Educational Technology Specialist

 

Position:   Educational Technology Specialist

For the purposes of ACU's Background Check and Self-Reporting Policy, this position is classified as security sensitive.

Exempt, Full-time

The key principles of this job are to:

1. Support ACU's Mission: Educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.
2. Support ACU's 21^st Century Vision: By 2020, ACU will become the premier university for the education of Christ-centered, global leaders.

Scope: This position works in the Adams Center for Teaching and Learning to diffuse educational technologies and products that enhance teaching and learning at Abilene Christian University. Work involves establishing goals and objectives, devising solutions to academic, administrative and technical problems, managing projects, facilitating communication and developing and evaluating departmental procedures. The person in this position will report to the Educational Technology Project Manager and works directly with others in a dynamic team structure. Skills needed are both technical and administrative in nature.

I. Basic Responsibilities: These are the five major functions of the job.

1. Assist in the implementation and training for educational technology projects such as Mobile Blogging, Student Response Systems, Podcasting, iPhone or iPod touch software and web-based software tools.
2. Assist in the development, installation, and maintenance of audio visual and technological components in classrooms.
3. Engage in the research and development of new technologies for educational application.
4. Assist Educational Technology Project Manager as needed.

II.  Essential Duties include the following. Other duties may be assigned.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

A.  Assist in the implementation and training for educational technology projects such as mobile blogging, student response systems, podcasting, iPhone or iPod touch software and web-based software tools.  

1. Design and develop successful deployment strategies and schedules.
2. Monitor the progress and daily activities of projects.
3. Ensure timeline deadlines are being met.
4. Assist the Adams Center team in decisions related to the adoption of educational technologies/products.
5. Experiment with and configure educational technologies/products.
6. Develop training materials and training sessions to help diffuse educational technologies/products into ACU culture.

B.  Assist in the development, installation, and maintenance of the audio visual and technological components in classrooms.

1. Assess classroom technology needs throughout the ACU campus.
2. Meet with faculty to determine "best use" scenarios for classroom spaces.
3. Assist in the design and installation of new technologies into the classroom.

D.  Engage in the research and development of new technologies for educational application.

1. Stay current on new technologies and techniques through professional publications and Internet research.
2. Develop potential application proposals for the Educational Technology Project Manager.
3. Develop and deliver presentations on new and proposed projects.

E.   Assist the Educational Technology Project Manager as needed

1. Work on projects for the Educational Technology Project Manager as assigned.
2. Advise the Educational Technology Project Manager on educational technologies.
3. Advise the Educational Technology Project Manager of current technological trends that improve or alter teaching and learning.

III. Professional Development Requirements:  These are the minimal skills needed to succeed at this job.

A.  Skills Required

1. Exceptional communication skills.
2. Ability to diffuse innovation into an academic environment.
3. Ability to supervise student and/or other employees.
4. Ability to operate a computer.
5. Ability to create training curriculum, materials, and conduct presentations effectively.
6. Ability to communicate effectively (both oral and written) with a wide range of people including students, faculty and administrators. 
7. Ability to quickly to learn the operation of technological systems and software with little or no outside assistance.
8. Ability to work as a productive member of a team.

B.   Training Modules Required:

1. None.  It is expected that individualized training will be needed based upon a persons existing skill set. Individualized and on-the-job training will be provided as required.

IV.  Qualifications: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required to perform this job.

A.  Professional

1. Ability to quickly learn new computer and Web 2.0 applications as well as basic database programming, website development, blogs, and wikis.
2. Basic Project Management.
3. General budgeting and fiscal management.
4. Supervisory skills.
5. Time management skills.
6. Ability to use a computer to communicate with others regarding project timelines and progress.
7. B.A. or B.S. degree or equivalent work experience of 5 years.
8. Teaching experience preferred.

B.  Personal

1. Communicate orally.
2. Communicate in written form.
3. Strong interpersonal skills.
4. Work in a team setting.
5. Supervise student and/or other employees.
6. Coordinate projects among large numbers personnel.
7. Lead meetings.
8. Establish goals and objectives.
9. Meet deadlines.
10. Devise solutions to administrative problems.
11. Devise solutions to technical problems.
12. Understanding of the purpose of the University, a loyalty to the job, the University and the administration.

C.  ACU is affiliated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ. This position requires the employee to be a professing Christian and to be willing to support the Christian mission of ACU.

V.  Physical Demands: These are physical demands that are regularly required to perform this job.

1. The ability to operate a computer or mobile media device where adaptive technologies have not yet been provided by the manufacturer or a third party.
2. The ability to operate a computer for extended periods of time.

I understand that our mission at Abilene Christian University is to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world. Because of ACU's commitment to this principle and my commitment to God, people and learning, my actions will exemplify integrity, service, stewardship, involvement, and excellence.

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