MOOC educational content coordinator

40%-50%, Zurich, fixed-term

The Chair of Sustainable Construction gathers a group of scientists, engineers and architects who aim to ground sustainability in all disciplines involved in the built environment. Its objective is to support the implementation of sustainable practices throughout the development of innovative strategies, methods, materials and trainings adapted to each stakeholder. This involves interdisciplinary works dealing among others with Life Cycle Assessment, urban metabolism and material science. 

To reach out to a broader audience, the Chair of Sustainable Construction is working on the development of a Massive Open Online Course on Regenerative Materials and Construction. This course's aim is to introduce the basis of regenerative sustainability in the construction domain, especially in the Asian, African and Latin American context, and to guide the audience through an overview of its construction materials and techniques.
We look forward to getting started as soon as possible.

Project background

The MOOC ETH in Regenerative Materials and Construction is a Massive Open Online Course aiming to introduce the basis of regenerative sustainability in the construction domain and to guide the audience through an overview of its construction materials and techniques.

With a specific focus on solutions suitable for rapidly urbanizing contexts, such as the African, Asian and Latin American continents, it offers a combination of theoretical and practical inputs, interviews with practitioners from Europe and beyond, and building site visits. The technologies explored over the modules are earth, bamboo, timber, bio and waste-based, both in their characterization and in their potential application and benefits.

The course targets all professionals involved in the construction supply and development, such as Architects and Engineers, builders, material producers, technical personnel and city officers, with an interest in sustainability.

The MOOC Regenerative Materials and Construction will be self-paced over 5 weeks and will be going to be launched in late spring on the EdX platform, free of charge. The Chair has already drafted a content list, module structures, lecture contributions from guests and an overall vision. It is now time to detail this plan and move ahead operatively!

Job description

The position "MOOC Educational Content Coordinator" is part-time (40-50%), from December/January (based on availability) untill May 2023. The MOOC Educational Content Coordinator will work closely with the MOOC team (see below) in order to detail the development of the MOOC based on the structure and initial content developed, as well as guaranteeing a final comprehensive and quality-proofed product ready for launch.

Specific tasks include:

• Quality control on developed content
• Coordination of external/internal additional educators beyond the Project Manager (list already compiled)
• Identification of key bullet points, best cases, dos-don't per topic –based on existing MOOC program- and best teaching strategy to integrate them in the videos
• Detailed development of intuitive learning exercises + verification of acquired competences exercises
• If of interest (to be vetted by ETH upon prototype video): first-hand video teaching, possibility to directly conduct interviews or moderate discussion with guests (to be compiled in educational content)

Tasks will NOT include:

• Film making and editing
• major changes of the MOOC vision.

Participation as a video active teacher is not necessary, but it can be discussed and considered if of interest, based on specific knowledge and interest (this will need to be briefly vetted by ETH upon prototype video) 

The possibility to extend the collaboration can be discussed, depending on MOOC development progress and other connected projects in the Chair. 

Team organization:

The team you will work with, within the Chair of Sustainable Construction, is structured as follows

• Prof. Guillaume Habert: Scientific coordinator
• Dr. Giulia Celentano: Project manager
• ETH Media office: in-studio and on-site video shooting + postproduction. Shooting based on ETH-provided script
• student assistant on video scenography and coordination with Media Lab, preparation of material exercises
• student assistant on EdX setup, exercises, content upload and course structure refinement including support for interviews

Your profile

• Master in Architecture / Civil Engineering
• 3+ year of work experience
• Fluent in English (professional use of the language)
• Great coordination and problem solving
• Good knowledge of the concept of sustainability in construction, and of sustainable building technologies and applications (e.g. earth construction, bio-based construction. etc)
• Broad familiarity with the MOOC teaching format concept (having taken some as students is an added value)
• Creativity, capacity to visualize the final product based on brainstorming sessions with the team, and to propose practical solutions to concur to such product
• interest in teaching and capacity building

Your workplace

Your workplace

We offer

We offer a part time position from January23 to May23 in creative and dynamic workspace in the Chair of Sustainable Construction, where you'll find a transdisciplinary and young environment among engineers, architects, material and environmental scientists as well as colleagues from complementary disciplines. Furthermore, you will be part of an international network of practitioners within the field of sustainable construction. In this setup, you will get the opportunity to influence the educational content, which will be distributed globally, at scale and free of charge. Flexible working hours can be negotiated and coordinated with the project manager. 

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Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:

• CV
• a brief cover letter including your motivation and your related background experience
• Availability (possible employment start)
• Languages proficiency
• Contact of two referees.

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.Further information about the Chair of Sustainable Construction can be found on our website . Questions regarding the position should be directed to Dr Giulia Celentano: [email protected]  (no applications).

About ETH Zürich

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specialising in science and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education, cutting-edge fundamental research and direct transfer of new knowledge into society. Over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries find our university to be a place that promotes independent thinking and an environment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, yet forging connections all over the world, we work together to develop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.