Instructor- Secondary Sceince

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The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Job Description

Job Description Summary: The School of Education at Western Governors University is seeking a qualified and passionate Instructor of Earth Science to join our Secondary Science Department. This remote, full-time faculty role supports undergraduate and graduate students preparing for licensure in Secondary Earth Science Education.

Job Description

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will:

• Teach and support courses in Meteorology, Oceanography, Natural Hazards, Environmental Science, Environmental Management with Lab, and Geology
• Support a Secondary Earth Science Curriculum course aligned with state licensure exams
• Offer engaging, goal-oriented, one-on-one and one-to-many virtual and live instruction sessions and coaching
• Serve as a subject matter expert and respond to student inquiries in a timely, student-centered manner
• Develop instructional materials aligned with learning objectives and course competencies for both self-paced and virtual group learning.
• Foster student communities that encourage peer collaboration, faculty engagement, and holistic development.
• Collaborate with a team of experienced secondary science faculty to ensure instructional quality and consistency
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:

• Subject-matter expertise in the assigned content and skills of the course(s)/domain(s)
• Strong knowledge of how student characteristics interact with different learning needs common to the course(s)/domain(s)
• Strong communication skills with the ability to moderate online student communities to encourage engagement and learning.
• Ability to use information from student profiles, learning behaviors, and interactions to identify individual student needs.
• Demonstrates respect for and value of diverse perspectives and experiences.
• Ability to adapt standard resources, templates, and instructional plans for the needs of individual students or groups of students.
• Ability to apply adult learning principles and instructional skills to build student competency in a virtual one-to-one setting.
• Provide encouragement for student self-reflection and metacognition to improve competency in learning objectives.
• Flexibility to adjust instructional approach depending on individual student needs and preference.
• Ability to adapt the timing, modality, and frequency of outreach/contact to individual student needs and preferences.
• Strong active listening skills and emotional intelligence with the ability to build relationships with adult students.
• Willingness to engage in regular self-reflection and re-evaluation of beliefs, perspectives, and approaches to improve equity.
• Ability to facilitate synchronous student interaction in a virtual environment.

Job Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Terminal degree in Meteorology, Environmental Science, Geophysics, Earth Science, Geology, or Science Education (required)
• Demonstrated expertise in Earth Science content areas listed above
• Strong communication, coaching, and data-informed instructional skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to support instruction in General Physics and/or Astronomy
• Prior experience as a secondary science teacher
• Experience with distance education and distance learning student

Physical Requirements:

• This is a remote position requiring 40 hours per week
• At least 10 hours must be scheduled outside of 8 am - 5 pm in the candidate's time zone
• Weekend availability is required
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Job Description Disclaimer: This position description provides the major duties/responsibilities, requirements and working conditions for the position. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, however management reserves the right to revise or change as necessary to meet organizational needs. Other responsibilities may be assigned when circumstances require.

Position & Application Details

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.