Instructional Designer, Teaching & Learning Resources

OCAD University, Canada’s largest and oldest art and design university, is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world. The University is an internationally renowned hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity, and arts administration. It embraces collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum and research, making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design.

It is an exciting time to join the OCAD U community. The University is at a key stage in its institutional transformation, with the implementation of its Academic and Strategic Plan and guiding principles—driving positive impact, decolonization, indigenization, and equity, environmental sustainability, emerging as a vibrant hub, student-centered approaches, innovation in learning, teaching, and research, and financial stewardship.

Reporting to the Manager, Hybrid & Online Learning, the Instructional Designer, Teaching and Learning Resources is responsible for researching, developing and renewing teaching and learning resources for students and faculty at OCAD University (OCAD U). Collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team of teaching and learning staff, the Instructional Designer uses knowledge of promising practices and research in decolonizing and anti-racist education, inclusive teaching and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), outcomes-based curriculum design, and hybrid, online and digital pedagogies to create resources across a range of teaching and learning topic areas (e.g., technology-enhanced teaching and learning, student engagement strategies, academic integrity, generative AI) that broadly support the enhancement of engaging, accessible and equitable learning environments for OCAD U students. The Instructional Designer develops and implements timely, effective and impactful resources that support emerging teaching and learning needs in response to ongoing curricular changes and that advance the University’s Academic and Strategic Plan goals.

Summary of Responsibilities:

• In consultation with the Manager, conduct an audit of existing student and faculty teaching and learning resources
• Undertake needs analysis to inform the development of new resources tailored to meet the different needs of key audiences (students, faculty, teaching assistants)
• Consult with Centre staff to develop a roadmap of all faculty- and student-facing resources with consideration of existing and emerging needs/topics, upcoming programming and key audiences; resources may encompass a range of formats, including handouts, recorded videos, short courses on the learning management system, recorded workshops, annotated bibliographies, and case studies
• Create a project plan, timeline and workflow for the revision, redevelopment and development of resources
• Collaborate with Centre staff to gather discipline-specific content and subject matter expertise to inform resource development; create and implement consultation processes to ensure that all resources are informed by feedback and input from key stakeholders
• Revise and adapt existing resources, and create new resources, to support established and emerging teaching and learning needs, and student writing, communication and learning needs
• Consult with colleagues and conduct related research to ensure that all resources are grounded in evidence-informed practice, reflect promising practices within the post-secondary education sector, and are relevant to the curricular context of studio-based art and design education
• Collaborate with staff to support the effective design of teaching and learning training materials and learning resources to meet the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), related standards for the accessible design of digital and media content, and copyright legislation
• Make recommendations and integrate best practices regarding the effective use of audio, video, graphic, multimedia and online formats to support the development of accessible, engaging resources
• Work with the Manager and Centre staff to establish a system for organizing and distributing the resources
• Attend meetings as required to support project outcomes
• Support the Manager with functions and special projects contributing to the successful operation of the Centre

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Education, Adult Education, Educational Technology, Instructional Design, Curriculum Studies, or equivalent
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working in a post-secondary teaching and learning centre, writing centre or online learning centre, or similar academic support unit developing programming and resources for students and faculty, including experience in educational development, instructional design or equivalent
• Familiarity with post-secondary studies in Art and Design and/or a current/past creative practice preferred
• Demonstrated knowledge, skill and experience of university-level teaching, instructional design, administration, program planning, facilitation, consultation and project management; post-secondary teaching experience an asset
• Understanding of the needs of multilingual students and best practices in second language pedagogy an asset
• Current knowledge of the relevant educational literature and research (e.g., Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, instructional design, assessment, student development, technology-enhanced teaching and learning), with demonstrated knowledge and experience of inclusive teaching and Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
• Knowledge of and experience integrating decolonizing, anti-racist and critical pedagogical approaches within educational programming
• Strong digital literacy and computer skills, including a high degree of facility in the use of all Microsoft 365 applications; experience with multimedia technologies and the use of communication, collaboration, and other teaching and learning technologies
• A high degree of facility and experience with learning management systems is essential; previous work experience with Canvas by Instructure is an asset
• Excellent interpersonal communication, collaboration and relationship-building skills
• Experience in successfully meeting deadlines and managing complex projects
• Demonstrated experience working independently and consultatively in a team-based environment, with strong initiative
• Consultative approach to decision-making, excellent teamwork skills, and excellent oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of equity and diversity, and experience promoting a respectful work and learning environment for students, staff and faculty

Compensation: Hiring Range – $36.77 to $42.16 per hour commensurate with experience, plus 4% vacation pay and 7% in lieu of benefits; Salary Range – $36.77 to $48.33 per hour.

Hours of Work: This is a temporary contract role of approximately 21 to 28 hours per week from August 2024 to March/April 2025, with a desired start date of August 1, 2024. The schedule will be determined based on the successful candidate’s availability and the project needs.

About Organization

OCAD University, Canada’s largest and oldest art and design university, is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world. The University is an internationally renowned hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity, and arts administration. It embraces collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum and research, making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design.