Instructional Designer

University of the Cumberlands; United States; Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of the Cumberlands seeks an instructional designer to support its online courses and faculty development, ensuring high-quality online learning experiences.

The Designer reports to the Director of Instructional Design, assisting with course design, accessibility, and the use of active learning strategies to foster engagement and community among online students.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Instructional Design or related field.
• Master's degree preferred in Instructional Design and Technology or related field.
• Experience with distance learning and instructional technology.
• Experience with online course development and assessment of student outcomes.
• Experience with LMS platforms (Blackboard, Desire2Learn, Moodle, Canvas).
• Experience integrating publisher content and accessibility guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Develop and revise online education plans and curricula with faculty input.
• Implement unified course formats for seamless online learning.
• Assist online faculty in course development and implementation.
• Design courses to meet accessibility guidelines for the online environment.
• Apply active learning strategies to boost interaction and community.
• Collaborate with faculty to apply adult learning principles and assessment strategies.
• Support face-to-face faculty for online teaching methods when needed.
• Review courses and develop a schedule to ensure ongoing quality.
• Deliver faculty development on LMS use and online teaching best practices.
• Develop student training for LMS and online learning enhancements.
• Coordinate with university offices to improve online education experiences.

Skills

Excellent communicator

Strong work ethic

Multitasking

Customer service

Education

Bachelor's degree required

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Blackboard

Desire2Learn

Moodle

Canvas

Job description

Get Set for Cumberlands! Join our team of student-focused individuals working together in order to encourage intellectual and spiritual growth, leadership and service. CURRENT STUDENT or EMPLOYEE?

University of the Cumberlands seeks an instructional designer to support the University's online courses and programs and professional development support for faculty.

The Designer reports to the Director of Instructional Design and assists with the instructional design of online courses and programs. The Designer is responsible for ensuring that the quality of the online courses is strong and is consistent with face to face offerings.

This position has the potential to be a hybrid set-up with face-to-face office hours as well as working remotely.

The University of the Cumberlands is a faith-based institution that welcomes students from all backgrounds. Its mission is to offer high-quality academic programs that empower its graduates to 'seek a life-more-abundant.'

Specific responsibilities:

• Works with the Director of Instructional Design to develop and revise responsive plans within departmental Assessment Reports for initiatives in online education, and to revise online curriculum, as needed.
• Works closely with faculty to implement unified course format and packaging to provide students with seamless and user-friendly online learning as they take different courses.
• Provides assistance to online faculty in all stages of course development and implementation.
• Designs courses to meet accessibility guidelines for the online environment.
• Integrates the use of active learning strategies to enhance interaction, engagement, social presence, and build a sense of community in online courses.
• Works with faculty to design courses based on adult learning principles with the use of interactive learning activities and assessment strategies to promote critical thinking skills.
• Provides assistance to face-to-face faculty, as needed, for the use of online teaching and learning methods to supplement face-to-face classes.
• Assesses courses in the context of online best practices and makes recommendations for improving online courses.
• Reviews courses before implementation and develops a review schedule to ensure the high-quality delivery of course content over time.
• Design and deliver faculty development initiatives related to, but not limited to, the use of the LMS, best practices for teaching online, innovative teaching strategies, accessibility guidelines, universal design techniques, and onboarding new faculty.
• Develop student training related to the use of the LMS or other relevant areas to enhance the student's online experience.
• Communicates with other university offices to coordinate support for online faculty, students, and potential students in an attempt to make the entire online education experience in the University's programs more user-friendly, effective, and seamless.
• Collaborates with IT to recommend and evaluate technologies relevant to online learning.
• Consults with the office of Marketing and Communications to ensure website addresses online opportunities and services.
• Keeps abreast of new developments and research in online education, and shares this information with faculty as appropriate.

Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree preferred in Instructional Design and Technology, Instructional Systems, Educational Systems, Educational Technology, or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
• Significant, demonstrated experience in the field may be substituted for formal education.
• Experience directly related to distance learning and/or instructional technology.
• Experience in online course development and/or in teaching in an online environment, including assessment of student outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience with one or more of the major LMS, including Blackboard, Desire2Learn, Moodle, or Canvas.
• Preference is given to Blackboard experience.
• Experience implementing distance-learning initiatives and/or creating a strategic vision for integrating new technologies for better learning outcomes for students.
• Significant experience with the integration of pre-packaged publisher content into online courses, including Cengage, Pearson, and McGraw Hill.
• Experience with accessibility guidelines in the online environment.
• Strong work ethic with demonstrated collaborative and coordinative skills.
• Ability to handle multiple projects in fast paced environment.
• Excellent communicator in both oral and written communication
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience providing professional development to faculty relevant to both online and/or face to face instruction
• Successful teaching experience at the graduate level
• Administrative experience
• Record of professional and scholarly productivity
• Professional Organization Involvement

Job Location: Main Campus or Remote

Compensation: Commensurate with expertise and experience

Benefits: Yes Cumberlands is different by design. Our employees exemplify our motto in the pursuit of a 'life-more-abundant.' Located in the heart of Appalachia, University of the Cumberlands (UC) is an institution of regional distinction that offers undergraduate degrees in more than 40 major fields of study, along with several pre-professional, graduate and doctoral programs. With a total enrollment of more than 20,000 students, UC is one of the largest and fastest growing private universities in Kentucky and is devoted to preparing students for the future through hands-on, experiential learning and research.

The University of the Cumberlands does not illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, religion, genetic information, veteran status, because a person is a smoker or nonsmoker, or any other basis on which the University is prohibited from discrimination under local, state, or federal law, in its employment or in the provision of its services, including but not limited to its programs and activities, admissions, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other University -administered programs. In order to fulfill its purpose, the University may legally discriminate on the basis of religion in employment, and the University has sought and been granted exemption from certain regulations promulgated under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 which conflict with the University's religious tenets.