Assessment Technologist Candidate Pack
BACKGROUND
The University of Law, a private university, (formerly the College of Law), is one of the UK’s leading and longest established providers of legal education and training with origins dating back to 1876 with the formation of the leading tutorial firm Gibson & Weldon and later on, with the establishment of The Law Society School of Law. In 1962 the two were amalgamated to establish The College of Law. The University was the first ever independent institution to be granted degree awarding powers, gaining University title (The University of Law) in 2012 before being bought by Global University Systems in 2015. Working right at the heart of the legal profession, the University brings together teaching of the highest quality, a focus on practical skills and innovative learning styles to deliver perfect preparation for life in legal practice and ongoing professional development. The University is in an ongoing, exciting period of growth and expansion with more than 14,000 students, circa 900 staff and 18 campuses across the UK and Hong Kong. Alongside its Legal education and training, it is also expanding its Business school offering both in the UK and in Berlin. All campuses are close to thriving commercial centres, leading law firms and have strong transport links. Each campus is a modern, well-equipped professional law school providing a comfortable and stimulating learning and working environment.
VISION, CORPORATE PLAN & STRATEGY
Vision and mission To be the global university of choice for the professions, by driving innovation in applied education to deliver outstanding employment outcomes. The University of Law exists to serve its students and their future employers by being global leaders in providing applied knowledge and skills.
Vision and Mission
Strategic Aims
Drawing on our heritage as one of the UK’s longest established law schools, we strive to build on our success through the ethos of IDEAS:
Student Focus
Widening Participation
• Innovation - for our people, campuses, technology and business practices
Innovation and Growth
• Diversity - continuously improving the quality, quantity and flexibility of our courses
People
• Employability focus - ensuring our students are in demand by firms and businesses
• Ambition – inspiring the best in our students and society
• Success - academically and professionally for all
Strategic Aims
Student focus • The quality of the student experience is key to our ethos, reputation and our ability to recruit and be commercially successful We were ranked top university in England for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2020 and also achieved top ten placements amongst other universities for eleven further categories across the UK including: ‘The Teaching on my Course’ (4th), ‘Student Voice’ (4th), and ‘Assessment and feedback’ (7th). And in the latest Teaching and Excellence and Student Outcome Framework we were awarded silver for our teaching, learning and outcomes. Our performance in the critical categories of teaching excellence and academic support for students is sector leading.
Widening participation We are committed to widening participation and diversity across all of the University’s programmes.
Innovation and Growth • Our programme portfolio is constantly evolving to remain innovative, topical and relevant • Our reach is being extended through the creation of new campuses and partnerships • Our reputation, and the global importance of the English legal system, position us well to increase overseas recruitment beyond our traditional UK-focused student base
People We strive to:
• Support the development of colleagues to enable the delivery of an even higher quality service • Recognise and reward strong performance
Student Experience In addition to our teaching, the business processes that drive the student journey are pivotal to our students’ experience. We look to work collaboratively with the student body, being responsive to student needs and feedback.
• We will continue to invest in the student experience, its people and facilities • We will continue to deliver high quality services in a cost-effective way • We will use resources in an efficient and responsible manner
CAMPUSES
1. Birmingham
2. Bristol
3. Chester
4. Guildford Campus
5. Leeds Campus
6. London Bloomsbury Campus
7. London Moorgate Campus
8. Manchester Campus
9. Nottingham Campus
10. The University of Law at UEA in Norwich
11. The University of Law in Exeter
12. The University of Law in Liverpool
13. The University of Law at Reading
14. Hong Kong Centre
All of our campuses are in thriving commercial areas and offer the same fully-resourced facilities, including well equipped IT suites with PCs for DVD and i-Tutorials, comprehensive law libraries with all the latest legal texts, quiet study areas and places to relax.
15. Online
16. The University of Law at Chester
17. GISMA Berlin
18. Sheffield
Birmingham
Nottingham
Hong Kong
Guildford
Chester
Bristol
Our Future Academic Model
The Assesment Technologist is a crucial enabler in delivering an exciting transformational programme, entitled The Future Academic Model. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in the way higher education bodies design and deliver their courses with the adoption of digital technologies. This rapid redesign of learning techniques has become the kernel for today’s new academic model. In the University of Law’s new academic model, we carefully describe the characteristics which will help The University of Law continue to deliver outstanding teaching amidst the continuous evolution of the higher education climate. The learning, teaching and assessment for the future will be within a hybridised model, deploying greater use of digital technologies to offer tomorrow’s students an outstanding and distinguishable learning pathway. The new learning and teaching strategy will get ourselves ready and our learners and graduates, for a changing world ahead. To achieve this and our primary objectives, the new model looks through five pillars: Teaching Excellence, Data, Design, Assessment and Student Experience.
For more information, see https://www.law.ac.uk/about/academic-model/
Main Function of Job
JOB DESCRIPTION
Responsible for: • Providing specialist expertise to all University of Law colleagues to develop and use digital assessments e.g. online exams, online portfolios, remote proctoring, text matching software, across all learning modes and in creating effective feedback and marking systems and processes • Leading on developing, building and quality assurance of digital assessment tools into the University of Law’s virtual learning environment (Blackboard) • Providing guidance, training and support for University of Law staff on digital assessments and processes • Supporting the enhancement of the curriculum across all programmes and disciplines through digital assessments • Providing support for University of Law colleagues exploring and piloting new digital assessment tools for specific programme delivery. • Leading on building information, processes and operational documents for each of the campuses. • Undertaking research, evaluation and impact assessments of digital assessments on the student experience
Main Function of Job
Reporting to Head of Media and TEL Planning & Production Service Delivery
Location Flexible Location Direct Reports None
Reporting Line: • The Assessment Technologist will report directly to the Head of Media and TEL Planning & Production Service Delivery. Other Stakeholders: • To ensure a cross-institutional impact the post-holder will work with a range of stakeholders within the University; this may include, but not be limited to
• Across the MTELO team • Chief Operating Officer
• Director of Academic Enhancement • Director of Design and Assessment. • Director of Technology Enhanced Learning and Learning Analytics • Head of Assessment Operations
JOB DESCRIPTION
Specific Responsibilities
Under the leadership of the Head of Media and TEL Planning & Production Service Delivery, deliver a portfolio of activities including: • Providing expert learning technology support for University of Law staff on production of assessments, which apply sound pedagogy to create an outstanding student learning experience across all delivery modes • Implementing University policies across digital assessments within curriculum development and teaching and learning delivery • Investigating, evaluating, prototyping and championing new technologies, applications, automation and disability support data • Investigating and finding solutions to any issues raised from students or staff before, during and after delivery of assessments • Supporting, all University of Law staff and students to develop their digital assessment capabilities, including developing and delivering training events, workshops and online courses • Responsible for digital assessment data management (usage, collation, storage and dissemination), policies, ensuring ethical decisions and feeding back to management on best practices and processes • Fostering and nurturing university-wide effective partnerships • Leading on building effective communities of practice with and between campuses and practitioners on learning technology and digital assessments • Contributing to internal University of Law Events, and regularly contributing to internal news and updates concerning learning technologies • In collaboration with other key stakeholders, provide pedagogical advice, guidance and support of the appropriate use of assessment technology to team members, academic and professional staff, and other roles involved in the development and delivery of assessment Project Management • Lead and contribute to strategic projects and BAU operations for the design, development, roll out and quality assurance of digital assessments and evaluation of processes and effectiveness • Lead the evaluation of digital assessment roll out to ensure that good practice is shared, the impact is understood and recorded, and lessons are learned
Specific Responsibilities
Communication • Provide advice and support on using digital assessments in higher education within the MTELO department and across the university’s key stakeholders to ensure we work towards external best practice benchmarks • Identify, make accessible, and disseminate good practice in all issues relating to learning technology for teaching about curricular development, assessment and feedback
Representation • Contribute to external institutional events where digital assessments features
In addition to the responsibilities listed above, the job holder may be required to perform other duties as assigned by members of the Executive Board or MTELO Management Team from time to time.
The job holder has a duty to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons with whom they come into contact at work. The job holder also has a duty to co-operate with the University in complying with any statutory duty or requirement concerning health and safety at work. In particular, they must familiarise themselves with the Health and Safety Policy and its safety and fire procedures.
This job description is to be read in conjunction with the relevant Roles and Responsibilities Career Level document.
This job description is correct at April 2021. It may vary in consultation with the post holder to reflect changes within the market place, in the MTELO Department and the University.
PERSON SPECIFICATIONS
Training & Education
Essential • Relevant professional qualification in learning technology or substantial relevant experience • Commitment to continuous professional development Desirable • Member of the Association for Learning Technology • Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Training & Education
Experience
Skills & Knowledge
Behavioural Skills
Experience
Essential • Previous experience of developing and advising on digital assessment tools & marking systems for different modes of delivery for education • Comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of virtual learning environments and assessment tools • Previous experience of designing and delivering training materials to staff • Working on collaborative transformational projects focusing on staff and student experience • Experience in evaluating technologies and systems to ascertain effectiveness Desirable • Experience in working with learning technologies and assessments within the Law and Business School disciplines
Skills & Knowledge
Essential Excellence in the following: • Oral and written communication skills • Planning and prioritisation • Presentation skills • Teamwork • Problem-solving • High level of digital literacy Desirable Excellence in the following learning technologies: • Blackboard VLE • Blackboard Data • Blackboard Collaborate • Blackboard Ally • Panopto • Turnitin • Respondus • Other digital assessment tools & platforms • Law and Business School disciplines
Behavioural Skills
Essential • Analytical problem solver • Creative thinking • Excellent interpersonal skills
• Professional, credible, commands respect • Organised with excellent prioritisation skills • Flexible and prepared to be hands-on, where required • Effective communicator
Application Process
The University is being supported on this recruitment campaign by the search consultancy The Management Recruitment Group (MRG) .
To arrange a brief conversation please contact our advisor Sian Gardiner of MRG on 020 3962 9900 / 07932 717 458 or at sian.gardiner@mrgpeople.co.uk.
Applications should contain a CV and Covering Letter and should be sent to Sian Gardiner at the Management Recruitment Group sian.gardiner@mrgpeople.co.uk.
Closing Date is Sunday 23rd May 2021.
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