Instructional Technology Designer

Department

OPS ITS - Learning Design

About the Department

IT Services (ITS) collaborates with campus partners to support the mission of the University of Chicago through the consistent delivery of high-quality solutions and services. We provide secure, stable, and reliable infrastructure and applications that support the mission of the University. ITS supports and enables faculty research and teaching with the effective use of technology, simplifies the technology experience for all users, identifies, manages, and mitigates technology risks for the University.

Job Summary

The Instructional Technology Designer develops and supports technology used in teaching and learning. Partners with faculty on curriculum design, course development, and instructional technology strategies grounded in accepted instructional theories and principles. Creates training programs, documentation, and online reference materials to help instructors, students, and staff use academic tools effectively. Supports the campus learning management system (Canvas) and related systems. Monitors trends in educational technology and explores innovative approaches to teaching and learning needs. Works with other units across campus to aggregate services in an academic context. Increasingly, this includes supporting the responsible use of generative AI in teaching, learning, and academic integrity contexts.

The Instructional Technology Designer (ITD) supports the integration of technology in teaching and learning, research and other scholarly endeavors. The successful candidate for the ITD position thinks creatively about using technology in an educational setting and works well in a dynamic, collaborative team, often including staff from the Library, Chicago Center for Teaching, or academic units. With some direction from others, the ITD provides professional support to faculty and solves straightforward problems in the development, deployment, and support of technology used in teaching and learning.

Responsibilities

• Supports the effective use of technology in a variety of academic activities.
• Works closely with faculty to understand their IT needs with regard to teaching, research, and scholarship.
• Conducts individual faculty consultations and group workshops on instructional design methods and using technology in teaching.
• Assists in organizing, planning, and publicizing events that excite faculty and students and encourage innovative uses of technology in academic pursuits.
• Develops working relationships with administrators, librarians, museum educators, research specialists, teaching center staff, and other colleagues across campus who support faculty.
• Collaborates with other units across campus to continually improve academic platforms, tools, services, and processes.
• Provides ongoing support to faculty on the effective use of existing academic tools and platforms.
• Evaluates, supports, and helps faculty responsibly adopt emerging technologies for teaching and learning, including generative AI tools, exam security software, such as Respondus, and AI-content detection tools, such as Pangram.
• Monitors and analyzes emerging trends in educational technology and online learning, identifies opportunities, and explores innovative approaches to teaching and learning problems.
• Partners with faculty developing AI-assisted applications, projects, or course materials, helping refine and scale them.
• With some direction from others, performs a variety of IT activities supporting an e-learning environment, such as designing curriculum content.
• Identifies existing content and converts it into an e-learning environment, then creates user support materials.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's degree in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Work Experience:

2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

• --

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master's degree in instructional design, instructional technology or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum three years of experience in instructional technology and/or working with university instructors in support of their teaching with technology.
• Supporting the use of technology for teaching and learning such as blogging tools, communication tools, assessment tools, including PrairieLearn, Gradescope, etc., and learning management systems, such as Canvas.
• Developing or supporting online courses or blended/hybrid courses.
• Developing training materials and documentation.
• Communicating with users of greatly varying technical knowledge, including senior administration, faculty, staff, or students.
• Supporting or evaluating generative AI tools in a teaching and learning context.
• Supporting or evaluating academic integrity and exam security platforms, such as Respondus and Pangram, in an academic setting.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Knowledge of instructional design methods and theory.
• Demonstrated understanding of emerging trends in education and technology, including digital learning, learning management systems, generative AI, and social technologies.
• Demonstrated understanding of web technologies and digital media.
• Demonstrated proficiency in M365 apps, including Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong written and oral communication skills for internal and external seminars, colloquia, presentations, and workshops.
• Resourceful in partnering with colleagues in ITS and around the University.
• Flexible in performing an array of duties critical to the success of projects and services.
• Demonstrated record of working successfully in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Show initiative, take feedback and some direction from others.
• Demonstrated curiosity and enthusiasm for learning new technologies, with an adaptable, good-humored approach to challenges and working with others.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work schedule, onsite and remote as determined by business needs.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• References Contact Information (3) (preferred)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Information Technology

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$81,000.00 - $85,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.