Linda Griffin, professor in the teacher education and school improvement program in the College of Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is the recipient of this year’s Len Almond Award, which recognizes distinguished scholars in the field of sports pedagogy. The award is sponsored by the Teaching Games for Understanding Special Interest Group of the International Organization for Physical Education in Higher Education.
Dr. Griffin is an expert in games-centered approaches to teaching and learning sport-related games, and she applies those best practices to teaching her undergraduate courses with the goal of helping students understand the connections between contemporary sport, society, and culture.
“By nature, games reflect our society,” says Professor Griffin, who serves as chair of the department of student development. “Since games are social, we have found dynamic and public social issues (i.e., discrimination and inequality) often emerge during gameplay and among students’ interaction. Through practical strategies, game scenarios and play situations, you can design games that inspire collaboration, respect, and acceptance among all students.”
Dr. Griffin is a graduate of Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota. She earned a master’s degree at Ithaca College in New York and a Ph.D. at Ohio State University.