ATC - Student Employment

TechCons

Student Technical Consultant Job Description

What is a Technical Consultant (TechCon)?
TechCons are students who volunteer and are selected to work with faculty members to integrate technology into their courses. The University has developed an Academic Technology Center in the Fall semester 1998 whose purpose is to provide resources for faculty to assist them in integrating technology into their instruction. A Web Courseware Tool called Blackboard was also obtained that enables a faculty member to put an entire course on the web and use it to either supplement their teaching or deliver a course solely online.

TechCons will receive the following:

flexible hours
will be paid an hourly rate
an opportunity to contribute toward the movement of assisting faculty at the University of Scranton with the integration of technology in their teaching
appreciation parties
admission to the IR Division faculty/staff training seminars
an opportunity to work in the IR Division under the work study program (i.e., Help Desk)
an opportunity to work with emerging technologies and gain invaluable experience.
The Assistant Director, Desktop and Instructional Resources and an Instructional Technologist will select the TechCons.

If you are interested in finding out more about TechCons or want to apply for a TechCon position, please pickup a TechCon Application at the Office of Instructional Technologies Desk in St. Thomas Hall, Communications Wing or at the Help Desk in Alumni Memorial Hall.

What are the qualifications to become a TechCon?
The applicant should have a good balance between technical skills and interpersonal skills. Experience with the World Wide Web design/creation is preferred. To qualify as a TechCon you should have some knowledge in the following areas:

be willing to learn a web courseware tool called Blackboard and assist faculty in using it.
have experience in designing and creating web pages. This includes knowledge about HTML editors, tables, frames, graphics, animation, audio and video, etc.
be familiar with computing resources on campus as well as Internet resources such as newsgroups and electronic mail.
Be knowledgeable about microcomputers. This includes knowing how to create PowerPoint presentations incorporating graphics and animation, and scanning text, graphics and slides.
experience in consulting, teaching, or tutoring is helpful.
be responsible and available to work with faculty as needed during the fall and spring semesters. Hours are flexible.
be willing to meet with Instructional Technology Staff members on a regular basis and as needed.
be willing to learn and apply new knowledge and techniques.
have the desire to assist the University in its mission to support faculty in integrating technology into their curriculum.

Interpersonal skills we are looking for include:

well organized and have good time management skills
strong interpersonal relation skills enabling you to work and communicate effectively with faculty, staff, and co-workers.
strong written and verbal communication skills
maintain a positive attitude
experience helping and teaching others
ability to work independently as well as on a team

What do TechCons do?

TechCons’ responsibilities include:

Meeting with faculty members to assess their instructional needs and determine how to best integrate technology into their teaching.
Working one-on-one with faculty to implement the use of technology into their classes. This mainly includes assisting faculty with the use of the University's web courseware software called Blackboard as well as creating and designing web pages and PowerPoint presentations.
Involvement in workshops which includes training, scheduling, documentation, advertising, and follow-up/evaluations.
Scheduling appointments with clients.
Create documentation for faculty as needed.
Creation and maintenance of various Web sites.
Attendance at training sessions that are provided to all TechCons.
Attendance at team meetings (1 hour, every 2 weeks) to discuss the status of projects.
Being knowledgeable about the services being offered to enhance teaching and learning through the use of technology.
Reading email at the beginning of your working shift and frequently throughout the day.
Assist in special projects as they arise assigned by the assistant director of desktop and instructional resources

How do I apply for a TechCon position?

Applications can be obtained from the Office of Instructional Technologies (OIT) in the Communication wing of St. Thomas Hall or the Help Desk in Alumni Memorial Hall and returned to the OIT. We encourage interested students to fill out applications even if positions are not available since the program will continue to grow. Applications will be kept on file and as positions become available students will be contacted to setup an interview.

Please direct comments or questions to: Aileen McHale, Assistant Director, Desktop and Instructional Resources (x4365) or Eugeniu Grigorescu, Instructional Technologist (x5519)