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Education

Education Specialist, Educational Psychology, Tennessee Technological University

Master of Arts, Educational Psychology, Tennessee Technological University

Bachelor of Science, Psychology, Tennessee Technological University

James Alexander

Software Ambassador Lead

Why I Choose to Work at Academic Innovation

The work being done at AI really inspired me to go beyond what I was comfortable with. I was introduced to AI through the concept of gameful pedagogy and the promise of GradeCraft. Through that experience i pushed my self professionally and academically. When the opportunity came to work with that same people that inspired me I couldn’t pass it up.

Current Roles/Previous Experience

As the Software Ambassador at the Office of Academic Innovation, I work within the Software Development team to analyze the needs of learners and innovators to inform and support the design and iteration of new and existing tools. I also works to extend the impact of the Academic Innovation tool portfolio to more learners and innovators within and beyond the University of Michigan. In my previous position I served as the Instructional Design Specialist of Media and Software Projects at Tennessee Tech University. I specialized in system administration and faculty adoption of emerging technologies. I spearheaded a campus-wide initiative for the standardization of video management tools and was instrumental in increasing adoption of the online learning platform. I also taught courses on the best practices of using technology in face to face, hybrid, and online courses. I’ve also spent time researching how games and education interact, specifically how educators can take advantage of techniques commonly found in games to enhance student engagement.

Ask Me to Learn About

How you can use game mechanics to upgrade your teaching. The history of video games in America. How you can leverage technology to remove barriers for student engagement.