Continuing Education Instructor, Woodworking: Introduction

Rhode Island School of Design•Providence, RI

4d•Onsite

About The Position

RISD Continuing Education functions within the larger context of RISD, an institution with an unparalleled reputation for producing highly-skilled, successful, and internationally renowned creative practitioners. With more than 100 years of expertise nurturing critical making, thinking, and innovation in art and design we facilitate personal and professional development by engaging students in sustained exploration and learning in the creative disciplines. With a commitment to centering inclusivity, diversity and equity in executing key responsibilities, RISD Continuing Education instructors plan, organize, teach, and provide feedback to promote and direct student learning in keeping with the institutional learning-centered values and in a manner that meets essential competencies of artists and designers. RISD Continuing Education instructors plan, organize, teach, and provide feedback to promote and direct student learning in keeping with the institutional learning-centered values and in a manner that meets the essential competencies of an artist and designer. Our instructors respond to students in a timely manner and communicate with the discipline and division via college-provided tools and resources. We welcome instructors whose teaching experience addresses historically underrepresented communities. The successful candidate should be prepared to teach in person on the RISD Campus to a diverse group of students from a range of disciplines. Interpersonal and leadership skills, clarity, generosity, and creativity in both personal work and teaching are essential. Candidates should be prepared to develop culturally diverse syllabi for studio and seminar courses and lead classes and critiques that model constructive, inclusive discussions that encourage students to grow creatively and intellectually. We are looking for an instructor whose specialty is in Woodworking. This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of working with wood using power and hand tools. As such, the successful candidate will be able to teach entry level adult learners the step by step processes of how to safely and effectively use machinery, and how to develop and execute a realistic plan/design for a simple piece. The instructor will need to introduce ways of understanding wood, both in what to look for in selecting it and considerations when shaping it. From there, students will need to learn how to work with table saws and sanders, and learn which machines are most effective in achieving their chosen project. Demonstrations and presentations further the learning, so in depth knowledge is a must.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree required.
MFA preferred or equivalent in established professional practice in area of study
A track record of paid professional experience at companies successfully doing related work, and/or a robust, creative, intellectually and critically engaged design or studio practice, as evidenced by recognition in publications, commissions, exhibitions, awards and/or collaborative projects
In person teaching experience, including the ability to create syllabi and lesson plans, and how to tie those to learning outcomes.
In person course content; syllabus, learning outcomes, tutorials, assignments and other components such as intuitive navigation, lively discussions, and meaningful feedback as part of a successful class
Ability to develop and implement diverse teaching and learning for different learning styles and to respond to the needs of learners from a variety of educational backgrounds in a multicultural environment
Analytical, evaluative, and critical thinking skills
Accept and act upon constructive feedback from course and classroom evaluations by students and staff
Ability to meet RISD’s technology requirements
Strong interpersonal, communication and organizational skills
Ability to develop syllabi and lead classes and critiques that model constructive, inclusive discussions, and that encourage students to grow creatively and intellectually
In-depth knowledge of Woodworking

Nice To Haves

Teaching experience in a collegiate or adult education setting that addresses underrepresented communities
Ability to convey complex art engagement ideas in a clear and articulate manner for an art and design program and design concepts that serves adult students with varied skills (novice to advanced) in a condensed time frame
Commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring students
Lifelong learning orientation with demonstrated interest in learning about new developments in their area of study
Ability to empathically relate to a wide range of student perspectives and maturely handle interpersonal issues that may arise

Responsibilities

Plan, organize, teach, and provide feedback to promote and direct student learning
Respond to students in a timely manner
Communicate with the discipline and division via college-provided tools and resources
Develop culturally diverse syllabi for studio and seminar courses
Lead classes and critiques that model constructive, inclusive discussions that encourage students to grow creatively and intellectually
Teach entry level adult learners the step by step processes of how to safely and effectively use machinery
Teach students how to develop and execute a realistic plan/design for a simple piece
Introduce ways of understanding wood, both in what to look for in selecting it and considerations when shaping it
Teach students how to work with table saws and sanders
Teach students which machines are most effective in achieving their chosen project
Demonstrations and presentations further the learning