Instructional Technologist

Job Description

Job Description

OUTSTANDING BENEFITS UNLIKE ANY OTHER. Low-cost health benefits, 403b employer contribution, affordable tuition at Niagara University for you and eligible immediate family members, tuition exchange at other designated universities for eligible dependent children, generous holidays (20 days annually), PTO, and ½ day Fridays throughout the summer. Niagara University is also an approved employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Campus life is vibrant and offers free parking, on-site dining options, and fresh coffee at Tim Horton's and Starbucks, all in a beautiful park-like setting . If you'd like to know more, check out all of the NU Facts .

JOB SUMMARY:

Under general supervision, the Instructional Technologist supports faculty, staff, and students in using campus-wide instructional technologies, including the learning management system, Google Workspace, Office 365, web conferencing, generative AI, and other tools that enhance teaching and learning. The technologist also designs and delivers in-person and online training sessions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Build collaborative relationships with faculty, staff, and students to support in-person and online teaching and learning.
• Assist faculty, staff, and students in effectively using instructional technologies.
• Provide personalized, ongoing support to faculty in designing and enhancing courses.
• Offer expertise on best practices and emerging trends in instructional technology.
• Guide faculty and staff in creating accessible course materials.
• Develop and deliver workshops, webinars, and one-on-one training sessions on instructional technologies for faculty, staff, and students.
• Create and maintain documentation, tutorials, multimedia content, and other resources to promote effective use of instructional technologies.
• Collaborate with vendors, IT staff, Library staff, and users to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to instructional technologies.
• Conduct classroom visits to assist faculty in understanding and effectively using instructional technologies such as AV systems, projectors, and interactive displays.
• Provide occasional dedicated drop-in assistance to students in the Library, focusing primarily on setting up printers on their devices and helping them download required software.
• Serve as a Canvas Administrator and the primary escalation contact for student-facing LMS and exam proctoring issues.
• Monitor emerging trends and best practices in instructional and emerging technologies, recommending and promoting new tools or approaches to enhance learning.
• Market departmental services and manage the department's website, YouTube channel, and other outreach platforms.
• Provide administrative support to the Committee on College Teaching and Learning, including conference planning.
• Ensure strict confidentiality of student and faculty interactions and sensitive information encountered during professional duties.
• Contribute expertise to University operations through active participation in committees, task forces, and working groups.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job duties. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

% OF TIME

50%

Support faculty, staff, and students in using instructional technology through consultations and other collaborative engagements.

25%

Develop and deliver workshops, webinars, and tutorials for faculty, staff, and students on instructional technologies.

10%

Stay informed about emerging instructional technologies, evaluate their potential applications, and advocate for their adoption when appropriate to enhance teaching and learning.

10%

Serve on University committees and other collaborative groups.

5%

Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to be flexible with schedule, including occasional nights and weekend hours.
• Demonstrated knowledge of instructional technology and its integration into teaching and learning.
• Demonstrated experience supporting Learning Management Systems, such as Canvas or similar platforms.
• Demonstrated knowledge of web conferencing, such as Zoom and Google Meet.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in higher education teaching and learning.
• Ability to train faculty, staff, and students effectively in one-on-one and in workshop settings.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards (for example, WCAG, ADA, Section 508) and Universal Design Principles.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with a diverse population of students, faculty and students.
• Ability to create and maintain collaborative relationships and partnerships.
• Able to work independently to identify, prioritize, and resolve instructional technology challenges, ensuring timely support for faculty, staff, and students.
• Commitment to service excellence.
• Commitment to fostering inclusive and equitable educational practices.
• Ability to occasionally travel off-campus in the United States and Canada to support faculty, staff, and students in other locations, particularly Vaughan, Ontario.

ERGONOMIC REQUIREMENTS:

The core functions include using a computer and software applications, participating in meetings that may involve moving from one location to another, and communicating with faculty, staff, and students. The ergonomic requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

QUALIFICATION STANDARDS:

Required

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university.
• Minimum of 2 years teaching or training experience.
• Proficiency in instructional technology platforms, including learning management systems (e.g. Canvas), conferencing software (e.g. Zoom), and other tools that enhance teaching and learning.

Preferred

• Master's degree in an education or technology-related field from a regionally accredited university.
• Experience with instructional design, including curriculum development and assessment strategies