Teacher Education Program – Editors

Teacher Education Program – Editors

The African Virtual University (AVU) www.avu.org is an equal opportunity employer.

The successful candidates will be appointed for 1 MONTH

Application must include an application letter and detailed curriculum vitae with: a telephone number; email; and names with contact addresses of three professional references.
Applications should be sent to **job@avu.org and must have Teacher Education Program - Editors as the email subject
The closing date for this application is July 4th 2016 at 18:00 East African Time (UTC/GMT + 3). **

Note: ONLY shortlisted candidates will be contacted

1. INTRODUCTION

i. AVU

The African Virtual University (AVU) www.avu.org is a Pan African Intergovernmental Organization established by charter with the mandate of significantly increasing access to quality higher education and training through the innovative use of information communication technologies. A Charter, establishing the AVU as an Intergovernmental Organization, has been signed so far by nineteen (19) African Governments - Kenya, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, Ghana, Republic of Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, South Sudan, Sudan, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia and Cape Verde. The AVU has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and a Regional office in Dakar Senegal with Host-Country Agreements and Diplomatic Status with the two governments.

The AVU Business Plan 2014-2019 has two main thrusts: (a) The educational and support services; and (b) development services. The most important aspect of the plan is the escalation of the educational and support services which focuses on escalating academic programs through the new AVU project also known as full-fledged University project. The AVU plans to focus on increasing access to quality education and throughout the African continent in collaboration with state members and partner institutions.

BACKGROUND to Teacher Education Program

The AVU Teacher Education Program (TEP) was developed and delivered within a wider project funded by the African Development Bank between 2005 and 2011. The program aimed at enabling AVU's Partner Institutions (PIs) to collaboratively design, develop, deliver and manage their own Open Distance and e-Learning (ODeL) programs. The Teacher Education Program focuses on the development of “modules” in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, education, ICT Basic Skills for teachers, and Teacher Professional Development. Each module provides an outline and study notes for the delivery of a course of instruction by the participating institutions. A total of 73 modules were developed and translated to ensure availability in English, French and Portuguese. These modules have also been made available as open education resources (OER) on oer.avu.org, and have been accessed over 2 million times in the last two years. That said, even open educational resources require updating, new knowledge needs to be infused, links and data need to be updated, and any confusions in presentation or errors in translations need to be corrected.

At this time the AVU is seeking to edit the Teacher Education modules. See list of modules in annex 1

ii. Scope of work for the editor

Editors editing the modules will be expected to:

1. Verify that the learning materials were designed according to the prescribed Module Development Template.
2. Edit the modules allocated according to checklist provided in one of the three functional languages of the AVU (English, French and Portuguese), incorporating any missing relevant and necessary information.
3. Consult with the designated AVU team, for each module to come to a consensus of required changes and updates to the module and based on the elements in the checklist before incorporating any changes to the module.
4. Ensure that each learning object has a well spelled out objective that is in line with the learning object content and that the content is accurate and aligned with the module content from which the learning object was extracted.
5. Edit the module writing to ensure that it is specific, clear, and simple.
6. Edit the language and media use for gender equality.
7. Ensure that adequate instructional strategies have been implemented such that there are sufficient tasks and assessments for developing skills and appropriate pedagogical approaches.
8. Check links to see if they are active and to determine whether the web sites are suitable for the activities in question.
9. Verify whether copyright laws, Fair Use, and Creative Commons practices are respected.
10. Ensure correctness and reliability of all the information included in the module.
11. Apply information and abide by guidelines provided by the AVU regarding procedures, tool use and deadlines.
12. At the end of editing phase, proofread the final edited module and ensure smooth flow of content, in order to establish that the content is correct and complete.
13. Self-evaluate the editting process by filling the evaluation form provided.

iii. Qualification of the editors

1. A Bachelor degree in the relevant field is required. A Masters or PhD would be preferred.
2. Experience in curriculum development.
3. Research and publications in the relevant area.
4. Minimum of five years of experience in teaching at University level.
5. Expertise in distance education is an added advantage.
6. Excellent working and communication skills in English, French, or Portuguese.

iv. Specific Deliverables

· Flagged/tracked changes in edited modules

· Edited and refined modules submitted to a designated AVU staff.

v. Expected Outcomes

The Editors are expected to:

· Communicate at least twice a week with the AVU team to give progress reports and seek assistance as needed.

· Respond to AVU team within 24 hours to address issues related to the editing processes, principles, tools or guidelines clarified, as the need arises.

vi. MODALITIES OF WORK

Editors editing the modules will be expected to:

· Work flexibly as individuals within one month under the supervision of the AVU team.

· Edit the module(s) attributed to them in terms of content quality and completeness; instructional strategies; language accuracy, clarity and simplicity, gender-fair use of language; copyright, Fair Use, and Creative Commons compliance.

· Edit and discuss their views with designated AVU staff before incorporating the views in the module to refine it.

· Submit a refined version of the module to the AVU team.

vii. TIMELINES

The editor will complete the work within one month starting from the time the work is allocated.

This process involves editing activities, completion of the editor’s checklist, and communication to obtain information about the editing process, guidelines and tools. Thus editors will be expected to edit a minimum of 4 modules per week and 16 modules in one month.

viii. REPORTING

The editor will report to the AVU Project Manager.

ix. PAYMENT SCHEDULES

An honorarium of $100 shall be paid to the Editors after every submission of an edited module to AVU, and subsequent approval by, the AVU team.

Annex 1: TEP modules

Module Code

Module Title

Module Code

Module Title

Module Code

Module Title

1

ICT01_EN

Introduction to ICT

31

EDU22_EN

Pedagogical Integration of ICT in Mathematics

59

BIO07_EN

Animal Physiology

2

ICT02_EN

Text-Based Productivity Tools

32

EDU23_EN

Pedagogical Integration of ICT in Physics

60

BIO08_EN

Genetics

3

ICT03_EN

Graphics & Information Management Systems

33

EDU24_EN

Successful Practices in Science Teaching

61

BIO09_EN

Cell Biology

4

ICT04_EN

Multimedia Design & Applications

34

EDU24_PT

Successful Practices in Science Teaching

62

BIO10_EN

Principles of Biochemistry

5

ICT05_EN

Learning Management Systems

35

EDU25_EN

Successful Practices in Mathematics Teaching

63

BIO11_EN

Principles of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology

6

ICT05_PT

Learning Management Systems

36

EDU26_EN

Ethics in English

64

PHY01_EN

Atomic Physics

7

EDU01_EN

Curriculum Studies

37

CHE01_EN

Introductory Chemistry 1

65

PHY02_EN

Thermal Physics

8

EDU02_EN

Educational Communication

38

CHE02_EN

Introductory Chemistry 2

66

PHY03_EN

Mechanics 1

9

EDU03_EN

Teaching Methodology

39

CHE03_EN

Organic Chemistry 1

67

PHY03_FR

Mechanics 1

10

EDU04_EN

Educational Management

40

CHE04_EN

Organic Chemistry 2

68

PHY04_EN

Mechanics 2

11

EDU05_EN

Introduction to Guidance & Counselling

41

CHE05_EN

Physical Chemistry1

69

PHY05_EN

Electricity & Magnetism

12

EDU06_EN

Learning Psychology

42

CHE06_EN

Physical Chemistry2

70

PHY06_EN

Properties of Mathematics

13

EDU07_EN

Reflective Teaching

43

CHE07_EN

Volumetric Chemical Analysis

71

PHY07_EN

Statistical Physics

14

EDU08_EN

Philosophy of Education

44

CHE08_EN

Environmental Chemistry

72

PHY08_EN

Solid State

15

EDU09_EN

Educational Evaluation & Testing

45

CHE09_EN

Inorganic Cemistry

73

PHY09_EN

Nuclear Physics

16

EDU10_EN

Contemporary Issues in Education

46

CHE10_EN

Macromolecules in the Biological System

74

PHY10_EN

Electronics

17

EDU11_EN

Comparative Education

47

CHE11_EN

Separation, Electroanalytical & Spectrochemical Techniques

75

PHY11_EN

Geometrical Optics & Physical Optics

18

EDU12_EN

Developmental Psychology

48

CHE12_EN

Industrial Inorganic Chemistry

76

PHY12_EN

Electricity & Magnetism 2

19

EDU13_EN

Classroom Management & Supervision

49

CHE13_EN

Industrial Organic Chemistry

77

PHY13_EN

Mathematical Physics 1

20

EDU14_EN

Educational Research

50

BIO01_EN

Vegetal Biology and Algology

78

PHY14_EN

Mathematical Physics 2

21

EDU15_EN

Introduction to General Psychology

51

BIO02_EN

Ecology and Environment

79

PHY14_FR

Mathematical Physics 2

22

EDU16_EN

History of Education

52

BIO03_EN

Evolution and Genetics

80

PHY15_EN

Quantum Mechanics

23

EDU17_EN

Special needs Education

53

BIO04_EN

Microbiology & Mycology

81

PHY16_EN

Energy & Environment

24

EDU18_EN

Educational Resource Development &Management

54

BIO05_FR

Animal Biology

82

PHY23_EN

ICT Integration in Physics

25

EDU19_FR

Sociology of Education

55

BIO05_EN

Animal Biology

83

MATH01_EN

Analysis 1

26

EDU20_EN

Pedagogical Integration of ICT in Biology

56

BIO06_EN

Plant Physiology

84

MATH02_EN

Basic Mathematics

27

EDU20_FR

Pedagogical Integration of ICT in Biology

57

BIO06_FR

Plant Physiology

85

MATH03_EN

Calculus

28

EDU21_EN

Pedagogical Integration of ICT in Chemistry

58

BIO07_FR

Animal Physiology

86

MATH04_EN

Linear Algebra

EN=English PT= Portuguese FR=French

HOW TO APPLY:

Applications should be sent to job@avu.org and must have Teacher Education Program - Editors as the email subject