Job Description: Instructor for e-Studies

General Information About Duke TIP e-Studies Program

Duke TIP e-Studies courses offer gifted students in grades 8-12 the opportunity to pursue challenging academic coursework with their peers in an interactive online classroom. Courses are offered in 16-week fall and spring terms and an 8-week summer term. Classes have approximately 16-24 students, and instructional materials are designed and taught by an instructor using Blackboard and other instructional technology applications.

The e-Studies Instructor Position

Instructors for the Duke TIP e-Studies Program are responsible for designing and teaching challenging courses for academically gifted middle- and high-school students using the Blackboard course management system and other appropriate instructional technology tools. Instructors are also responsible for evaluating the performance of each student in the class. Instructors are required to monitor activity on the course Web site on a daily basis, to respond to student questions within 24 hours, and to provide timely and substantive feedback on student work. Instructors may be asked to allow the Duke TIP Research Division, the Director of Domestic Educational Programs, the Coordinator of Independent Learning, or other Duke TIP staff to administer research studies and/or surveys to students during the course. Detailed responsibilities include, but are not limited to, items listed in Specific Duties.

Qualifications

A Bachelor’s Degree is required, with at least a year of graduate school or teaching experience strongly preferred. An advanced degree and more extensive teaching experience are preferred.  Experience with middle school and/or high school students is very helpful, as is experience with programs and/or curricula for academically gifted students. Previous experience with online and/or Web-enhanced courses is beneficial, but is not required. Applicants must be able to demonstrate depth of knowledge in course-specific subject matter and a level of preparedness sufficient to create syllabi and teach challenging material. Applicants must possess a genuine interest in the academic, social, and emotional growth of adolescents and a willingness to work cooperatively with others.  Candidates should possess strong writing and communication skills, and must be sufficiently familiar with word processing programs, presentation software, Web browsers, and other software applications used to teach in an online environment.  

Specific Duties

Before the program

  • Prepare the following items and return them to the TIP office within two weeks of the contract date.
  • Book orders
  • A detailed one-page course description and a day-by-day syllabus
  • An R-rated movie permission letter to parents, if applicable.
  • A list of supplemental Web sites to be used in your class
  • Participate in face-to-face and/or online Blackboard orientation and training.

During the Program

  • Perform all duties necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the course and the program.
  • Monitor student activity on the course Web site on a daily basis
  • Construct activities that encourage and enable students to interact with the course material, their peers and with the instructor.
  • Facilitate student discussions on the class site’s discussion board.
  • Respond to student questions and inquiries within 24 hours.
  • Maintain “virtual office hours”—regular weekly time when students can contact the instructor and expect a more or less immediate response.
  • Provide regular, timely, and substantive feedback on student assignments, both formal and informal, including, but not limited to, tests/quizzes, writing assignments, discussion board posts.  Communicate with each student about his/her performance and progress at least once every two weeks. Prepare and distribute midterm evaluations for fall and spring terms.
  • Keep all necessary staff informed of potential academic problems. Confer with the Director of Domestic Educational Programs and/or other designated Duke TIP staff regularly.
  • Enforce Duke TIP rules consistently and fairly. 
  • Communicate with parents (via e-mail and/or phone) as needed during the term to discuss students’ academic difficulties. Consult with the Director of Domestic Educational Programs and/or other designated Duke TIP staff prior to these communications, and copy these Duke TIP staff members on any and/all such e-mail communication.
  • Report any inappropriate use of Internet resources by students to the Director of Domestic Educational Programs immediately.

After the Program

  • Submit completed student evaluations to Duke TIP permanent staff for review at the end of term, and distribute edited evaluations to students and parents via e-mail.

General Expectations

  • Perform all contractual duties at the assigned times.
  • Support the Duke TIP Mission and all administrative decisions.
  • Abide by all Duke TIP policies and procedures.
  • Refrain from the following strictly prohibited activities:
  • Reference or links to inappropriate Internet content in course materials and/or on the course Web site
  • Illegal use of copyrighted material
  • Use of inappropriate language, including profanity and sexual innuendoes.
  • Maintain professional relationships with all staff members. 
  • Maintain professional relationships with students and parents at all times.
  • Enforce all student rules fairly and consistently.