Assistant Professor of Learning, Design, and Technology

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Department of Learning and Performance Systems is seeking a justice-focused or critically oriented information and learning sciences scholar to join Penn State’s College of Education as a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Learning, Design, and Technology for Fall 2024. As outlined in the strategic plan guiding the College’s ongoing efforts, we are committed to transforming educational systems as part of our endeavor to create a more equitable and just education system for the people of Pennsylvania, the nation, and the world. Current departmental faculty are in the midst of building and strengthening community, rethinking and revitalizing existing curriculum, and engaging in exciting research efforts to facilitate these and other processes moving us toward the goals of the strategic plan. We seek a colleague whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to educating for change, as evidenced by their professional portfolio and vision.

The successful candidate will contribute to the ongoing efforts in the Learning, Design, and Technology program toward preparing equity-driven learning technologists, designers, and researchers. We are particularly interested in candidates whose research demonstrates a commitment to justice and critical perspectives in the design or application of digital technologies.

Position Details:

The Learning, Design, and Technology (LDT) faculty is excited to add a new member to our community. The position is a tenure-track appointment at the Assistant Professor level with an expectation of participation and teaching in undergraduate and graduate programs, both residential and online.

We are interested in candidates with expertise in learning technologies, learning sciences, and/or information sciences that would complement our current strengths, including but not limited to:

● critical approaches to AI and machine learning for education;

● using technologies to support a sense of belonging among learners of color, LGBTQ+ learners, learners with disabilities, migrant learners, or learners from other communities minoritized across economic, cultural, political, and social dimensions;

● designing, adapting, or remixing technologies to disrupt systems of oppression (such as white supremacy or neoliberal capitalism) that intersect with learning settings and institutions;

● learning technologies to support thriving democracies and social transformations;

● developing technology-enhanced learning environments that support and sustain diverse lifeways and ways of knowing;

● justice-focused computer science education or computing and identity;

● emerging and innovative research and design methodologies to study learning; or,

● educational applications of critical data science or science and technology studies.

The position offers opportunities to contribute to residential undergraduate and graduate programs (e.g., general education courses, M.S., Ph.D.), and online graduate programs (e.g., M.Ed.and the newly established College-wide D.Ed.). The successful candidate will be expected to engage in recruiting and mentoring students from diverse backgrounds who are interested in LDT.

The university and surrounding community offer opportunities for developing scholarly collaborations, including with schools, informal learning settings, public media, local makerspaces, affinity groups, and entities within the University including the Consortium for Social Movements and Education Research and Practice, the Rock Ethics Institute, the Center for Socially Responsible AI, the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, and other research initiatives.

Responsibilities:

● Develop and maintain a learning/information sciences research program in an area relevant to LDT.

● Seek external funding to support the research program and LDT graduate students.

● Contribute to and teach courses in LDT at the undergraduate and graduate level, residentially and online.

● Advise master’s degree students in the completion of their capstone portfolios and/or research theses, and supervise doctoral students in their programs and research.

● Provide service, outreach, and leadership to the University, educational and informal learning institutions, agencies, professional organizations, and learned societies.

Required qualifications (commensurate with experience):

● An earned doctorate in the learning sciences or an equivalent doctoral degree in a related field (e.g., learning technologies, human-computer interaction, education, information sciences) by the appointment start date

● Demonstrated commitment to principles of equity and justice

● Potential to develop and maintain a research agenda in LDT, including a strong potential for scholarly publications

● Willingness to teach high-quality residential and online courses in LDT at the undergraduate and graduate levels

Desirable qualifications:

● Interest in design, integration, and evaluation of emerging technologies/pedagogies (e.g., generative AI, data analytics, play-based learning and making, critical digital literacy)

● Experience teaching residential or online learning experiences

● Commitment to equity-oriented approaches to teaching and advising/mentoring

● Interest or experience advising undergraduate or graduate students in research

● Commitment to collegiality and collaboration

● Potential for obtaining external funding, commensurate with experience

Application Procedures:

Applicants must submit (1) a cover letter documenting qualifications for the position and clearly addressing how the applicant’s’ personal, professional and/or lived experiences and future directions contribute to the required and desirable qualifications, (2) a current CV, and (3) contact information for at least three professional references (including name, title, address, e-mail address, and telephone numbers). Please combine all materials into one PDF and upload as a single file.

Applications received by January 15, 2024, are assured full consideration; however, applications will be accepted until the position is filled. We encourage applications from individuals who are members of underrepresented groups. For questions, please contact: Dr. Priya Sharma ([email protected] ) (Department of Learning and Performance Systems), Search Chair.

This position requires the following clearances: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS:

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here .

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. 

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

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