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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, 4 high schools and serving over 15,000 families in 2023. We are looking for dynamic people to join our team.
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 to 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.
Reports To: Head of School Achievement
Responsibilities:
Research and Design
- Research, design, or supplement the academic curriculum for all subjects and grades based on successful models and approaches.
- Research new and innovative and cost savvy blended learning curriculum practices globally, regionally and locally.
- 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 across different primary school phases.
- Develop and curate academic content that is aligned with government standards, SPARK’s best practice, and international expectations and benchmarks.
- Document and communicate 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.
- Synthesize 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 a high quality, personalised education program for primary school students.
- Develop content and assessments that meet local government standards, SPARK’s best practice, 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 supports the integration of technology using research-based strategies.
- Provide regular input and updates to the School Achievement Manager’s on scholar accessibility to online resources
- Collaborate with the leadership team on professional development of Blended Learning Facilitators; develop and lead professional development as appropriate.
- Work with IT and Systems and Data and Technology Teams to Support system integrations
- Maintain staff and scholar data related tickets and requests through help portals
- Integrate curricular support with strategies for student social-emotional development.
- Update of school based staff designations in Clever
- Manual Policy update to override SSO for new users
- Contract status verification for Online suspensions
- Generate and manage internal assessment schedules, logistics, and reporting.
Training and Development
- Train on emerging educational technologies, learning analytics
- Maintenance of the Learning Management System content, training and use cases.
- Train, coach, and support blended learning facilitator’s, educators and instructional coaches responsible for blended learning instructional strategies.
- Train and orient SPARK staff members in curriculum and instructional best practice.
- Coordinate the SPARK pre-service training and curriculum professional development with the Director of Leadership Development and the Director of School Design.
- Support and assist teachers to develop instructional strategies and intervention programs that elevate achievement among struggling students.
- Clearly communicate network-wide and school data to school leaders, in order to ensure accurate interpretation of student progress.
Reporting
- Designs and develops script scenarios for soft skills and other training;
- Develops course outline and objectives;
- Maintain project documentation and course folders;
- Assist in writing in-person training materials, and data collection manuals and documents;
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Establish efficacy of SPARK Primary Schools blended learning model by:
- Identifying, measuring, and monitoring progress toward online programmes goals and academic performance targets as established by internal and external stakeholders
- Monitor student performance data and effectiveness of instructional responses and interventions in blended learning programmes.
- Monitor grade-level progress against scope and sequence maps and assessments, using data analysis.
- Evaluate new use cases for Online software for the improvement of processes, data collection, user experience and student achievement.
- Evaluate financial implications of blended learning models for feasibility and short and long-term cost-effectiveness.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree required.
Skills:
- Instructional design: instructional design skills to create engaging and effective online courses and assessments for a blended learning model approach that is aimed at personalized learning.
- Project management: Manage the planning, implementation and evaluation of technology enabled learning in schools with clear timelines and where required to train instructional coaches and teachers on how to use technology.
- Technology integration: Educational technologists use their knowledge of technology to integrate it into the classroom. They can use technology to create
- Problem solving and innovation: Troubleshoot any technical issues in relation to our online programs and scholar and staff systems. Develop innovative and frugal solutions to challenges related to scholars meeting their goals in an technologically enabled environment.
Competencies:
- Ability to lead - Assertively leading Blended Learning in the day-to-day functions and operations with the result of a collaborative, cohesive and efficacy-based system that instills a climate and culture of SERVICE
- Ability to collaborate – Proactively works in partnership with others to achieve a common goal or necessary objective; builds rapport and cooperative relationship with others; establishes and maintains strong relations with employees and teams.
- Ability to communicate effectively – Effectively conveys reliable accurate information so that the recipients clearly understand its intent.
- Ability to be agile – Remain flexible and drive results in a fast paced environment. In combination with strategic thinking, allow for a detail-oriented approach, while maintaining a “big picture” view in order to translate plans into action, and exhibit excellent judgment.
- Ability to navigate - Navigate efficiently through complex information systems and handle large complex data.
- Ability and willingness to take initiative - in order to drive one’s own development and team leadership in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to consolidate feedback - in order to clearly communicate highest leverage action steps.
- Ability to self-direct and prioritize among competing goals
Values: Service, Persistence, Achievement, Responsibility, Kindness
SPARK offers:
- fair market linked remuneration
- performance-based annual bonuses and increases
- above average/good annual leave
- life, disability and funeral cover
- employee wellness support
- educational support & study leave
- individualised professional development, support and mentorship
- employee discount on school fees
- opportunities for career growth
Compensation: Commensurate with experience
Position Type: Permanent
Location: Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa
SPARK schools is an equal opportunities employer and preference will be given to candidates from designated groups with due consideration of the company’s Employment Equity goals and targets.
SPARK schools encourages persons with disabilities to apply.
SPARK Schools may expire the posting of this advertisement at their own discretion.
Kindly note that should you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date please consider your application unsuccessful.
