Details
Posted: 05-May-22
Location: Los Angeles, California
Type: Full Time
Categories:
Other
OUR MISSION
Our School, founded on Jewish values, is about who our children can become and how they can help others become who they might be. Because the world our children will create tomorrow is born in the School we build today, our mission is to educate our children so they can surpass us.
POSITION OVERVIEW
Milken Community School seeks a full-time Middle School Director of Innovation and Design Thinking to assist its teachers as they integrate the principles of design thinking and project-based learning into their curriculum. A member of the Innovation and Fabrication Integration department, this individual serves as the primary ambassador for the Middle School’s design thinking efforts, its maker program, and its Idea Lab. Completely refurbished in 2021, the Idea Lab has cutting-edge equipment such as a laser cutter, vinyl cutter, large format printer and 3D printers.
A successful candidate will possess qualities that enable them to easily collaborate, teach, and coach faculty. This individual will also have a strong background in curriculum design, experience teaching at the middle school level, and an established track-record of implementing the principles of design thinking and project-based learning in schools. The Director will work closely with teachers to design dynamic and interactive student-centered curriculum focused on authentic deeper learning and problem-solving. The Director will also teach the use of the tools of the modern classroom (including those found in the Idea Lab and educational technology applications associated with innovation and design thinking in grades six through eight).
Finally, this individual will have an appreciation for working with energetic middle school students excited for the projects and learning they undertake in this space as well as an interest in contributing to a “maker” culture that cultivates empathy, curiosity, self-advocacy, creativity, iteration, innovation, tinkering, and entrepreneurship..
RESPONSIBILITIES
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Teach the use of all hardware and requisite software in the Idea Lab to students and teachers, including safety protocols.
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Perform and teach basic maintenance of the equipment to students.
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Support individual student projects by teaching design thinking, software, hardware, and coding.
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Lead and support students in larger scale and group experiential learning projects.
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Model best practices in innovative and collaborative use of the Idea Lab.
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Pursue ongoing professional development in the fields of fabrication, pedagogy, and technology.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in related field (preferred) with some related technical experience.
- Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work in a team-based environment, demonstrating flexibility, initiative, and collegiality.
- Previous teaching experience required, middle-school level experience preferred
- Experience in project based learning and assessment, including rubric creation.
- Experience in FTC and/or FRC robotics preferred.
Interested candidates may apply here.