Details
Posted: 07-Jun-22
Location: USA - MA - Cambridge
Type: Full-time
Salary: Open
LabXchange (www.labxchange.org) is a free, Harvard-based online STEM education platform with an immediate opening for a Middle School Instructional Design Lead. The role of the Middle School Instructional Design Lead will be to develop high-quality, interactive, middle school-aligned STEM educational materials for the platform. Under the direction of the Head of Content, the Middle School Instructional Design Lead will guide the development of middle-school appropriate pedagogical resources and materials to be published in the publicly available LabXchange content library. As the mission of LabXchange is to promote high-quality educational resources for everyone, the materials developed by the Middle School Instructional Design Lead would be designed to inclusively support diverse educators, students, and learners with varying amounts of prior background knowledge.
In addition to developing instructional materials for students and learners, the Middle School Instructional Design Lead would also make content to support middle school educators. The Middle School Content Lead will also work collaboratively with the Content & Collaborations Manager to identify middle school-level content for potential collaboration and to develop messaging for outreach to middle school educator networks in the U.S. and key global markets.
The ideal candidate has experience using technology to teach science in middle school at multiple levels and to diverse groups of students and experience developing and revising educational content.
About LabXchange
Harvard University's LabXchange is a free online platform for science education. LabXchange strives to make science accessible to anyone, anywhere, through interactive digital learning resources and collaborative features and brings together learners, educators, and researchers to discover and engage in the process of teaching and learning science.
Core Duties:
- Lead the development and publication of high-quality interactive content (e.g., videos, annotated videos, interactives, simulations, text, images, teaching guides, etc.) aligned with middle school standards (e.g., the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) along with standards from other states and countries) and in alignment with the evidence-based, student-centered pedagogies of the LabXchange platform.
- Collaborate with a team of subject matter experts who will co-develop and author educational materials for middle school learners and educators.
- Communicate regularly and effectively with internal project team members and external collaborators; maintain project documentation in an effective and timely fashion.
- Participate in and contribute to internal team meetings and projects as well as activities focused on reflective practice, integration of research, and pedagogical innovation.
- Collaborate with the development team to ideate, design, and build new asset types oriented to middle school users (learners and educators).
- In collaboration with the Content & Collaborations Manager, identify high-quality science education content for potential collaboration.
- In collaboration with the Head of Educator Programming & Engagement, develop and execute middle school-oriented webinars, workshops, and community-based programming to promote LabXchange, as well as materials and resources to support in-class use of the LabXchange platform content by educators, administrators, and other relevant parties.
- Conduct regular assessment and analysis of trends in educational technology at the middle school level; report findings and make recommendations to leadership; identify research questions and evaluate actionable outcomes resulting from findings.
- Plan and conduct pilot studies in middle school classrooms to assess the impact of LabXchange and/or its content on educator and student outcomes; document the results of pilot studies, both for internal and external dissemination.
This is a benefits-eligible term appointment ending 2/28/2025, with the possibility of renewal based on business needs and continued funding.
Benefits: Harvard University offers an outstanding benefits package including:
- A creative, high- energy, collaborative environment
- Generous Vacation, Sick, Personal, and Holiday pay
- Medical, Dental and Vision benefits starting on your first day
- University-funded retirement plans
- Tuition Assistance Program
- Transportation benefits to help with your daily commute
- Health and wellness discounts, memberships, and programs
Additional benefits can be found at https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards
IMPORTANT NOTE: A cover letter is requested for this role. Your cover letter and resume should be submitted as a combined SINGLE DOCUMENT under the resume tab.
Selected candidates may be asked to provide a writing sample, sample teaching materials, handouts, assignments, or presentations.
Individual flexible and remote work options for this role will be discussed during the interview process. All work must be performed in a state where Harvard is registered to do business (CA, CT, MA, MD, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT).
LabXchange is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
About LabXchange
Harvard University's LabXchange is a free online platform for science education. LabXchange strives to make science accessible to anyone, anywhere, through interactive digital learning resources and collaborative features and brings together learners, educators, and researchers to discover and engage in the process of teaching and learning science.
PLEASE NOTE: We continue to monitor the evolving COVID-19 and the lifting of restrictions. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility with our interview process.
The University requires all Harvard community members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain up to date with COVID-19 vaccine boosters, as detailed in Harvard's Vaccine & Booster Requirements. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University's COVID vaccination requirement, exemptions, and verification of vaccination status may be found at the University's
Candidates MUST meet the following basic qualifications in order to be considered for this role:
- Bachelor's degree
- Minimum of 5 years teaching at middle school in a STEM discipline, or related experience, of which the candidate should have a minimum of 2 year of experience in course design or developing curricular materials in a STEM field for middle school audiences. (An advanced degree may count towards years of related worked experience.)
- Master's degree preferred.
- Strong professional, interpersonal, collaborative and communications skills.
- Demonstrated experience in course and/or curricular design.
- Demonstrated interest in creating engaging, inspirational materials for teaching science.
- Experience monitoring and evaluating the impact of educational initiatives.
- Experience developing curricular materials in alignment with middle school curricular standards (e.g., Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
- Experience using technology such as project management software (e.g., Trello, Airtable, Asana, and Slack) and Learning Management Systems (LMSs).
- Familiarity with Universal Design for Learning, accommodation strategies, and scaffolding for English Language Learners and those with learning differences.
- Work experience in educational media, educational publishing, academic technology, or teaching and learning support.
- Understanding of effective approaches to online teaching and learning.
- Ability to work with and manage project staff from a variety of backgrounds, disciplines, and levels of expertise.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively with members of the content team, media production, and technology teams on educational content and other projects.
- Willingness and ability to learn and apply new technologies quickly and effectively.
- Ability to work consistently and constructively in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience working with copyright and intellectual property issues.
- Familiarity with and understanding data science is a plus.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
