Educational Developer

University of Toronto • Mississauga, ON

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre (RGASC) is a hub for academic skills development on the University of Toronto Mississauga campus. The mandate of the RGASC is to support and promote teaching and learning in a range of contexts across the University of Toronto Mississauga. For students, the RGASC is a resource for developing academic skills through individual appointments and group-based initiatives that help students identify and develop the academic skills they need for success in their studies. For instructional staff and faculty, the Centre is a partner in teaching and learning activities. These activities include course and program design, implementation and assessment of a given intervention’s impact.

Faculty and staff appointed to the RGASC have a range of specializations, including academic peer support, academic writing instruction, educational development, English language learning, numeracy, scientific literacy, and supplemental instruction. This diversity of experience and expertise enables the Centre to collaborate productively with partners from across the disciplines and campus, who bring with them a varied and diverse set of teaching and learning objectives. Working with the Director, Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre (RGASC) and the Assistant Director, RGASC, and reporting to the Senior Educational Developer & Team Lead on day-to-day operations, the Educational Developer promotes a scholarly and evidence-based approach to teaching. They will provide expertise to support departments and instructors with enhancing teaching and learning outcomes. This will include facilitating and leading workshops and /or community of practices; and meeting individually with instructors to advise on strategies for developing and delivering curriculum (e.g., development of teaching dossiers, learning objectives, teaching activities, rubrics and assessments).

The Educational Developer will have a good understanding of pedagogical literature and application of theory, and will make recommendations on best practices related to teaching and learning. They will be able to communicate and work effectively with faculty, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, support staff and university administrators to foster and maintain networks that build capacity and collaboration that enhance pedagogical practices.
The Educational Developer should have a passion for supporting instructors of diverse backgrounds across the humanities, social sciences, science and management disciplines. They must also be sensitive to the professional development challenges and support needs of educators at all career stages and levels of experience.

Requirements

• Master's Degree in Education (PhD preferred) or an acceptable combination of equivalent experience
• Minimum five (5) years of experience in educational development and/or training and development, including a minimum of 3 (three) years of experience specifically in post-secondary education
• Demonstrated knowledge, skill, and experience with university-level instruction, program planning, facilitation, consultation, curriculum development, and faculty development.
• Knowledge of curriculum/curriculum development and able to respond to changes in the higher educational landscape, which includes proactively developing new instructional materials and workshops
• Demonstrated knowledge or engagement in scholarship, teaching, and learning related to theories and practices used in Universal Design for Learning (UDL); accessible pedagogy; anti-oppressive pedagogy; or anti-racist pedagogy within educational development and their application to the curriculum development processes, teaching, and resource development
• Demonstrated understanding of dialogic pedagogical approaches in higher education to support inclusive classroom discourse, equity-oriented, critical, and participatory pedagogies
• Excellent oral and written communication, interpersonal, facilitation and presentation skills
• Exceptional organizational skills, ability to successfully meet deadlines and proven project management abilities, coupled with adaptability and a commitment to building strong community relationships
• Must have strong computer skills, including a high degree of functionality in the use of all Microsoft Office applications
• Must show evidence of commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment

Nice To Haves

• Membership and engagement with relevant professional bodies, such as the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (POD) or STLHE (Society of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education), is an asset
• Experience teaching at the post-secondary level

Responsibilities

• Developing and implementing components of instructional programs
• Fostering and maintaining networks to build capacity and collaboration
• Planning and overseeing the implementation of an evaluation framework for assigned projects
• Evaluating learning outcomes for program development
• Advising instructors on strategies for developing and delivering curriculum
• Facilitating educational workshops and seminars
• Serving as a resource on specific issues to a group of specialists

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level