DIGITAL LEARNING SPECIALIST (#299)

Digital Learning Specialist

Summary

To serve as the key digital learning and library media program specialist for the school.  This position marries the roles of an Instructional Technology Facilitator and School Library Media Coordinator to produce a curriculum leadership role, whereby the position directly impacts student achievement through digital teaching and learning and media initiatives in the school building, and district as needed.

Required education, training, and experience

• Master’s Degree
• NC Teacher Licensure
• NC 076 license for Media Coordinator OR

NC 077 license for Instructional Technology Specialist-Computers OR

NC 079 Special Endorsement in Computer Education

• Minimum of 5 years classroom experience

Essential duties and responsibilities

Plans and Facilitates Media and Library Programming

• Plans and facilitates the maintenance and continual evolution of the School Library Media Program and collections, including an increase in digital resources and personalized, anytime, anywhere access
• Helps to lead teachers and students in a collaborative process to select and evaluate resources that address curricular needs and learning goals of students and teachers 
• Completes the NC Digital Learning and Media Inventory (NCDLMI) and Technology Collection each spring
• Creates an engaging and vibrant collaborative learning space for teachers and students alike, taking into account current research and trends in Learning Spaces and Makerspaces
• Manages and purges library collections __ yearly at minimum __ using Follett Destiny library management tool
• Collaborates regularly with teachers on special curriculum projects as requested, in addition to teaching research skills for students
• Facilitates Digital Citizenship instruction for every student yearly
• Plans and works collaboratively with teachers to deliver technology-infused instruction 
• Keeps accurate and relevant inventories of print, non-print, and technology materials and equipment 
• Works with school staff to design and implement short- and long-range plans to ensure balance among teaching, instructional technology, collaboration, collection development, and program management

Plans and Facilitates Digital and Personalized Teaching and Learning

• Progress monitors the effectiveness of the implementation of the NC Digital Learning Plan and Digital Learning Competencies
• Works with the principal, school leadership, and district personnel to provide access to technology resources and services at points of need 
• Models and coaches teachers on purposeful design in the planning process, using curricular frameworks and concepts such as:
• Design Thinking 
• SAMR, TPACK, or other digital learning frameworks
• Blended Learning
• Models data-driven decision making under the guidance of the Principal and school leadership, continuously seeking opportunities to improve teaching and learning with technology and media programs in the school 
• Plans and facilitates professional development on the school and district level in the areas of digital learning and media-based upon needs
• Meets with district personnel as needed to plan digital learning and media initiatives for the school
• Collaborates and implements district-wide initiatives related to digital and personalized teaching and learning
• Serves on the district Digital Teaching and Learning Team if needed 
• Has understanding of Canvas LMS, Google Workspace for Education, and other digital tools

Instructional Design and Improvement

• Serves as a curriculum leader and collaborator in the school
• Through guidance from the principal, assists the school and district curriculum leadership team with formatively coaching teachers on best practices for instruction
• Supports the implementation of instruction aligned with the digital learning professional development plan
• Encourages the use of data-driven instructional improvement technologies to support student achievement
• Implements and maintains processes for safe and orderly classroom management in the Media Center
• Implements and manages processes for technology devices and resources

Other Responsibilities

• Leads in the ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of the school and district-wide digital learning and media programs
• Carries out non-instructional duties as assigned and/or as needed to ensure student safety
• Collaborates and/or takes the lead on additional projects as directed by the Principal 
• Complete other duties as assigned

Physical environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment including computers, copiers, etc.  Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally; and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. 

Work environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations.  There may be changing priorities and interruptions during the workday.  
• Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or composite characteristics of data, people, or things.
• Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information.  Includes giving instructions, assignments, or directions to subordinates or assistants.
• Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, forms, articles, proposals, contracts, etc.  Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, evaluations, policies, etc. using prescribed formats.
• Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form.
• Requires the ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions.  Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including medical, legal, and counseling terminology.

DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this position. They are not intended to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and skills that may be required of the employees assigned to this position. This description may be revised by the supervisor, with HR review and approval, at any time.