Learner Experience Researcher - Initiatives & Opportunities (August 2023 - April 2025)

Status: Initiatives & Opportunities (August 2023 – April 2025)

Hours: Monday to Friday; 35 hours/week

Home Campus: Fennell (This position involves hybrid scheduling that requires the successful candidate to work a combination of virtual and on-campus shifts. Can be assigned to any of our campuses (e.g. Fennell, Stoney Creek, IAHS, Airport)

Payband: J

Rate of Pay: $39.15

Posting Date: August 24th, 2023

Closing Date: August 30th, 2023 at 7:00 pm EST

Please be advised that according to Full Time Support Staff Collective Agreement, Article 17.1, preference will be given to qualified employees within the Full Time Support Staff bargaining unit, Appendix D (in the role for 6 consecutive months) and RPT employees who have passed probation at Mohawk College. Should a suitable candidate not be found, external candidates will be considered.

We support and encourage the contributions of our diverse employees. We are committed to nurturing an equitable, diverse and inclusive (EDI) environment for everyone who learns and works at Mohawk College. We believe the rich diversity among our students and the communities we serve should be reflected within our workforce. As educators we believe it is important to act and show leadership in advancing the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in our community.

Mohawk College is currently recruiting for our next

Learner Experience Researcher

The Learner Experience Researcher conducts various kinds of usability studies to understand learner needs, preferences, and behaviours to improve the design of our digital interfaces for learning. The primary role for the LX Researcher is to bridge the gap between the learners (students) and the design team by advocating for the learner’s perspectives especially with respect to the template designs used for online, hybrid and HyFlex courses. Working within the Centre for Teaching and Learning Innovation, the incumbent will work closely with designers that may include, but not limited to, the Instructional Designers, Digital Media Designer, UX Designer, and Lead XR Designer. This role forms an important part of the Digital Learning experience, linking the design of the technology-enabled learning to actual learner outcomes.

Under the direction of CTLI leadership, the incumbent in this role will identify problems with the design of the digital learning product or services, uncover opportunities to improve, and learn about learner’s behaviours and preferences. Within this scope, the LX Researcher will determine appropriate usability questions, identify the appropriate research methodology and derive actionable insights. The learner research may utilize typical tools such as usability testing, persona development, ethnography studies and journey mapping. Experience in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies is required, and the successful candidate is responsible for determining the appropriate mixed methodology. Collaboration with colleagues in learner analytics, student success, student services as well as others in both academic and non-academic service areas will be important to the success of the role.

The successful candidate will have earned a Master’s degree in Education, Psychology or similar program with a focus on human-technology interfaces. Research experience with a specialization in educational approaches and technology is required, along with accessibility research. Experience with UX/UI research tools is an asset.

Responsibilities

The duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

Usability Testing Design

• Usability research must incorporate accessibility (such as but not limited to AODA, and WCAG) and usability measures.
• Structure both quantitative and qualitative methodology studies.
• Develop testing protocols to identify problems with the design of the digital learning product or services, and uncover opportunities to improve, and learn about learner’s behaviours and preferences.

Conducting Usability Testing

• Ensure empathy-based, bias-free data is collected and stored securely with the utmost attention to participants privacy.
• Incorporate tools from learning experience, user experience, and human interface research.
• Recruit, contact, and coordinate learners and/or other participants according to the study methodology.

Analysis, Insights, and Recommendations

• Combine, collate, and code data.
• Present findings to management and stakeholder groups.
• Work closely with UX Designer to incorporate changes into template designs.
• Prepare reports and presentations to disseminate findings to management and stakeholder groups.
• Draw insights from the analysis of the combined data that will inform design.

Support in Scholarship in Teaching and Learning

• Coordinate and assist in the submission of Research Ethics Board applications when applicable.
• Assist faculty that are conducting Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) research.

Other Duties As Assigned

• Disseminate approaches and findings in learner experience at conferences where feasible.
• Keep up to date with current research and applicable methodologies.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have:

• Post graduate degree (Ex. Masters) or equivalent in Education, Psychology, Sociology with an emphasis on technology enabled learning.
• UX Research course/certificate –various options available – Director can recommend.
• Minimum of three years Demonstrated experience developing, collecting, and analyzing both qualitative and quantitative research.
• Minimum of three years Experience conducting research in education, educational technology, learner/customer satisfaction, and learner outcomes.
• Demonstrated commitment and understanding of human rights, equity, diversity and inclusion with the ability to communicate and work effectively with diverse groups of students, employees and the community.

Mohawk College prioritizes recruiting and retaining diverse employees. With this in mind, the College is committed to fostering inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection processes.

Should you require accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please contact the Human Resources Department at (905) 575 - 2047.

Mohawk College is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons, women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

For more information concerning the Mohawk College strategic plan, please see: strategicplan.mohawkcollege.ca/