Summary and Scope of Position:

The Instructional Design Librarian is a strategic partner in advancing future-oriented, digitally fluent course design across the curriculum. Working closely with faculty and the Teaching & Learning co-chairs, this role brings expertise in instructional design, emerging pedagogies, and digital literacy to co-create transformative learning experiences that prepare students for an evolving world. Using pedagogical best practices, especially in the development of problem-based and inquiry-driven learning activities, the Instructional Design Librarian will collaborate with faculty colleagues to support student success and engagement across the disciplines.

In collaboration with the Teaching & Learning Institute and its co-chairs, the Instructional Design Librarian will co-lead pedagogical innovation efforts by designing and facilitating instructional design workshops, exploring cutting-edge tools, and helping shape curricular strategies that promote inclusive, inquiry-driven learning. The Instructional Design Librarian will lead campus-wide digital literacy initiatives, working with the library, faculty, and academic programs to integrate essential digital skills into course and program design.

The Instructional Design Librarian also spearheads campus-wide efforts to lower student course costs by advancing the adoption, adaptation, and creation of Open Educational Resources (OERs) by Ursinus faculty. They are a curious and inventive individual who provides leadership and vision for the growth of OER initiatives and services on behalf of the library and in collaboration with campus partners.

As a member of the Myrin Library staff, the Instructional Design Librarian contributes to departmental services and projects and collaborates closely with colleagues in the library, especially the Instructional Technology Librarian. Together, these two librarians plan overall instructional strategies with the Librarian of the College. Additionally, the Instructional Design Librarian participates on relevant library project teams, on College committees in an at-large capacity when elected, and in professional organizations; leads the conversation related to student course material access; and seeks external grant opportunities that further OER goals.

The Instructional Design Librarian works with all of the other librarians to provide a patron-oriented team approach to collection management and information services for the campus community and serves as a library liaison to departments for which they have expertise or special knowledge.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Partner with Teaching & Learning co-chairs and faculty across disciplines to design forward-thinking courses that integrate digital literacy, universal design principles, and student-centered pedagogies.
• Support and assist faculty members across the disciplines in the development of their courses, employing sound instructional design practices, with a particular focus on problem-based learning, and also including (but not limited to): learning modules, videos, research guides, infographics, and instructional materials.
• Work closely with the Teaching & Learning Institute to design workshops on universal design, instructional technology, open educational resources, pedagogical strategies and other relevant topics.
• Maintain awareness of the instructional design landscape to monitor evolving best practices and pedagogical methodologies.
• Provide in-depth instructional design consultations and workshops.
• Communicate with the campus community about developments in instructional design, Open Educational Resources (OERs), and digital fluency.
• Support the discovery, adoption, adaption, creation, and publishing of open, accessible, and affordable course content; provide training and outreach on OERs and course material affordability; explore/develop strategies for effectively engaging faculty and graduate students with OERs.
• Identify the needs of OER authors/adapters around sharing and publishing open course materials and recommend software; in collaboration with the Associate Director of Preservation, Digitization and Discovery Services, provide guidance to authors on copyright, open licensing, and fair use.
• Create and maintain web and print content to promote the visibility of OER initiatives.
• Identify library resources that could be used as affordable learning materials and work with faculty to support the adoption of these materials in courses.
• Provide research help to students, faculty, staff and community members.
• Provide library instruction within subject assignments and assist with collection development.

Competencies:

The incumbent shall possess personal and professional characteristics:

• Commitment to service philosophies that support all library and information services to a diverse population of Ursinus College faculty, students and staff.
• Excellent written, oral and listening skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as participating in staff work groups and teams.
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, visiting scholars and researchers.
• Flexibility, creativity and patience working in a collaborative, complex and ever-changing work environment.
• Attention to detail.

Qualifications:

Required

• An ALA-accredited MLS or MLIS degree or a Master’s degree in Instructional Design or a Master’s degree or higher with relevant experiences with instructional design and/or OER development.
• Experience designing or assisting in the design of instruction in the educational field.
• Knowledge of open educational resources, practices, and trends.
• Experience managing/leading collaborative projects or programs.
• Ability and willingness to learn new tools, skills, and software as needed to support innovative course design and the development of accessible open educational resources.

Also of value:

• Experience in higher education and a knowledge of the economic challenges and barriers faced by students.
• Experience with instructional design, professional development in non-academic professional environments.
• Experience with OER creation and/or adaption.
• Experience providing research, teaching, or scholarship support to faculty.
• Knowledge of universal design principles.
• Experience creating accessible and inclusive educational materials.
• Experience developing workshops and/or training materials.

Work Environment:

The position requires a secure and lockable office with computer network connections, adequate space for occasional special collections and exhibit preparation processes, adequate space to consult with students, faculty, staff, and visiting scholars and researchers, permanent and temporary shelving space for books, manuscripts, prints and artworks.

The work environment also requires secure filing space for storing and archiving confidential documents, and privacy for meetings and advising consultations with student advisees.

About Ursinus College

Ursinus College is a selective, independent, co-educational, residential liberal arts college of approximately 1500 students located about 25 miles northwest of center city Philadelphia. With a diverse community of students, it is an expectation of all faculty to contribute to the inclusion, engagement, and success of all students.

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