Director, Learning Innovation (Digital Classroom Devices) at NewGlobe

About the Role

NewGlobe is embarking on a deep investigation of how to effectively integrate digital classroom devices (specifically teacher-facing technology like classroom projectors or mounted screens) into our existing instructional model. 

Used effectively, technology can dramatically improve the quality of the teaching and learning experience. But used ineffectively, technology can be a distraction and an ineffective use of resources. Unfortunately, education technology in low and middle income countries has often fallen into the latter category - a promising opportunity that is underutilised, often due to device management, lack of training, or the failure to seamlessly integrate the technology into a broader instructional vision for the school.

This role is a fixed-term role (lasting ~9-12 months). During this time, this role will focus on two core questions:

• how can we use digital classroom devices to enhance our existing instructional model (which uses teacher tablets to communicate teacher guides to each teacher)?
• how do we ensure that these devices can be managed logistically to ensure device health and security, seamless cross-teacher sharing, integration with technological systems, etc.

In order to answer these two foundational questions, this role will focus exclusively on four core areas:

• Design: create teacher guides and other instructional materials to support the use of digital classroom devices
• Plan: create a pilot plan that will allow you to evaluate whether the design and implementation has been successful
• Pilot: implement the new approach; fail-fast!
• Evaluate: analyse the data from the pilot; determine next steps in terms of design and planning

This will be a deeply iterative process that involves a dual-focus on office-based design and planning, and also field-based piloting and evaluation. With this in mind, this role will spend roughly half of the time in schools, and half of the time in the office.

Who You Are

• You are a skilled, thoughtful educator with years of diverse experience in the field. You have a keen sense for ideas that actually work in a classroom, not just things that sound good on paper. And you have the ability to design high-quality materials to support effective instruction and lesson delivery.
• You are a meticulous project manager. You think about the big picture vision, but also how the small steps to achieve this vision. You are able to juggle multiple (and sometimes competing) priorities, including management of devices, teacher training systems, software development needs, instructional design demands, etc. You’re able to identify each stage necessary for a project’s success, and also manage the completion of each of those stages.
• You are imaginative. You think outside the box. You can quickly learn about existing systems, but push the boundaries and think creatively about what is possible, not just what is visible.

What You Will Do

• Design instructional materials necessary to support the integration of classroom digital devices into existing lesson structures
• Prepare pilots that allow us to test new materials, observe those materials, and iterate on our approach
• Observe pilot lessons in order to identify areas of growth, in terms of instructional design, teacher support, device management, and the broader technological issues that arise
• Collaborate with stakeholders in Technology and Software to inform device selection and software development necessary to ensure successful usage
• Collaborate with stakeholders in Academics and School Management to create strong systems for device management, teacher training, and broader integration into the academic programme
• Spend roughly half of your time in schools observing outcomes, and half of your time in the office creating pilot materials; this will include some domestic travel in Kenya and potentially international travel to other NewGlobe contexts in Rwanda and Nigeria
• Support the randomised evaluation of digital classroom devices through an RCT, which will inform whether the adopted model actually accelerates learning outcomes
• Deliver a blueprint for how digital classroom devices can be used effectively to drive learning gains; this includes both instructional and logistical considerations for success

What You Should Have

• Experience teaching in a primary or secondary school setting, ideally in a low-and-middle-income contexts
• Experience managing educational projects, either in a school or an organisational setting
• Track record of imaginative use of educational technology
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Flexibility! Excited - not exhausted - by the idea of facing the challenge of finding new solutions when unexpected variables arise
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Self-motivated and comfortable creating solutions without a lot of support or structure
• Willing to jump in and help wherever necessary, no matter how big or small the task

You’re also

• A detailed doer – You have a track record of getting things done. You’re organized and responsive. You take ownership of every idea you touch and execute it to a fine level of detail, setting targets, engaging others, and doing whatever it takes to get the job done. You can multi-task dozens of such projects at once and never lose sight of the details. Likely, you have some experience in a start-up or other rapid-growth company.
• A networking mastermind – You excel at meeting new people and turning them into advocates.  You communicate in a clear, conscientious, and effective way in both written and oral speech. You can influence strangers in the course of a single conversation. Allies and colleagues will go to bat for your ideas. You have an existing network from prior experience in the country, preferably in the regulatory, education, or business sectors.
• A creative problem-solver – Growing any business from scratch comes with massive and constant challenges. On top of that, NewGlobe works in often fragile, sometimes volatile low-resource communities and with complex government systems. You need to be flexible and ready to get everything done effectively, quickly, and affordably with the materials at hand.
• A relentless advocate –The children we serve and teachers we empower never leave your mind. You know them, get them, have shared a meal with them (or would be happy to in the future). You would never shrink back from shaking a parent’s hand or picking up a crying child, no matter what the person was wearing or looked like.  Every decision you make considers their benefit, experience, and value.
• A malleable learner –You believe you can always do better. You welcome constructive criticism and provide it freely to others.  You know you only get better tomorrow when others point out where you’ve missed things or failed today.
•  A curious investigator – You ask why a lot. You don’t just take what you see and accept it. You wonder why it is that way, and are aware that the world we see is created by human choices and actions – and it could be different. You wonder, and see the world as wonderful even when you want to change a part of it that is unjust.