Instructional Designer - Blended and Digital Learning

Aga Khan University; United States; Remote; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Aga Khan University is seeking an Instructional Designer to support the Network of Quality, Teaching and Learning. The role focuses on redesigning face-to-face courses for online delivery and developing new blended courses with a global reach.

You will mentor team members, lead professional development on online course design and technology-enhanced learning, and work with faculty to improve the student learning experience across AKU locations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• 3+ years of instructional design experience in higher education or related setting.
• Strong knowledge of learning theories and instructional design practices.
• Experience with designing for online/blended learning environments.
• Ability to write instructional text, audio and video scripts in English.
• Ability to work virtually from a distance.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and communication skills.
• Knowledge of trends and practices in online teaching and assessment.

Responsibilities

• Plan, manage and evaluate instructional design projects with cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts to assess needs and target audiences.
• Design learning approaches reflecting diverse AKU student populations.
• Establish learning goals and create content aligning to outcomes.
• Develop engaging activities, multimedia content and assessments.
• Mentor colleagues in instructional design practices.
• Support faculty in online course design and curriculum reviews.
• Produce guides and manuals for faculty and students.
• Plan projects to ensure quality online teaching and learning experiences.
• Promote collaboration among Academic team, IT, AV and Library.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Virtual work

Attention to detail

English writing

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

HTML basics

Job description

Instructional Designer - Blended and Digital Learning

Entity

Network of Quality, Teaching and Learning

Location

Global

Introduction

Chartered in 1983, Aga Khan University (AKU, www.aku.edu) is a private, autonomous and self-governing international university, with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries over three continents. An integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org), AKU provides higher education in multiple health science and social science disciplines, carries out research pertinent primarily to low- and middle-income countries and operates 7 hospitals (soon 8) and over 325 outreach clinics, all at international standards. It has almost 2,500 students and 14,000 staff. The University is both a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change. As a leading international institution dedicated to excellence and change, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact and access.

The AKU-wide Network of Quality, Teaching and Learning, set up by the Provost in 2013, aim to support excellence in our academic programmes to ensure a strong student learning experience that enables AKU graduates to meet their programme learning outcomes.

The incumbent will provide instructional design support and mentor members of the team on instructional design practices. He/she will assist faculty with the re-design of face-to-face courses for online teaching, and also assist in the development of new online and blended courses. In addition, the incumbent will facilitate professional development activities (e.g. workshops), with regard to online course design, online teaching, and technology-enhanced learning.

The position is global serving all AKU locations, situated within the Network of Quality, Teaching and Learning and reporting to the Director of Blended and Digital Learning.

Whilst we would welcome the role holder to be based in Pakistan or Kenya, location is not specified as the Instructional Designer could work virtually.

Responsibilities

• Plan, manage and evaluate instructional design projects through collaborative course design teams
• Work with subject matter experts to conduct needs assessment and identify and describe target population
• Design learning approaches that reflect an understanding of the diversity of AKU students, including the demonstrated understanding of linguistic and cultural differences
• Establish learning goals/outcomes and create content that matches them
• Consult, analyze, and create engaging learning activities and compelling course content (e.g. audio, video, simulations, role plays, games etc.)
• Visualize instructional graphics, the user interface and the finished product
• Analyze and apply learning theories and instructional design practice and technologies
• Devise modes of assessment to measure the effectiveness of the course
• Maintain project documentation and course folders
• Develop M&E strategies for all online courses to demonstrate impact and effectiveness.
• Plan and manage projects to ensure engaging online teaching and learning experience
• Promote collaboration, partnership and relationships among the various stakeholders in the design projects (e.g. Academic team, IT-AC, AV, Library)
• Communicate effectively with a wide-range of audiences and deliver engaging presentations to the program leaders
• Advise faculty on courses and curriculum reviews for online teaching
• Create guides and manuals for faculty and students
• Suggest new tools and techniques for online teaching and learning
• Align instructional design projects with overall QTL_net’s strategic priorities
• Mentor others in the area of instructional design
• Conduct research and publish outcomes

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
  
• Previous working experience in instructional design in higher education setting for at least three years
• In-depth knowledge of learning theories and instructional design practices
• Experience of working in a higher education setting (e.g. community college, university)
• Ability to write instructional text, audio and video scripts in English
• Ability to work virtually from a distance
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Basic HTML programming knowledge
• Must have an eye for detail
• Ability to work in teams and resolve differences
• Knowledge of trends, issues, and accepted practices relevant to the position
• Data collection and analysis skills
• Skills to conduct formative and summative program evaluation
• Sensitive to multi-cultural settings