Ultra and Clicker technology. Tammy is a two-time Nominee of the Gunkleman Award and the recipient of the ND Counseling Association’s Friend of Counseling Award.
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Lori Swinney
Instructional Designer
Lori Swinney is an Instructional Designer in the Learning & Applied Innovation Center. She joined the team in July 2020 to help provide support as the campus transitioned to HyFlex teaching and learning. Swinney retired, after 28 years, from the University of North Dakota (UND) December 2019. Swinney served as the director of the Center for Instructional & Learning Technologies. Lori has a B.S. in Psychology, M.S. Teaching & Learning, and Ph.D. in Higher Education Teaching & Learning, with a focus in Instructional Design & Technology. She continues to teach an adjunct instructor online, hybrid and in the classroom. Courses include College Teaching, Web-Based Instruction, Educational Research, and Universal Design for Learning. Her research interests include learning space design, course design, universal design for learning, and integration of instructional technology tools to facilitate academic engagement, creativity and learning.