High School Educational Technologist - SPARK Schools Support - 2023
SPARK Schools, South Africa
Job Description
SPARK Schools is a social impact disruptor and is leading change in the education space through its network of affordable private schools. The SPARK Schools network provides transformational education innovation through Africa’s first blended learning model, which elevates student achievement and provides the tools teachers need to serve their students effectively.
The blended learning model, which combines classroom teaching and online instruction, allows teachers to anticipate student needs and equips schools to provide personalized education at an affordable cost. SPARK Schools is pioneering this transformative education model to ensure the accessibility of university and careers for all.
SPARK Schools is a high growth, mission and values-driven entrepreneurial organisation, operating 20 primary schools and 4 high schools and serving over 15,000 families in 2023. We are looking for dynamic people to join our team.
Requirements
Purpose of Role:
The Educational Technologist drives student achievement in the SPARK Schools network by being the custodian of the SPARK Schools’ blended learning education model. The Educational Technologist supports SPARK Schools by developing, designing and implementing instructional systems that are aligned and integrated into the classroom curriculum and online learning for the improvement of the learning process. The Educational Technologist will monitor and evaluate the functionality and effectiveness of the Blended Learning Models and technologies used to support the model and improve on those identified gaps, where required. This includes computer hardware and software, developing e-Learning courses and projects, creating instruction videos, and sometimes setting up Learning Management Systems. Identifying the best technology for each individual classroom application is key.
The High School Educational Technologist is the custodian of the SPARK Schools’ blended learning education model and the curriculum custodian for Technology subjects (e.g. CAT/IT/EGD).
Reports To: High School Product Lead
Responsibilities:
- Primary Subjects: Computer application studies, Information technology 8 to 12
- Secondary Subjects/Areas: Will be added as the product develops; the subject will be in the technology field of study.
Design
- Research, design, or supplement the academic curriculum for all subjects and grades based on successful models and approaches.
- Research new and innovative curriculum practices.
- Participate in the design and implementation of systems to assess student achievement.
- Lead the refinement and articulation of long-term sustainability, scalability, and operating principles of the SPARK Schools' blended learning models.
- Select and evaluate blended learning programs and ensure that the schools have research-based programs that are likely to accelerate performance.
- Align the academic curriculum with government standards, SPARK’s best practices, and international expectations and benchmarks.
- Document and communicate the scope and sequence for each grade level and subject, in conjunction with internal assessments.
- Actively seek innovative practices and new technologies to improve instructional systems and practices.
- Synthesise research around the effectiveness of blended learning models, internal best practices, and challenges to design and pilot a hybrid learning model that aligns with SPARK's instructional practices, beliefs and values and delivers strong student achievement results.
- Spearhead future blended learning pilots to test and inform models for wide-scale implementation to provide students with a high-quality, personalised education program.
- Develop content and assessments that meet local government standards, SPARK’s best practices, and international expectations and benchmarks.
- Responsible for the design and procurement of Learning Lab and Flex space collateral and/or input to any changes or requirements
- Responsible for identifying quality content providers.
- Responsible for actively engaging with content providers and releases.
- Responsible for budget planning and supplier payments and/or input to any changes or requirements.
Implementation
- Lead the implementation of blended learning models that support technology integration using research-based strategies.
- Provide regular input and updates to the School Achievement Managers on scholar accessibility to online resources.
- Collaborate with the leadership team on the professional development of Blended Learning Facilitators; develop and lead professional development as appropriate.
- Support system integrations
- Maintain tickets and requests through help portals