About Us
Our Mission
The Teaching and Learning Center shares expertise with the WCU community of educators through close professional relationships and professional development initiatives. We aim to advance the university’s strategic goal of learning by increasing faculty knowledge of pedagogical techniques, best practices in course design, educational technology, and digital accessibility.
Our Goals
- Collaborate with faculty in the development of learning experiences and program development.
- Research innovative, emerging, creative, and transformational technologies, tools, and practices.
- Ensure compliance with federal guidelines and regulations concerning consistent, effective, and efficient distance education programs.
- Coordinate with campus stakeholders, units, and offices with online training and instruction.
- Support faculty with instructional technology for all modes of instruction.
Information & Guidelines
What is an Instructional Designer?
Working collaboratively with the faculty member, instructional designers can assist with:
- Designing courses for any modality (face-to-face, hybrid, hyflex, or online)
- Creating and revising learning activities or assessments
- Establishing inclusive learning environments
- Organizing, building, and configuring D2L course sites
- Selecting and incorporating instructional technology
- Assisting and supporting multimedia development
- Adhering to accessibility standards
- Troubleshooting instructional and technology challenges
When should I contact my Instructional Designer?
TLC’s staff, as nonrepresented managers, are available during regular business hours (8:00am to 4:30pm). Although we do not operate on evenings or weekends, you are always welcome to send any questions or requests to our staff or our support line outside of these hours.
Additionally, our instructional designers are busiest in the two-three week period leading into the start of the fall and spring semesters. To make sure you're able to receive as much support as possible during this time, we recommend contacting your instructional designer a month in advance of the start of the semester.
Civility in the Faculty & Instructional Designer Relationship
Our office embraces WCU’s Civility statement, which states: at WCU, “we value the special talents and contributions of each member of our community”, and we have a “shared responsibility to treat each other as individuals, with respect and courtesy.” Just as faculty are experts in their fields of study, instructional designers are experts in their field, and it is through the combined efforts of faculty and designer that quality learning experiences are built.
Stay Connected
Get Involved
Our Staff
H. Naomie Nyanungo, Ph.D. (she/her)
Associate Provost for Learning & Teaching Innovation
610-436-2936
HNyanungo@wcupa.edu
Pat Brander (she/her)
Administrative Assistant
610-436-2948
PBrander@wcupa.edu
Janneken Smucker, Ph.D. (she/her)
Faculty Associate for Teaching & Learning
610-436-2345
JSmucker@wcupa.edu
Marc Drumm, M.Ed. (he/him)
Senior Instructional Designer
610-436-2278
MDrumm@wcupa.edu
Tom Pantazes, Ed.D. (he/him)
Instructional Designer
610-430-5844
TPantazes@wcupa.edu
Amber Alvord, M.Ed. (she/her)
Instructional Designer
610-436-3374
AAlvord@wcupa.edu
Madison Steinbrenner, M.S. (she/her)
Instructional Designer
610-436-3378
MSteinbrenner@wcupa.edu
Jessica Drass, M.S. (she/her)
Learning Technologist
610-436-3375
JDrass@wcupa.edu
Connor Goyne, B.A. (he/they)
Associate Instructional Designer
610-436-3561
HGoyne@wcupa.edu
Brian Carothers, M.A. (he/him)
Associate Instructional Designer
610-436-3373
BCarothers@wcupa.edu
Hannah Glatt, M.Ed., M.Ar.H. (she/her)
Remote Learning Experience and eTextbook Designer
HGlatt@wcupa.edu
Supraja Rama Meka, B.Tech. (she/her)
Instructional Design Assistant
Taylor Williams, B.S. (she/her)
Instructional Design Assistant
Jenna Fagan, M.A. (she/her)
Instructional Design Assistant