Senior Resource Design Specialist (Elementary School Focus)

Term: 2 Years

The Centre for Education in Mathematics & Computing (CEMC) is Canada’s largest and most recognized outreach organization for promoting and creating activities and materials in mathematics and computer science and is housed within the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo. The CEMC is the first point of contact at Waterloo for a significant percentage of our future undergraduate and graduate students and their parents. Through Outreach activities, the CEMC has perhaps the largest set of external points of contact among any unit on campus. Since its launch in 2015, the CEMC’s free online courseware has had tens of millions of pageviews. The CEMC’s Problem of the Week reaches roughly 1.5 million students. In Spring 2020 as schools closed due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CEMC rapidly produced and launched CEMC at Home which generated 6000 subscribers with over 200 000 pageviews and files downloaded more than 134 000 times in its first month. Electronic resources are now more than ever critical to learning success and program delivery worldwide.

The incumbent(s) brings their experience as an outstanding classroom teacher to the CEMC, providing high calibre expertise of theoretical and experiential knowledge of the teaching profession to the CEMC.  The incumbent takes the principal role in the evaluation, design, development, and rollout of all CEMC electronic educational resources, understanding departmental priorities and providing appropriate input and best practice recommendations to CEMC senior management. The incumbent(s) assesses the needs of external stakeholders (teachers, students and parents, and administrators in elementary and secondary schools) in many countries worldwide and develops resources based on emerging technologies and curriculum, as well as a firm understanding of the specific challenges in various jurisdictions. The incumbent manages the development cycle, leading continuous improvement and the evolution of CEMC electronic resource development practices, and trains and provides leadership to faculty and functional direction to staff.

This position is contingent on funding.

Resource Development Strategy and Needs Assessment

• Develop targeted strategies that will significantly contribute to increased use of CEMC online outreach activities
• Advise the CEMC senior management in setting direction for electronic resources by assessing the needs of the educational community
• Track predictors of student success and satisfaction among stakeholders with their experience using various analytics tools including surveys and system-generated data
• Evaluate existing resources utilizing research, knowledge of current and emerging technologies to foster a culture of continuous improvement
• Understand the state of current pedagogical research and advise the CEMC on how to create, modify and maintain resources to best fit in the ever-evolving Canadian and international educational landscapes
• Recommend how best to source and use emerging technologies to assist in individualized and differentiated assessment and instruction
• Continuously update and maintain short-term, medium-term and long-term strategies for CEMC’s online presence
• Generate innovative ideas for enhancement of CEMC’s resources and platforms

Technical Design and Implementation

• Create and manage the technical implementation of e-learning resources from Grade 4 to 8 program levels
• Responsible for rapid-prototyping, testing and piloting new resources and functionalities
• Deal with rapidly changing technology; anticipate and adapt to new and emerging technologies
• Maintain ongoing knowledge of instructional design, learning technology and learning best practices through research and analytics
• Interprets related industry trends and technologies related to those addressing web accessibility (AODA) and user experience
• Interpret technical requirements to non-expert audience

Content Knowledge Design and Implementation

• Create and manage the academic content for e-learning resources from Grade 4 to 8 program levels
• Maintain knowledge of scope and sequence of curriculum topics from elementary school through undergraduate education in mathematics and/or computer science
• Continuously enhance own subject-matter knowledge and skills in mathematics and/or computer science as well as in educational theory
• Research and develop ideas for new and complementary resources related to teaching and learning, virtual school visits, online professional development seminars, and various other CEMC outreach programs
• Interpret content and educational requirements to non-expert audience

Project Management

• Manage electronic resource development projects, providing instructional design and project leadership
• Provide accurate development of time estimates for completion of discrete content components; contribute to establishing project milestones and budget estimates
• Help to ensure that the multitude of online resource projects are completed successfully, on-time, within scope, and employing sound design and development practices
• Utilizing scope and change management techniques, manage larger goals against realistic expectations
• Keep the CEMC senior management informed of any project issues that may arise that require intervention or pivot in direction

Communication and Training

• Disseminate knowledge of new teaching and learning technologies by consulting with CEMC stakeholders
• Present results of research and development activities and strategic direction to internal and external stakeholders
• Deliver and facilitate information sessions and meetings with other authors and contributors
• Develop and manage relationships with key representatives from units across campus with related functions (ie: CEL)
• Maintains connections with, contribute to related external organizations and professional associations, maintaining CEMC and Waterloo’s status as a leader in online learning

Other CEMC Outreach Activities

• Participate in the CEMC Visits Schools program as an educator travelling to schools (local, domestic and international) delivering interactive lessons and problem-solving sessions to increase enjoyment and confidence in mathematics and computer science
• Participate in the creative content design of 15 global mathematics and computing contests
• Participate in the on-campus marking of six global mathematics contests for intermediate and secondary school students
• Participate in CEMC workshops and conferences as a speaker and provide additional program and content support
• Provide recruitment support and act as a CEMC and Waterloo brand ambassador in the area of mathematics and computer science learning and engagement

• Bachelor’s Degree with qualifications in the field of Education required.
• 7-10 years’ current or recent experience teaching full-time at Grade 4 to 6 level
• Extensive experience in the development of educational materials and digital media design for the purpose of delivering online educational materials, training and courseware
• Success leading academic projects and working with academic stakeholders
• Project management experience leading educationally-related development projects in a higher education setting an asset
• Knowledge of instructional design, learning theory and e-learning best practices
• Knowledge of media development tools, learning, e-learning tools, learning management systems and their optimal application (ie: LaTeX, Adobe Creative Suite)
• Advanced experience with mathematical software packages (ie: MAPLE, Geogebra, Mobius)
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office suite
• Advanced skills communicating technical and non-technical topics to a variety of audiences
• Expert teacher of mathematics and/or computer science at the Grade 4 to 6 level
• Superior verbal and written communication skills; Ability to communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Proven ability to present Mathematics and/or Computer Science outreach workshops in elementary and secondary school settings
• Strong research skills
• Strong attention to detail
• A keen ability to problem-solve and creatively identify effective and efficient solutions in complex systems and processes
• Critical, creative and strategic thinking capability, with continuous improvement mindset
• Must have the ability to travel locally, domestically and possibly internationally in support of Outreach initiatives on behalf of the CEMC
• In support of travel, must have a valid driver’s license and ability to travel internationally
• Must have a clear Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) as a condition of employment

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca  or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.