Job Description

Staff - Non Union

Job Category M&P - AAPS

Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Educational Programming, Level B

Job Title Science Education Specialist (SES)

Department Educational Programming | Department of Mathematics | Faculty of Science

Compensation Range $5,468.83 - $7,878.17 CAD Monthly
The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date January 14, 2023

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.
Summary

The position is a Faculty of Science-funded education specialist embedded in the

Mathematics Department. The person will have disciplinary expertise in Mathematics

(preferably a graduate degree in Mathematics or closely related discipline), and will

bring expertise in pedagogy and evidence-based practices from their own background

and bolstered with Skylight-coordinated professional development workshops and

ongoing mentoring from Skylight leadership and peers. They will mentor faculty

instructors using the developed teaching methods and materials. From time to time, the

incumbent will need to participate in the instruction to undergraduates to advance the

pedagogy of the way a course is delivered.

The SES will be a resource, guide and support within the department. S/he will lead

scholarship of teaching and learning projects, advise the faculty on teaching and

learning practices, and work with them on course and curriculum revisions, evaluations

and pedagogical improvement projects.

Organizational Status

Appointed in the Mathematics Department in the Faculty of Science. Reports jointly to a

faculty supervisor in the Mathematics department and to the Director of Skylight or

designate. Works closely with faculty members and other members of instructional

teams (e.g., teaching assistants) and students who may be hired to help with projects.

Interacts with peer members of Skylight in other departments and the central unit. May

supervise teaching assistants and/or research assistants.

Work Performed

Instructional guidance:

o Advise and support faculty in developing and implementing new courses

and course materials (including WeBWorK content), transforming and

improving existing courses (including integrating and implementing new

learning technologies), and revising and coordinating revision of

curriculum at a course and/or program level

o Advise and support faculty teaching activities and teaching and learning

development projects

o Collect and analyze data to support curriculum development, delivery,

and assessment (e.g., longitudinal student tracking, diagnostic tests,

concept questions, surveys, focus group questions, etc.)

o Advise/collaborate with faculty on teaching and learning project proposal

development (e.g., large and small TLEFs, development grants)

o Liaise with Skylight and CTLT to coordinate relevant educational

technology support and administrative assistance

o Prepare departmental reports on pedagogical projects and/or initiatives,

including maintaining and updating the departmental teaching resources

website

o Coordinate departmental activities in articulating the departmental vision

around teaching and learning

Faculty and Teaching Assistant development:

o Coach and consult with faculty on evidence-based practices, possibly as

part of a paired instructing arrangement

o Serve as a resource for evidence-based practice

o Provide formative, informal expert feedback to instructors on their

teaching

o Develop and deliver professional development workshops (including

training on new learning technologies) for faculty and teaching assistants

o Facilitate the professional development of faculty in the area of teaching

and learning through workshops and one-on-one consultations, providing

expertise and support in the planning, designing and implementing of

evidence-based teaching practices and resources, and by measuring the

effectiveness of such interventions

Discipline-based education research (DBER):

o Design educational research experiments and collect relevant data for

course projects and publish newly developed instruments or

implementation of novel methods

o Consult and collaborate on scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL)

and DBER efforts undertaken by faculty

o Disseminate scholarly work in collaboration with faculty through

presenting at national and international conferences and publishing in

peer-reviewed journals

Community building:

o Facilitate faculty members communication and consensus building

around teaching and learning in their department

o Liaise across Science departments and with colleagues at other

institutions in the same discipline

o Serve on committees related to departmental teaching and learning

activities

o Organize and participate in department activities related to instructional

practice such as discussion series, science education seminars, reading

groups, etc.

Participate in centrally-organized work and activities, including collaborating on

FoS-wide projects, actively participating in the community of their across

departments, attending/contributing to Skylight meetings, Supper Series and the

Science Education Open House each April, serving on committees as needed.

As part of the larger teaching improvement mission, may be asked occasionally

to instruct in courses that are under development/study and have been

identified as in need of pedagogical advancement (this would be at most one

(three credit) course per year, with at most six credits in any three year time

span, and would be done under an Honorary Lecturer appointment).

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Participates in the assessment of program offerings and evaluations of teaching that will

impact the success of the teaching programs and improve the teaching ability of faculty

members.

Supervision Received

The role reports jointly to both Skylight Director and Department Head, or their

designates. The incumbent will work under general guidelines. Work is reviewed in term

of achievement and effectiveness in advancing the department s educational goals.

Supervision Given

This role provides guidance and advice to faculty members and other instructors on

pedagogical skills, teaching practices and curriculum. May supervise TAs, UTAs, GRAs,

URAs who may be hired to support DBER and SoTL projects.

Preferred Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.A graduate degree in mathematics or related discipline is preferred so that the incumbent will have sufficient knowledge of the subject to provide relevant pedagogical guidance in the courses taught.Minimum of four years experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.Must have knowledge of current pedagogical research and best practices in teaching. Experience working in an instructional capacity (instructor or teaching assistant) with undergraduates. Experience in curriculum development. Experience in evaluation. Experience with learning management systems (e.g., WeBWorK, Blackboard) and other educational technologies would be an asset. Ability to lead change by helping to implement a vision and taking appropriate action to ensure acceptance and support.Ability to instruct and provide training in pedagogical best practices.Ability to initiate and conduct research projects.Ability to analyze and interpret data, determine implications, and provide recommendationsGood assessment and evaluation skillsAbility to deliver effective presentations.Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.Good management and organization skills.Ability to work effectively with minimal supervision.Ability to deal with a diversity of people in a calm, courteous, and effective manner.Experience and facility with word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software.