What are the responsibilities and job description for the Instructional Designer position at Vanderbilt University?
Vanderbilt University is seeking an Instructional Designer in the Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education within the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professional Education (OFAPE).
It is an exciting time at Vanderbilt as the University officially welcomed C. Cybele Raver as its new Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs on July 1, 2021. Under the leadership of Provost Raver, the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professional Education is leading bold new initiatives and strengthening existing programs. The Instructional Designer reports directly to the Instructional Design Manager and serves as a member of the Instructional Design team. The Instructional Designer will promote effective teaching as part of the Office of Education Design & Development and the Office of Learning Innovation, which supports the development and delivery of digital and lifelong learning programs. This role will consult with faculty and other university instructors on the design of online and blended programs that use Vanderbilt’s learning management system and other educational tools. The Instructional Designer will collaborate with the instructional design team to ensure the delivery of high-quality learning experiences for Vanderbilt students.
The Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Education (OFAPE) in the Office of the Provost is led by the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professional Education. OFAPE exists to support and champion Vanderbilt faculty at every stage of their career and to promote and advise professional academic programs. Vanderbilt University has over 4,000 full-time faculty across ten schools and colleges. The OFAPE includes the Institute for Advancement of Higher Education, the Office of Academic Program Review, Assessment, & Accreditation, the Office of Educational Design & Development, the Office of Faculty Appointments, the Office of Faculty Development, the Office of Learning Innovation, and the Office of Professional Education. The OFAPE leadership team includes two associate provosts, two assistant provosts, two senior faculty fellows, and six directors.
Created by the University Provost following an external review of the University’s Center for Teaching and Office of Digital Education, the new Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education (AdvancED) exists to promote cutting-edge innovations in higher education pedagogy and student experience in order to maximize the impact of new ideas on society. The Institute provides university faculty development and training, optimizes student learning in all environments, drives technological and pedagogical innovation, and charts the course for a best-in-class future. The Institute includes the Office of Education Design and Development and the Office of Learning Innovation.
The Office of Learning Innovation is dedicated to advancing new, uniquely Vanderbilt ways of delivering education to meet the evolving needs of learners and maximize\ the university’s global impact. The team focuses on supporting the growth of the university’s digital and lifelong learning portfolio, providing expertise in educational technologies, and elevating Vanderbilt as a leader in cutting-edge learning innovation.
The Instructional Designer will support the Instructional Design team in designing and implementing high engagement learning experiences. They will work closely with the instructional design team, AdvancED staff, and faculty to build capacity for teaching across modalities, including online, hybrid and in-person learning environments. They have strong communication skills, an appetite for collaboration and familiarity with instructional design principles and practices.
Design and develop new digital and lifelong learning programs.
- Evaluate learning materials for new and existing programs to ensure best practices in online course design are met.
- Add course materials to Brightspace, NovoEd, and potential other learning platforms which may include copying courses, posting content, creating gradebooks, updating class schedules, writing announcements, creating discussion boards, and formatting assignments.
- Partner with instructors on articulating learning objectives, preparing learning materials, development of assessments and assignments, and planning of learning activities.
Support instructional design team in building AdvancED’s instructional design function.
- Provide support to the instructional design team in identifying and implementing new instructional design strategies that meet the needs of faculty and instructors across the university.
- Work cross-functionally across AdvancED to identify and implement new strategies for building and sustaining digital and lifelong learning programs.
Provide instructional development to faculty and instructors across campus.
- Plan, design, and implement workshops and learning experiences that offer opportunities for the Vanderbilt teaching community to learn and incorporate effective course design practices across teaching modalities.
Keep abreast of instructional design research and practices for instructional design.
- Stay current on best practices in instructional design and developments in educational technology, particularly as it relates to digital and lifelong learning.
Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s degree is required.
- An M.A., M.Ed. or other post-graduate degree is preferred.
- 1-2 years of experience in education or instructional design is required. Experience designing online or blended learning programs is preferred.
- Experience designing and implementing learning experiences is necessary. Experience with online learning programs is preferred.
- Experience in project management is preferred.
- Experience working in cross-functional teams is preferred.
- Experience working effectively with instructors, students, and staff members is necessary. Experience in a higher education setting is preferred.
- Familiarity with Brightspace or other LMS and online educational resources and tools is preferred.
- Familiarity with Quality Matters is preferred. Familiarity with educational best practices is necessary.
- Knowledge of ADA requirements for online course delivery is preferred.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion