Learning Resources Educator - Cyrus Tang Foundation

Our Mission: Since the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, our organization has aimed to connect people to the natural environment and human history.

The Field Museums Learning Resources team prepares pre-K-12 students to learn through authentic investigations with museum collections and exhibitions. We develop active learners who recognize and apply curiosity, creativity, cultural empathy, and critical thinking to explore their world and consider the Museum a place for lifelong learning and ongoing discovery.

As a member of the Learning Resources team, the Cyrus Tang Foundation Learning Resources Educators primary role is to develop from ideation to evaluation of digital and physical learning resources for a nationwide pre-K - 12 classroom audience, including students and educators. This body of work will include developing, creating, and implementing content for Pre-K-12th grade students and educators on AANHPI cultures, particularly focused on our Cyrus Tang Hall of China exhibit and other science-based content and exhibitions. The resources - including lesson plans, virtual tours, field trips, field trip guides, design challenges, videos, digital interactives and games, and collections-based hands-on kits - are aimed at connecting Field Museum science with learning in pre-K-12 classrooms.

This position requires ease with digital and physical resource design in collaboration with staff across the Museum and external partners, proven ability to develop high-quality teaching tools, knowledge of inquiry and problem-based learning methods, culturally sustaining pedagogy, and fluency in the pre-K-12 content and local and national learning standards.

Moreover, the Cyrus Tang Foundation Learning Resources Educator will need to establish and maintain positive, reciprocal, collaborative, and firm relationships with stakeholders both inside and outside the Museum. The Learning Resources Educators primary supervisor is the Manager of Learning Resources; however, they will work closely with other staff members in the Learning Center, including the N.W. Harris Learning Collections Coordinator, the Digital Learning Resources Coordinator, the School Learning Experiences team, as well as the Museums Integrated Research, Collections, and Science Action Centers and Communications, Marketing, and Exhibitions Departments.

This is a full-time, grant-funded, 3-year term position with potential for renewal based on funding.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Initiate, lead, and oversee learning resource development processes from conceptualization through evaluation, articulating, and attending to concise learning goals, outcomes, and measures throughout the process. Including but not limited to:
• Physical Curriculum Toolkits, Digital Learning Materials, Virtual Field Trip Content, and Harris Collection resources
• Collaboratively develop curriculum in AANHPI, Science, and Social Science that is aligned to current learning standards, inquiry-based, and culturally relevant/sustaining.
• Develop, curate, and facilitate learning for K-12 educational resources and programming to support teachers within the context of museum curriculum and learning resources.
• Develop a community outreach and partnership strategy as it pertains to AANHPI Learning Resources as well as maintain regular correspondence and engagement with key stakeholder audiences, including collaborating experts and artists, educators, youth, and families throughout the development process to ensure relevance and quality of resources.
• Create evaluation models with the support of the Manager of Learning Resources and conduct necessary benchmarking and formative evaluation to determine program efficacy and appropriate learning goals aligned to learning standards.
• Create learning resources pilot program and lead pilot efforts in a variety of formal and informal learning contexts, including classroom, adult education, community, and museum spaces.
• Engage in professional learning to stay abreast of current research and the ever-changing education landscape.
• Contribute to Field Museum and Learning Centers broader understanding of K-12 education trends and audience needs.
• Collaborate with the pre-K-12 education community and staff across Science & Education to develop new materials and curricular and multimedia teaching tools related to Field Museum science in the areas of anthropology, botany, geology, and zoology.
• Support the Manager of Learning Resources by contributing and collecting necessary data for grant applications, periodic funding reports, and other programmatic needs.
• Collaborate with the Manager of Learning Resources, Learning Resources Coordinators, and other members of the Learning Center to develop ideas for new programming to incorporate Field Museum science, collections, and strategies into their instruction and grow the audience for Field Museum learning resources.
• Other duties and department needs as assigned
  

Qualifications

• Masters Degree or extensive experience in relevant fields of education, curriculum development, teaching and learning, science, social science, or other related field.
• Expertise in Ethnic Studies and other culturally sustaining pedagogies frameworks
• Experience working with and/or in AANHPI communities.
• Bachelors Degree in relevant fields of education, science, social science, or other related field.
• 3-5 years of teaching and instruction experience required. Experience in K-12 education preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years experience managing projects with rigorous timelines and well-defined budgets.
• Content expertise in AANHPI studies, science, or social sciences is required.
• Outstanding written communication: able to structure ideas clearly, develop written curriculum materials using best practice models and independently developed curriculum formats, and clearly communicate ideas verbally and in writing
• Strong verbal communication skills: the ability to give effective presentations virtually and in-person
• Strong digital skills, including proficiency in Google Suites, Zoom, Microsoft Office, and emerging digital learning technologies required.
• Demonstrated ability in curriculum and learning resource development using pedagogical best practices and frameworks.
• Experience developing and teaching lessons using the Next Generation Science Standards, C3 Framework, and Common Core required.
• Enjoys working on a team to collaboratively develop program ideas both remotely and in person.
• Professional demeanor and ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders required.
• Strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion, as well as Social Justice standards and principles.
• Well-organized, detail-oriented, independently motivated, and able to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be available for occasional weekend and evening work.
  

To Apply, Please Submit The Following

• Cover Letter that includes your responses to the questions -
• Why are you passionate about or interested in developing learning resources for and about Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander communities?
• What is your approach to developing culturally responsive and sustaining learning resources and experiences?
• Resume/CV
  

If you feel you are fit for the position and are excited about this opportunity but are not sure if you meet all the qualifications, please consider applying. Wed love to hear from you!

Important Note: In order to protect the health and safety of our employees, guests and their families, the Field Museum is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Requests for exemptions from the vaccine will not be considered as given the nature of this position, we are unable to provide an accommodation for anyone who has not been vaccinated.

The Field Museum is an equal opportunity workplace and employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, Veteran status, or any other protected class. We strive to create a working environment that is free of all forms of discrimination and one that promotes human dignity and mutual respect among all staff. We believe every member of our organization enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, to identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions.

The Field Museum strives to ensure that our career website and recruiting process are accessible to all. If you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our online application, or if you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to accessibility@fieldmuseum.org