Senior Research Assistants are normally graduate students, or University of Winnipeg undergraduate students, employed to assist in the execution and evaluation of research projects in their area of study. The positions may oversee Research Assistants in areas such as the use of proper techniques, analysis, and documentation.
Senior Research Assistants work under the general supervision or direction of more senior researchers or faculty members, and are expected to exercise judgment in prioritizing, planning and organizing their own work within defined parameters.
Position Overview:
Across Canada, assessment is on the cusp of change. In British Columbia, new grading and reporting systems have presented opportunities for teachers to realign their practice in support of student learning. In Manitoba, teachers are leading a grassroots movement to form a new professional association - the Manitoba Association for Progressive Assessment (MAPA) - with an emphasis on outcomes-based assessment, ungrading, and decolonizing assessment practices. In Ontario, the Ministry of Education is undertaking revisions to Growing Success, a longstanding policy document, to meet new challenges posed by artificial intelligence tools and the lingering effects of the pandemic on student learning.
"Leading Assessment Change" is a four-day summer institute (August 11-14) that gathers teachers, assessment leaders, and classroom assessment researchers for focused conversations on leading assessment change in diverse contexts. Jointly hosted by the University of Winnipeg, the University of Manitoba, and the Canadian Assessment for Learning Network (CAfLN), with support from Queen's University and MAPA, this event will enhance participants' capacity as assessment leaders and support meaningful assessment change across the country.
As part of the event's knowledge mobilization efforts, a Senior Research Assistant (SRA) will work with organizers from the University of Winnipeg and University of Manitoba and our partner organizations to prepare a series of videos focused on Leading Assessment Change. The purpose of these videos is threefold: (1) to showcase situated examples of how teachers, assessment specialists, and system leaders are applying classroom assessment research in their contexts to lead assessment change, (2) to support participants as they share their learning with other stakeholders in their contexts after the event, and (3) to strengthen our partner organizations’ ability to create local and national networks of evidence-based practice in classroom assessment.
Duties:
- The Senior Research Assistant (SRA) will work closely with the conference organizers, Dr. Michael Holden (University of Winnipeg) and Dr. Martha Koch (University of Manitoba) to prepare for, film, edit, and produce a series of videos focused on Leading Assessment Change.
- We anticipate producing a series of short (~30 second) and mid-length (~4 minute) videos focused on the following topics: what it means to lead assessment change; what assessment and learning look like in specific contexts; overcoming assessment challenges; shifting assessment cultures; and participant-specific assessment foci.
- Drawing on a strong knowledge of filming, editing, knowledge mobilization, and issues of teaching and learning, the SRA will support knowledge mobilization planning (3 hours), filming (5 hours), video editing and production (40 hours), and meet with participants and partner organizations (5 hours). Video editing software and cloud storage will be provided.
Qualifications:
- The ideal candidate will have completed at least the first year of their undergraduate degree, with strong preference for students enrolled in a Bachelor of Education (BEd) or equivalent program.
- The ideal candidate will have experience working and communicating with classroom teachers, principals, and school system leaders; supporting educational research, especially in the area of classroom assessment; and sharing information about teaching and learning through videos and other media.
- The candidate must demonstrate excellent planning, organization, and interpersonal skills. The candidate must be able to work independently and as part of a team.
- The candidate must have advanced proficiency with filming, editing, and video production, including and especially use of prominent video editing software (e.g., Adobe Premier Pro). Strong preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated evidence of experience producing videos for educational purposes.
- The candidate must be available for filming dates between Monday, August 11 and Thursday, August 14 for the in-person conference, and for regular team meetings before and after the event to support planning and knowledge mobilization.
Condition(s) of Employment:
- Must be legally entitled to work in Canada.
The period of work will be from May 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025, and the estimated total hours of work will be 0-53 hours.
Note: This position is represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada - Research Capacity Unit.
Note: The work described in this posting will be conducted in-person.
The University of Winnipeg is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognizes that a diverse staff and faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research environments, and is essential to academic and institutional excellence. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and encourage women, racialized persons, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons to confidentially self-identify at time of application.
The University of Winnipeg is committed to ensuring employment opportunities are accessible for all applicants. If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact human_resources@uwinnipeg.ca.
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