For detailed information and to apply for the Preparing to Teach Online course, please visit the following website: http://www.vcu.edu/cte/resources/TeachingOnline/PTTO.html

Contact Joyce Kincannon for more information. jmkincannon@vcu.edu or 804.828.1605

Faculty Vacancy Details
Academic/Administrative Unit: Instruction and Student Success
Department: Center for Teaching Excellence
Date Posted: 4/2/2013
Rank: Instructor
Hire Date: 7/10/2013
Title: Instructional Consultant
Position Number: FAB540
Deadline: Must be postmarked by 05/10/2013
Type of Search: National

Description: Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) is expanding the services it provides in support of the development of its faculty members and graduate students. Reporting to the Co-Director of the CTE, the instructional consultant will have several major responsibilities: consulting with mid- to late-career faculty to help them strengthen their teaching and their students’ learning; working collaboratively with faculty to develop their students’ core competencies such as critical thinking, and effective written and oral communication; and helping demonstrate and share their effective practices through the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). In addition to these major responsibilities, the instructional consultant will be expected to develop interactive workshops and presentations, as well as to contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of Center-wide programs and initiatives. The instructional consultant will also be encouraged to practice and develop his or her own teaching, learning, and scholarship within the University. The Instructional Consultant will routinely apply knowledge of professional best practices to CTE programs and services; work within VCU and CTE policies and guidelines; exercise high levels of collaboration with other units university-wide; make general decisions based upon knowledge and experience, and communicate those decisions to appropriate personnel; and ensure the integration of goals and objectives of the Center for Teaching Excellence.

Qualifications: Minimum of a masters degree, or terminal degree in education, curriculum development, or instructional design is required. Three or more years relevant teaching experience is required. Candidates should be able to demonstrate a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary understanding of learning theories, pedagogy, and educative assessment. Preference will be given to candidates who can successfully translate and apply learning theories to a variety of instructional settings. Knowledge of student engagement strategies and techniques for assessing teaching and learning outcomes are also highly desirable. A background in leadership, especially as it pertains to addressing issues pertaining to mid- and late-career faculty is also preferred. Candidates should have excellent communication skills, facilitation skills, collaborative skills, project management skills, as well as experience in the development of interactive presentations, workshops, and seminars. Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Application Process: Applicants should email a letter of intent, resume, and the names/contact information of three (3) professional references to OVPIHR@vcu.edu. Electronic materials are highly preferred. If you do not have access to email, please send hard copies to Ms. Melissa Koch, Office of the Vice Provost for Instruction and Student Success, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 842015, Richmond, VA 23284. Please do not send duplicates. Our application deadline is May 10, 2013. For consideration, your materials must be emailed or postmarked by that date. For more information about Virginia Commonwealth University, please visit our website at http://www.vcu.edu/about/. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

For Additional Information: Jess Hill
Phone: 804-827-1337
Web: http://www.vcu.edu/cte/

Over the past year, the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) has emerged as a significantly different course model. But how robust is the MOOC as a vehicle for learning?

On April 3 and 4, you are invited to join members of the VCU community in a series of live web-based presentations and participant discussions along the theme, “Learning and the massive open online course (MOOC).” This two-day, Online Spring Focus Session is organized by the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) (http://www.educause.edu/eli).  EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association and the foremost community of IT leaders and professionals committed to advancing higher education.

 Our campus team will be meeting at Harris Hall, Room 5182 or Room 5173 for the sessions. Join your campus colleagues for an important face-to-face dialogue while exchanging ideas with ELI’s national online teaching and learning community. Engage around innovative projects. Collaborate with a community of experts to explore learning and the massive open online course — all without leaving campus.

A total of 13 sessions has been scheduled for our campus participation. If you’d like to join us, please go to the VCU Training Calendar (http://goo.gl/0lRoG) to register for any of the sessions. If you have any questions, please email Yin Kreher at ywkreher@vcu.edu.

Full program details of the ELI can be found online at EDUCAUSE’s website:http://www.educause.edu/eli/events/eli-online-spring-focus-session.

• Dave Dixon (School of Pharmacy; with Evan Sisson), Use of recorded clinic visits to improve preceptor assessment of student-patient encounters;
• Hilary Hughes (School of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning; with Hilary Conklin, DePaul University), A cross-context analysis of compassionate, justice-oriented teacher education practice;
• Cristina Stanciu (College of Humanities and Sciences–Department of English), Digital ethnic literary history at VCU: The Classroom Archive Project (CAP);
• Faedah Totah (L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Policy), Enhancing student learning in INTL 101;
• Jaclyn K. Vick (College of Humanities and Sciences–Department of Biology), Medicinal Botany: Examining the role of plants in healthcare practices from diverse cultures; and
• Angela Wetzel (School of Education, Foundations of Education; with Evelyn Reed-Victor and LaRon Scott), Engaging expert teachers with prospective teachers to promote adaptive expertise.

For more information about the CTE Small Grants Program, including reports from past and current recipients as well as upcoming proposal deadlines, please visit http://www.vcu.edu/cte/programs/small_grants.htm.