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.
Two Senior Research Assistants (SRAs) will directly support this research event's organization, implementation, and knowledge mobilization. Specifically, their responsibilities will include communicating with participating delegates before, during, and after the event; identifying participant interests aligned with research-based approaches; logistics preparations; event support, including room setup, registration, and troubleshooting; coordinating knowledge mobilization activities with CAfLN, MAPA, and the host universities; attending team meetings; and synthesizing participant feedback.
Duties:
- The Senior Research Assistants (SRAs) will work closely with the conference organizers, Dr. Michael Holden (University of Winnipeg) and Dr. Martha Koch (University of Manitoba) to prepare for, implement, and share findings from this event.
- To prepare for the event, the SRAs and conference organizers will analyze participants' responses to a survey describing their areas of interest and expertise in classroom assessment, inclusive assessment design, self-regulated learning, culturally responsive assessment, shifting assessment cultures, rethinking assessment and grading, assessment (in)equity, leveraging technology and artificial intelligence tools, and outcomes-based assessment. SRAs will support the preparation of the conference program, including supporting facilitators in preparing for presentations and related administrative duties.
- During the event, SRAs will assist in the event's implementation, including supporting delegate registration, setup of individual rooms, and troubleshooting delegate issues during the event. They will also work with the conference organizers to gather materials for knowledge mobilization drawn from participant activities happening during the conference, including presentation materials and contributions, as well as individual delegate reflections and feedback.
- After the event, SRAs will synthesize participant feedback to inform future events. They will also play a key role in supporting knowledge mobilization, with a focus on organizing knowledge sharing sessions between participants and other CAfLN/MAPA members who were not able to attend the gathering.
- Throughout, SRAs will assist in preparing materials for the conference, including knowledge mobilization and research materials, and will maintain active communication with the organizing team, conference delegates, and event partners.
Qualifications:
- The ideal candidates will have completed at least the second year of their undergraduate degree, with strong preference for students enrolled in a Bachelor of Education (BEd) or equivalent program.
- The ideal candidates will have experience working and communicating with classroom teachers, principals, and school system leaders; conducting educational research; organizing research events; and sharing research/practice insights, especially in the area of classroom assessment.
- The candidates must demonstrate exceptional organizational skills, excellent interpersonal communication, and strong problem-solving capabilities. The candidate must be able to work independently and as part of a team.
- The candidates must be proficient with the Microsoft Office suite and survey software (e.g., Google forms or Qualtrics).
- The candidates must be available Monday, August 11 to Thursday, August 14 inclusive for the in-person conference, and for regular team meetings before and after the event to support logistical preparations and knowledge mobilization.
- The candidates must be able to lift up to 50lbs to support reorganizing classroom furniture (chairs, tables) for the event.
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 0-75 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.
The personal information of applicants is collected under the authority of the University of Winnipeg Act and 36(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. All personal information collected via the recruitment process is used to assess the applicant’s suitability, eligibility, and qualifications for employment, and to otherwise support recruitment activities. This information will be provided to participating members of the recruitment process. Questions regarding the collection of your personal information may be directed to the Director, HR Services, 515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 2E9 or human_resources@uwinnipeg.ca.