Social Sciences Research and Digital Learning Liaison, Wheaton College, Norton, MA

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

The Social Sciences Research & Digital Learning Liaison serves as a research consultant, an instructional technology specialist, an educator, and a frequent point of contact to faculty and students in the Social Sciences within a merged library/information technology organization. The person in this position facilitates the use of information resources and technology in teaching, learning, and scholarship for faculty and students in the Social Sciences departments and some interdisciplinary programs.  As a member of the Research and Instruction Liaison Team, this librarian/instructional technologist is responsible for research consultations and instructional services for his/her assigned areas. The person in this position also actively engages with the college’s technology-enhanced teaching and learning initiatives. S/he introduces and implements improvements to make the best use of technology in teaching, including course logistics, content delivery, course discussion, and student collaboration. This librarian/technologist collaborates with other LIS and academic staff to further the mission and priorities of the college.

This position is a part of the Liaison Team of the Research and Instruction (R&I) Department, a group composed of professional educators and librarians. Liaisons are assigned to different areas of the curriculum – Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Sciences – in a way that ensures that the faculty and students have appropriate support and access to the information resources and technologies necessary to their disciplines. All of the liaisons divide departments and share some responsibilities with other liaisons in the group. The liaisons also share a common skill set, while each bringing a unique set of skills to the group and to the curriculum.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Support and Advocate for Technology Enhanced Instruction (45%)

Work in partnership with faculty and colleagues in LIS to encourage and support effective instruction methods which use technology and information resources.. Activities include:

• Supporting and encouraging innovative, experimental, and effective uses of instructional technology by faculty in a thoughtful, well-planned process by

• Partnering with faculty to understand their curricular goals and recommending teaching practices that meet those goals

• Collaborating with faculty members to plan, design and teach classes using technology, especially those which incorporate blended learning strategies and methods used in digital scholarship.

• Partnering with faculty to create assignments that use technology and information resources to enhance learning goals

• Investigating and assessing advancements in information technologies, academic software, systems, and information resources, in collaboration with others in LIS and the faculty by

• Working with faculty and staff to determine whether these advancements can be adapted and applied at Wheaton.

• Selecting software and/or hardware for purchase according to a carefully developed plan and process, working collaboratively within the R&I group’s budget.

• Developing special knowledge and expertise with appropriate technologies to support teaching, learning and scholarship in the Social Sciences

• Developing and introducing online and physical learning environments to meet the needs of faculty and students

• Providing professional development opportunities for faculty members, to encourage and support their use of technology and information resources to advance scholarship and teaching

• Promoting Wheaton’s success on the college website, at conferences, and in collaboration with Communications, especially success using Technology Enhanced Learning activities

2. Support of Student Information and Technology Fluency (45%)

Promote information and technology fluency in Wheaton’s Social Sciences students so that they can use information and technology tools and resources effectively, analytically, ethically, legally, and critically. Activities include:

• Serving as library liaison to multiple first-year seminars, providing research consultations and instructional services for these courses.

• Providing research consultations with students, particularly those in the Social Sciences

• Providing research support to students working on theses, senior seminar/capstone projects, and independent studies

• Teaching classes related to acquiring information fluency

• Partnering with academic departments to develop learning goals around information fluency and technology literacy, including the assessment of learning outcomes

• Developing instructional materials and subject guides

3. Professional Development: (5%)

Remains current with developments in relevant areas and upgrades skills through reading, personal study, and attendance at professional workshops, seminars, meetings and conferences. Develops and maintains relationships with library and technology staff at peer institutions by participating in regional and national organizations and Special Interest Groups (SIGs). Shares relevant information with R&I colleagues.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS: (5%)

• Participates in planning for college-wide programs such as orientation, admissions visiting days, faculty and staff workshops, etc.

• Within LIS, participates in and occasionally leads inter-departmental committees, workgroups, and project teams, representing the R&I Department; shares relevant information with departmental colleagues.

• Participates in LIS web development planning and initiatives, serving on committees and workgroups, as appropriate. Helps maintain academic web sites using a forms-based user interface.

• Promotes faculty and student awareness and adoption of LIS policies, systems, and support, including issues dealing with ethics and the honor code.

• Develops and participates in workshops, discussion forums, orientations, tours, and other presentations and outreach activities for faculty and students.

• Serves on relevant campus-wide workgroups and committees and on task forces and affinity groups in consortiums and professional organizations.

• Improves LIS practices that strengthen service delivery.

• Works with others toward achieving organizational goals, including sharing of information and expertise and cultivating effective work relationships.

• Performs other duties as required.