Part-Time Online Instructor

Black Studies Online; United States; Remote; USD 13,000 - 58,000; Part time

Job summary

Black Studies Online invites part-time online instructors to design and deliver engaging courses on African American studies and related topics. Candidates should create rigorous online experiences, manage discussions, and participate in live webinars while meeting the organization's mission and quality standards.

The role supports course creation, student feedback, and faculty development, with pay tied to course enrollment per section and flexible scheduling for evenings/weekends.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher from an accredited university or higher education teaching experience (Educators).
• Bachelor’s degree or higher for Business Professionals plus relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Create online courses using PowerPoint or video lectures and develop syllabi.
• Load classes weekly onto the Black Studies Online website and assist marketing/enrollment.
• Provide students with weekly assignments, feedback, and discussion participation.
• Participate in online faculty training and orientation.

Skills

Mission alignment

Subject expertise

Online teaching

Teaching passion

Course creation

Technical ability

Classroom management

Education

Master’s degree or higher

Bachelor’s degree (Business track)

Tools

PowerPoint

Video lectures

Job description

Black Studies Online is a new internet educational company offering courses on the Black experience to the general public. Utilizing a 10-week schedule, classes will begin January 2014 and will be offered in ongoing sessions throughout the year.

Black Studies Online presents a new model for student interaction and engagement in an online setting, as well as presenting a new model of Community Teaching in which instructors engage with a student population outside of the traditional academy. The Mission of Black Studies Online is to:

• Create a collaborative online community founded on the wisdom of the Black Experience and grounded in decades of scholarship;
• Create courses aimed at illuminating the contributions of the ancestors, as well as analyzing and interpreting our contemporary situation;
• Create a safe space where people who want to learn more about Black people can engage in honest discourse and thoughtful discussion with educational and professional leaders.

About the Position

Black Studies Online invites applicants who have experience in either the academy or in professional fields to apply for Part-Time Online Instructors. We are searching for dynamic and talented instructors who are capable of creating a rewarding online experience for our students. An ideal BSO instructor is someone who has:

• an understanding of the mission of Black Studies Online and how that mission is reflected in their course;
• experience and/or expertise in a relevant topic or field of study;
• experience teaching (online a plus);
• a passion for teaching and belief in the value of their course;
• the time to commit to creating a rigorous yet engaging online course;
• the technical ability to create such a course;
• the time to dedicate to full participation in classroom management via monitoring discussion blogs and weekly videoconferences.

We are looking for instructors who teach the following subject areas:

African American Politics Hip-Hop Culture

Social Movements and Social Action Community Building and Engagement

Black Males and Masculinity History of Black Women

For Business Professionals, we are seeking courses that discuss:

Personal Finance and Investing African Americans and the Law

Anger Management Navigating the Criminal Justice System

Parenting Skills Interpersonal Communication Skills

Instructors are to create online courses using either Power Point, digital videotape of lectures, or a combination of both. All classes, which include syllabi and course description, must be approved by Black Studies Online staff prior to student enrollment. Candidates must show a commitment to teaching excellence, as evidenced by outstanding course assessments, teaching or professional evaluations, or outstanding presentation skills.

Part-time Instructors can teach up to four classes per 10-week unit. These can be four distinct courses, or up to four sections of one class.

Candidates with prior experience creating and managing online courses are preferred.

Responsibilities of the Position

The primary responsibilities of instructors can be categorized into three areas – Course Creation, Student Assignments and Feedback, and Faculty Training. The essential duties include:

Course Creation

• Create courses suitable for an online platform, either via Power Point (or some other presentation software) or through digital videotaped lectures;
• Prepare course description and syllabi;
• Load classes weekly onto the Black Studies Online Website;
• Aid in the marketing and enrollment of their classes.

Student Assignments and Feedback

• Conduct dynamic classroom discussions via the Black Studies Online website Discussion Forums;
• Provide weekly assignments in the form of discussion questions, individual writing assignments, private journals, outside readings, quizzes or examinations;
• Provide timely and actionable student feedback;
• Monitor class attendance and discussion boards for disruptive behavior as identified by the policies established by Black Studies Online;
• Respond to student questions in weekly live Webinar sessions.

Faculty Development

• Complete Black Studies Online New Faculty Orientation before commencing online instruction.
• Participate in online faculty training and online faculty development meetings and workshops.

All instructors will be paid based on a scale of 20% of course enrollment for each course section.

Preferred Qualifications

For Educators, the successful candidate will have:

• a Master’s degree or higher from an accredited university;
• one full year of teaching in higher education;
• evidence of excellence in teaching in the form of teaching evaluations;
• a strong record of student advising and university service.

For Business Professionals, the successful candidate will have:

• a Bachelor’s Degree or higher from an accredited college or university;
• five years of professional experience in your chosen field;
• experience in public speaking and/or giving presentations;
• an active record of professional achievement;
• two years of committed service with a volunteer organization.

Technical Requirements

• A PC with Windows 7 or higher or Mac OS X;
• 20GB Hard Drive; 256 MB RAM; 1.6 GHZ or faster;
• A Monitor capable of 1024 x 768 video resolution;
• A computer Video Camera;
• A Sound Card, Speakers, and Microphone;
• A High-Speed Internet Connection;
• Microsoft Office 2010 or higher;
• Adobe Acrobat Reader;
• Anti-Virus Software.

Other skills

• excellent writing, speaking and presentation skills, with use of proper grammar within the internet platform;
• strong interpersonal communication skills;
• creative, innovative and strategic thinking, effective listening, and problem solving skills;
• excellent time management skills with an ability to set and meet deadlines;
• the ability to work independently and within a flexible schedule that could include evenings and weekends;
• the ability to work with a diverse student body and the non-traditional learner;
• the capacity to exercise mature, sound judgment.

Black Studies Online is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women, minority candidates, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Deadline

Applications are currently being accepted. The review process will begin January 31, 2014 and will continue until the positions have been filled.