Educational Technician (Spark!Lab Facilitator) IS-1702-04

Smithsonian Institution•Washington, DC

16d•$20 - $26•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in the Lemelson Center, Division of Public History, National Museum of American History (NMAH), Smithsonian Institution (SI). The Lemelson Center’s mission is to promote public understanding of the history and role of invention and innovation in society. The Lemelson Center’s Spark!Lab, located at NMAH, is a hands-on invention learning space which provides museum visitors, particularly children and their families, the opportunity to engage in the invention process through history, engineering, science, and creative activities. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as an invention education facilitator in the Lemelson Center’s Spark!Lab, supporting operations of an invention education interactive exhibit and supporting children and adults in hands-on activities with inquiry-based facilitation. This position has promotion potential to the IS-1702-05 grade level. This position requires work on one weekend day (Saturday or Sunday) per week and may require occasional work on evenings, weekends, or holidays in accordance with Smithsonian Institution policy.

Requirements

Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess 1-3 years of related experience (described below).
Skill to facilitate pre-designed learning activities based in making and testing, utilizing craft supplies like cardboard, tape, and wire, educational toy and electronics sets, and custom-designed interactives.
Knowledge of group management techniques in order to engage visitors and work with a variety of learning styles and age groups.
Ability to communicate orally with general audiences (up to 30 persons) about select topics in invention, history, and science in an informal setting.
Practical knowledge of instructional support techniques sufficient to create instructional materials, organize learning content, and/or facilitate group activities and hands-on exercises.
Skill to organize schedules and activities, including keeping sessions on schedule and tracking attendance.
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Responsibilities

Supports meaningful engagement with the invention process through hands-on activities based in inquiry, creatively inspiring children and families to identify problems, imagine solutions, create prototypes, and test ideas in order to practice skills such as collaboration, perseverance, and curiosity.
Ensures a positive visitor experience by greeting visitors, engaging visitors through conversation, inquiry and experimentation appropriate to age level and interest.
Supports the opening, operation, and closing of Spark!Lab and performs routine maintenance such as replenishing supplies, keeping equipment cleaned, and monitoring Spark!Lab for safety and accessibility.
Recommends and makes basic changes to activity materials or signage, suggests topics for new activities related to museum priorities and incorporates volunteer suggestions.
Develops recommendations to improve visitor experience and invention education resources, such as developing posters highlighting museum objects or inventors connected to other exhibits.