Online Learning Experience Designer (HR Title: Instructional Designer II)

School Of Engineering - Dallas, TX

Full-time - Mid Level

Dallas, TX

10,001+ employees

Educational Services

About the position

The Online Learning Experience Designer (HR Title: Instructional Designer II) at Southern Methodist University (SMU) is a pivotal role focused on enhancing the online learning experience for students. This position is designed for an individual who will work closely with faculty to create, develop, and teach media-rich, highly interactive fully online courses. The primary goal is to provide a student-centered and authentic online learning experience that meets the diverse needs of SMU's student body, which includes over 12,000 students from various backgrounds and countries. In this role, the designer will collaborate with faculty and course production project managers to produce instructional and supplementary materials for online programs. This includes advising and training faculty on the technical and pedagogical skills necessary to deliver high-quality online learning content. The position requires a full-time commitment with in-office hours, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and direct engagement with faculty and students. The Online Learning Experience Designer will be responsible for creating new courses and revising existing ones for online delivery, ensuring that innovative and effective online learning techniques are implemented. Regular coordination with academic leadership and project managers is essential to track progress and meet deadlines. The designer will also assist faculty in developing assessment tools that align with course learning objectives, ensuring that all materials meet institutional quality and compliance standards. Additionally, the designer will maintain awareness of instructional design trends and technologies, performing regular quality and accessibility checks on course content. This role is crucial in supporting SMU's mission to lead in digital transformation within engineering education and to ensure that every student graduates as a confident leader.

Responsibilities

• Work with faculty to create new courses and revise existing courses for online delivery.
• Design and implement innovative and effective online learning techniques in collaboration with academic leadership and faculty.
• Coordinate efforts with course production project managers and report progress regularly.
• Advise, train, and support faculty on appropriate tools, media, and instructional strategies to achieve course learning objectives.
• Assist faculty in developing assessment tools and strategies aligned with course learning objectives.
• Submit and coordinate media/video/audio/graphic requests with course production project managers and the online course production team's video resources.
• Coordinate activities alongside faculty throughout each course's development life-cycle to ensure deadlines are met.
• Perform technology-based coordinative duties, including assisting faculty in building sandbox/development courses.
• Conduct regular course content quality and accessibility checks according to institutional requirements.
• Maintain awareness of instructional design trends, techniques, and related technology tools.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree is required; a degree in Instructional design, educational technology, instructional systems, or learning experiences is preferred.
• A minimum of three (3) years of professional work experience is required, with two (2) years in an academic or training environment focused on online course content development.
• Experience in project management is required.
• Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills to develop and maintain effective relationships across the University.
• Strong written communication skills.
• Problem-solving skills with the ability to identify, analyze problems, and devise solutions.
• Strong organizational, planning, and time management skills; ability to work independently.
• Familiarity with instructional design, adult learning theories, and learning outcome assessment techniques.
• Working knowledge of learning management systems (e.g., Canvas) and common instructional technologies.
• Ability to use various audio and video technologies and a basic knowledge of streaming audio, video, and video-conferencing.
• Familiarity with modern quality rubrics (e.g., Quality Matters).
• Proficiency with Canvas, Zoom, Adobe Creative, Camtasia, SnagIt, and non-linear video editing software.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with emerging technologies related to teaching and learning.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage including dental and vision plans.
• Wellness programs to support employee health.
• Retirement programs to benefit employees and their families.
• Tuition benefits for professional and personal development opportunities.