Pay Grade: 31S

Context of the Job:     

IT Academic Technology Services (IT-ATS) helps University of Delaware educators implement innovative ideas in digital education through consultation, training, co-production support and seed funding for new ideas in residential and online education. We partner with UD leadership, faculty, staff, and graduate student educators to explore new technologies and pedagogies, cultivate innovative pilot projects, and aid in the development of new online and hybrid programs.

Our functional areas include instructional design, learning management systems support, digital media support, and instructional television and conferencing support. We assist with in-class instruction, online learning, hybrid courses, and online curricula. We also provide specialized assistance, such as classroom recording, video conferencing facilities and software, student response systems, instructional project development, webcasting and video hosting, in-class technical instruction, learning management systems, learning space design, and numerous faculty development programs.

IT-ATS collaborates with other instructional support units on campus to form a Teaching Support Network through the Office of the Provost. In IT-ATS, we operate an innovative campus-based teaching and technology site in which we provide technology consultations, host events and training, and foster interdisciplinary connections. We have adaptable-use areas for faculty, teaching staff, and graduate teaching assistants.

Consultants on our Instructional Design team help faculty and TAs improve teaching and learning through the effective application of technology. They teach faculty about best practices and document evidence-based approaches, provide support for learning management systems, personal response systems, web technologies, and other instructional technologies (e.g., for presentations, collaboration, visualization, and feedback). Importantly, our IDs partner with educators and academic program directors to co-produce high-quality online and hybrid courses, supporting many of our highly ranked online programs.

Major Responsibilities:

• Manages the activities and supervises members of the Learning Design & Development team within IT-ATS. Oversees the operations of our instructional support facility.      
• Evaluates employee performance,     provides guidance and feedback, and offers coaching when needed for performance improvement. Assesses need for technical and professional growth and recommends development opportunities. Empowers and leads the team to achieve objectives that align with the UDIT and University strategic plans.
• Oversees the processes and projects undertaken by ATS instructional designers, recommends areas of improvement in the provision of services, and measures outcomes of instructional design work that demonstrates the effectiveness of the team’s efforts.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with academic leaders across the University. Partners with deans, chairs, and program directors to develop strategic service agreements and support their digital learning initiatives. Works with representatives from academic programs and other key stakeholders to ensure the recommended strategy meets University objectives.
• Demonstrates leadership and expertise to the faculty by researching, analyzing, and recommending effective technologies that support educational strategies.  Delivers assistance to the academic community in the conceptualization, design and implementation of classroom technology and web-enhanced and online or hybrid courses. Assists faculty in developing and assessing the pedagogical effectiveness of academic technology for individual courses and entire departmental curricula.
• Establishes and maintains programs for connecting educators with technology support resources.
• Initiates communities of practice among educators  in areas of digital learning innovation.  
• Promotes and publicizes ATS services and resources.
• Creates and maintains programs that showcase best practices and demonstrate digital learning capabilities among educators on campus and place the University of Delaware at the forefront of academic technology.
• Develops and hosts academic technology events and presents at appropriate venues to promote the use of technology to enhance teaching and learning. Collaborates with instructional support units on campus to enhance faculty development through a Teaching Support Network facilitated by the Office of the Provost.
• Maintains data, records, and other evidence to support and publicize the work of Academic Technologies Services.
• Investigates new technologies based upon current educational research and, as appropriate, pilots projects with faculty. Reviews and evaluates proposals from faculty and academic departments for Information Technologies support.  Provides appropriate resources for small-scale evaluation and field trials. Develops expenditure plans, maintains budget, and offers solutions that best meet the needs of the University. Works closely with campus clients, IT staff, and external vendors regarding existing and potential service and product offerings.
• Creates and develops high quality self-service training materials to assist faculty in the use of academic technology. Proactively communicates with faculty about new information and progress in the field of academic technology. Engages faculty in small groups or one-on-one, as well as remotely, to help them adopt appropriate technologies to achieve their online and classroom teaching goals.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in instructional technology, education or related field required.
• 5 years of experience working with instructional technology, especially technology related to the facilitation of online, blended, web-enhanced courses is required, and preference will be given to experience in a higher education setting.
• Supervisory experience required.
• Demonstrated skills applying principles of instructional design in conjunction with emerging technologies.
• Experience with student-centered learning and learning theories, outcomes-based curricular design and program development, and technology-enhanced teaching and learning, including learning management systems.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills with at least one learning management system is required, including experience with course design, delivery, and system administration.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, communication and presentation skills.
• Excellent project management, organizational, and team leadership skills.

Preferred:

• Advanced degree in Educational Leadership, Educational Technology, or related program.
• Project management, budget management, and strategic planning.
• Experience with a wide variety of current instructional technology tools, multimedia development software, and web development software.
• Experience with Canvas learning management system.