Job Description

The Technical Teaching Assistant (techTA) team is a small group of graduate assistants from the Instructional Learning Technologies (ILT) MA program at the CU Denver School of Education & Human Development (SEHD).  They are instructional designers, technologists, and teachers.  They are master builders.  Each semester techTAs are individually assigned to faculty, programs, or projects where they serve as consultants and assistants on course design, media production, tech support, training, and etc.

techTAs are required to exhibit agility and diversity with technologies, pedagogies, and people.  They assess and adapt.  techTAs evaluate a client’s needs and goals; and meet them where they reside.  They work with a range of personalities, skill sets, biases, and competing priorities.  They assume a moderate degree of project management responsibility with their clients; in the definition of outcomes, the achievement of milestones, the nudging of people, and the completion of tasks.

techTAs work with a large degree of independence, often telecommuting.  They work in-synch with their clients’ schedules, needs, routines, and work-style.  They check-in with their supervisor routinely/weekly in providing updates, requesting guidance or resources, and reporting on progress.

In addition to individual project assignments, the techTAs operate as a community of practice; sharing effective practices, collaborating on projects, and exploring critical digital pedagogies.  The team meets collectively and routinely to share, laugh, solve, and plan.

Supervision and oversight is provided by the SEHD Dean of Information & Academic Technology with input, guidance, and mentorship from a variety of SEHD faculty.

techTAs are able to hone their craft and get real-world experience in their profession; while serving the university.  They build their personal professional portfolios and gain mentorship/apprenticeship with faculty, staff, and administration; while serving the university.

Required Qualifications (all of the following):

• Experience as a student or instructor in an online or hybrid course.
• Knowledge of online course design principles and ideals of effective practice.
• Agility and flexibility with people, technologies, meetings, and projects.
• Interest and ability to learn new things. Explore. Test. Try.
• Must have or establish an online portfolio (Domain of One’s Own).
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team.
• Responsibility.

Preferred Qualifications (any of the following):

• Knowledge and advocacy for critical digital pedagogy.
• Experience course-building in a Learning Management System (Canvas,  Blackboard, Moodle, Brightspace, etc.)
• Experience with digital media (Audio, Video, Graphic Design, Streaming, etc.)
• Experience with web development (HTML, WordPress, Javascript, etc.)
• Experience with social media (Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc.)
• Experience with open source (Google Apps, Audacity, Storymap, etc.)
• Experience integrating/remixing systems (IFTT, Embeds, RSS syndication, etc.)
• Be playful and experimental (Aris, Construct2, SoundCloud, etc.)
• Be interested in learning, teaching and learning-experience-design using any of these tools.