Learning 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 Learning 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/
Some of the key responsibilities the Learning Technologist will lead on within the initial period include;
• Working with the curriculum design teams, academics and wider stakeholders to design and deploy initial learning designs for September 2021 delivery. • Delivering a new Learning Analytics Service, including user requirements gathering, creating staff development materials, curriculum design, monitoring and reporting. • Building active communities of practice for staff enables sharing excellent practice in innovative digital education across our campuses. In particular, developing exemplars of good practice.
Main Function of Job
JOB DESCRIPTION
Responsible for: • Provide specialist expertise to all University of Law colleagues to develop and use digital learning across all learning modes • Provide developmental and operational training and support for University of Law colleagues teaching either in-person, blended, online, and streaming according to the Future Academic Model • Support the enhancement of the curriculum across all programmes and disciplines through digital technologies • Provide support for University of Law colleagues exploring and piloting new software/digital learning tools for specific programme delivery • Lead on building communities of practice located on each of the campuses • Contribute to the development of strategy and policy by providing expert advice • Undertake scholarly activity, evaluation and impact assessments of digital technology on the student experience • Draw upon the broader higher education sectors use of digital technologies and share/disseminate this information to University of Law colleagues
Main Function of Job
Reporting to Director of Technology Enhanced Learning and Teaching and Learning Analytics
Location Flexible Location Direct Reports None
Reporting Line: • The Learning Technologist will report directly to the Director of Technology Enhanced Learning & Teaching and Learning Analytics. To support the University-wide curriculum initiatives with cross activities/objectives in training, academic enhancement, design and assessment relating to University of Law’s digital transformation 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 • Pro-Vice-Chancellor Academic Development
• Director of Academic Enhancement • Director of Design and Assessment
JOB DESCRIPTION
Specific Responsibilities
Under the leadership of the Director of Technology Enhanced Learning & Teaching and Learning Analytics, deliver a portfolio of activities including: • Providing expert learning technology support for, University of Law staff production of learning materials and learning activities, which apply sound pedagogy to create an outstanding student learning experience across all delivery modes • Implementing University policies across digital learning, particularly those relating to equality, diversity and inclusion within curriculum development and teaching and learning delivery • Delivering learning technology support and developing learning materials within the University of Law’s emerging Digital Academy • Investigating, evaluating, prototyping and championing new technologies and applications • Assisting in the promotion of good content and file management, encouraging sharing, re-usage of learning objects • Supporting, all University of Law staff and students to develop their digital capabilities, including developing and delivering training events, workshops and online courses • Fostering and nurturing university-wide effective partnerships to meet the universities strategic plan • Leading on building effective communities of practice with and between campuses and practitioners on learning technology and innovation • Contributing to internal University of Law Teaching and Learning Events, and regularly contributing to internal news and updates concerning learning technologies • Providing expert advice and guidance on the use of data (learning) analytics to improve the student experience and outcomes • In collaboration with other key stakeholders, provide pedagogical advice, guidance and support of the appropriate use of technology to team members, academic and professional staff, and other roles involved in the development and delivery of digital rich teaching, learning and assessment
Specific Responsibilities
Project Management • Lead and contribute to strategic projects that operationalise the Future Academic Model, Digital Learning strategy and other new ways of improving students’ digital learning experience and academic and business professional digital capabilities • Lead the evaluation of project activities to ensure that good practice is shared, the impact is understood and recorded, and lessons are learned Communication • Provide advice and support on using digital learning technologies in higher education for the Director of Technology Enhanced Learning & Teaching and Learning Analytics to ensure we work towards external best practice benchmarks • Ensure that the learning technologist’s work is evident and adds value to the broader University community • 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 learning features • Contribute to the University Online Expert Group and Digital pillar of the Academic Enhancement Committee. Promote the work of the University and make presentations at national and international conferences and support others to do so
In addition to the responsibilities listed above, the job holder may be required to perform other duties as assigned by members of the Exec Board or National Programmes 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 and the University.
PERSON SPECIFICATIONS
Training & Education
Essential • Relevant professional qualification in learning technology or substantial relevant experience • Commitment to continuous professional development
Training & Education
Experience
Desirable • PGCHE or equivalent
Skills & Knowledge
• Member of the Association for Learning Technology • Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Behavioural Skills
Experience
Essential • Previous experience of developing and advising on the production of high-quality, innovative, pedagogically sound, digital learning materials and activities for different modes of delivery • Comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of virtual learning environments, multimedia technologies, simulations, and augmented reality • Successful record of designing and delivering training opportunities and materials to staff and students who have diverse experiences and skills • Working on collaborative transformational curriculum projects adopting a student-centric methodology • Experience in evaluating technologies and systems to understand fitness for purpose Desirable • Previous experience implementing learning analytics projects and other Learning Technology services across an academic institution • Experience in working with learning technologies and pedagogies 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 • Articulate • Augmented & Immersive Reality • Multimedia rich simulations • Working knowledge of basic SQL queries
Behavioural Skills
Essential • Analytical problem solving
• Decision making • Creative thinking • Excellent interpersonal skills • Empathy • Time management with excellent prioritisation skills
• Effective communicator • Impact and influencer
Desirable • Self-improver • Balance between professional and personal life • Patience
Flexibility in working hours will be required to meet demands of the role, particularly in the first 12 months .
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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