The Learning and Teaching job family recognises achievements in the delivery of the College's educational mission, educational leadership, educational transformation, educational scholarship, and national and international leadership roles which support the College's mission to excel and to lead in the field of Higher Education.

Learning and Teaching Job Family Guidance

Learning Level 3a/ Assistant Teaching Fellow grade

Roles at this level are generally concerned with assisting and supporting the work of teaching staff within a department and either teaching within a clear and established programme or developing e-learning materials for teaching.  Roles at this level may represent the entry level for those who may wish to train and/or develop to take on a more senior role.

Where staff have line management responsibilities, Imperial expects them to lead by example.

Representative work activities

Teaching
  •  Work under close supervision of, and direction from, teaching staff and/or Director of Undergraduate Studies/Course Organiser, who will be ultimately responsible for a teaching programme
  •  Carry out teaching within a clear and established programme, with assistance and support.
  • Assist with the development of teaching materials including, writing handouts and other basic learning support materials.
  • Mark coursework and assignments under supervision.
  • Perform laboratory demonstrations
  • Undertake duties related to course administration, such as attendance records, Health & Safety matters relating to practicals, etc.
Learning Technology
  •  Work under the direction of a Learning Technologist in the development of innovative, e-learning material, project and activities for teaching.
  •  Work collaboratively with other Learning Technologists, academic staff, ICT, and other colleagues that support teaching via e-learning methods in line with the College's e-learning strategy
  • Participate as a member of the e-Learning team, including involvement in projects, team meetings and communications.
  • Assist in the planning, design and development of high-quality e-Learning resources.
  • Assist in providing advice, guidance, demonstrations and training to academic staff on the use of the virtual learning environment (VLE) in teaching, learning and assessment.
  • Support the overall work of the College e-Learning Strategic Committee and College-wide e-Learning network in e-learning activities across the College.
  • Assist in promoting use of the College's VLE, and other appropriate technologies, to all staff involved in teaching and learning.
  •  Assist with the organisation of e-Learning meetings and events
  • Assist in evaluating the effectiveness of the online materials and courses

 Typical knowledge, skills & experience

Teaching
  • A degree or equivalent.
  • Ability to deliver teaching at undergraduate level.
  • Specialist knowledge in the relevant discipline and of teaching methods and techniques within own area.

Learning Technology
  • Educated to at least ‘A' level standard or equivalent
  • Ability to work both as part of a team and independently in the successful delivery of e-Learning projects
  • Ability to co-ordinate a range of activities on behalf of a Learning Technologist as required
  • Keep abreast of developments in learning technologies in HE and beyond in order to improve and enhance learning technologies support provision

 

Performance criteria

Evidence of:
  • Expertise in subject and techniques through: 
  •  knowledge of subject area, experience in practical techniques ongoing review by line
  • manager/supervisor e.g. against job descriptions and set work standards

 

Learning Level 3b/ Teaching Fellow Grade

Roles at this level may represent the early stages of a teaching or learning technology career whereby the post holder undertakes a specific set of responsibilities within an established programme or area. Teaching or learning technology activities may be combined with appropriate organising and managing in support of these activities.

Where staff have line management responsibilities, Imperial expects them to lead by example.

Representative work activities

Teaching and Learning Support
  • Teach as a member of a teaching team within an Academic Department and within an established programme of study.
  •  Give basic lectures
  • Develop own teaching materials, methods and approaches with guidance where appropriate
  •  Design, organise and run laboratory classes
  •  Supervise the work of students, provide advice on study skills and help them with learning problems.
  • Assess the work and progress of students using appropriate criteria and provide constructive feedback to students, including feedback on essays and course assessments.
  •  Mark examinations and course work.
  • Co-ordinate internal or visiting lecturers
  •  Assist in the admissions process
  • Act as academic tutor and run academic tutorials
  • Act as a personal tutor providing pastoral support to students.
  • To develop and manage staff as appropriate
Research and Scholarship
  • Reflect on practice and the development of own teaching and learning skills
  • Remain professional in practice and maintain knowledge in own specialist area.
Administration and other activities
  • Undertake duties related to course administration, including organisation of teaching activities under direction, attendance records, Health & Safety matters relating to practicals, etc.
  • Participate in departmental meetings as required.
Learning Technology
  • Work under the direction of the Director of Undergraduate Studies or Chair of an e-Learning Implementation Group or Senior Learning Technologist in the development of innovative, e-learning material, project and activities for teaching.
  • Work collaboratively with other Learning Technologists, academic staff, ICT, and other colleagues that support teaching via e-learning methods.
  • Participate as a member of the e-Learning team in a Department or Faculty, including involvement in projects, team meetings and communications.
  • Plan, design and develop high quality e-Learning resources in collaboration with academic staff. 
  •  Provide advice, guidance, demonstrations and training to academic staff on the use of the virtual learning environment (VLE) in teaching, learning and assessment.
  • Support the work of the College e-Learning Strategic Committee and College-wide e-Learning network in e-learning activities across the College.
  • Promote use of the College's VLE, and other appropriate technologies, to all staff involved in teaching and learning.
  •  Collaborate with other Learning Technologists on the organisation of e-Learning meetings and events.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the online materials and courses
  • Participate in an appropriate programme of pedagogical training and/or join the HEA register either as a Registered Practitioner or as an Associate Practitioner.

 Knowledge, skills and experience

Teaching
  • Demonstrable ability to teach effectively at undergraduate level in a variety of teaching situations.
  •  Relevant degree and have, or are nearing completion of a postgraduate qualification or equivalent in relevant discipline.
  • Have or to be working towards a recognised teaching qualification.
  • Specialist knowledge in the relevant discipline and of teaching methods and techniques within own area.
  • Develop familiarity with a variety of strategies to promote and assess teaching.
Learning Technology
  • A degree or equivalent professional experience.
  • knowledge of web-based technologies and their use in higher education.
  • Relevant experience of working in e-Learning or in a teaching and learning environment.
  • Significant experience of using a VLE for the development of e-Learning materials.
  • Experience of working with academic staff to plan, design, develop, test and evaluate e-Learning resources as core part of a programme of study.
  • Ability to work as part of a team in the management and successful delivery of project outcomes and to prioritise workloads when working on multiple projects.
  • Experience of working on e-Learning projects and delivering successful outcomes.
  • Experience of producing creative learning solutions using a combination of relevant software packages.
  • Keep abreast of developments in learning technologies in HE and beyond in order to improve and enhance learning technologies support provision.

Performance criteria

Evidence of:
  • Appropriate subject expertise, and that it is frequently updated through ongoing review by line manager/supervisor e.g. against job descriptions and set work standards
  • Contribution to design of appropriate teaching materials
  • A developing reputation in the subject
  • Quality of teaching or learning technology e.g. through feedback from colleagues
  • Optimal utilisation of resources e.g. efficient use of time, materials, etc
Learning Level 4/ Senior Teaching Fellow Grade

Roles at this level are held by individuals experienced in teaching or learning technology. Roles at this level may involve innovation in course design and/or delivery and the contribution to the department/faculty through leadership and management may be significant.

Where staff have line management responsibilities, Imperial expects them to lead by example.

 Representative work activities

Teaching and Learning Support
  • Undertake teaching in order to support the work of the Department and enhance its teaching.
  • Be responsible for the design and delivery of teaching material and the assessment of teaching activities.
  • Teach as a member of a teaching team within an established programme of study.
  • Give lectures 
  • Develop own teaching materials, methods and approaches 
  • Use appropriate teaching, learning support and assessment methods
  • Identify areas where current provision is in need of revision or improvement
  • Contribute to the planning, design and development of objectives and curricula
  • Be module/course /year organiser
  • Design, organise and run laboratory classes
  • Supervise the work of students, provide advice on study skills and help them with learning problems.
  • Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate student projects, field trips and placements
  • Set and assess work and examinations and provide timely feedback to students
  • Assess the work and progress of students using appropriate criteria and provide constructive feedback to students, including feedback on essays and course assessments.
  • Mark examinations and course work
  • Coordinate with internal or visiting lecturers
  • Hold departmental position in teaching e.g. Admissions tutor/Senior tutor
  • Assist in admissions process
  • Act as academic tutor and run academic tutorials
  • Act as a personal tutor or be responsible for the pastoral care of students within a specified area
Research and Scholarship
  • Engage in scholarly activities related to subject area and higher education practice.
  • Contribute to the process of securing funds for scholarly activities.
  • Take responsibility for development of new initiatives in teaching.
  • Apply knowledge acquired from scholarship to teaching
  • Reflect on practice and the development of own teaching and learning skills
  • Remain professional in practice and maintain knowledge in own specialist area.

Administration and other activities
  •  Participate in and develop activities such as student recruitment, student placements and outreach work.
  • Undertake specific departmental roles as may be required.
  • Attend and participate in committees and working groups within the department and College as required.
  • Participate in relevant professional activities.
  • Undertake duties related to course administration, including organisation of teaching activities under direction, attendance records, Health & Safety matters relating to practicals, etc.
Learning Technology
  • Work under the direction of the Director of Undergraduate Studies or Head of Department or Principal Learning Technologist and lead the development of innovative, e-learning material, project and activities for teaching in a Department or Faculty.
  •  Work collaboratively with other academic staff, ICT, and other relevant colleagues to oversee the efforts of Learning Technologists in supporting teaching via e-learning methods in line with the College's e-learning strategy
  • Chair and coordinate meetings involving Learning Technologists and relevant colleagues, in a Department or Faculty, on e-Learning activities, initiate and participate in projects and communications.
  • Oversee and co-ordinate the planning, design and development of high-quality e-Learning resources
  • Oversee the guidance, demonstrations and training provided to academic staff on the use of the virtual learning environment (VLE) in teaching, learning and assessment.
  • Support the work of the College e-Learning Strategic Committee and the College-wide e-Learning network including chairing meetings
  •  To manage e-Learning budgets and raise internal and external funding to support e-Learning activities.
  • Oversee and coordinate the promotion and use of the College's VLE, and other appropriate technologies, to all staff involved in teaching and learning
  • Oversee and coordinate the efforts of Learning Technologists in the organisation of e-Learning meetings and events in a Department or Faculty.
  • Direct, oversee and coordinate the review and evaluation of the effectiveness of the online materials and courses.
  • Assist in the initiation and co-ordination and actively participate in a relevant programme of pedagogical training and/or join the HEA register as a Registered Practitioner.

Knowledge, skills & experience

Teaching
  •  A degree and postgraduate qualification or equivalent in relevant discipline
  •  Recognised qualification in Higher Education learning and teaching (or nearing completion).
  •  Sufficient breadth or depth of specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop teaching programmes and the provision of learning support
  • Familiarity with a variety of strategies to promote and assess learning.
  • Proven ability and achievements in a broad range of teaching
Learning Technology
  •  A degree in Instructional Technology Development, Computer Science, Information systems or other related discipline.
  • Membership of a relevant professional body.
  • Significant knowledge of web-based technologies and their use in higher education.
  • Significant experience of using a VLE for the development of e-Learning materials.
  • Significant experience of working with academic staff to coordinate and oversee the planning, design, development, testing and evaluation of e-Learning resources as core part of a programme of study.
  • Proven ability to lead a team in the management and successful delivery of project outcomes and to prioritise the deployment of staff when working on multiple projects.
  • Proven track record of working on e-Learning projects and delivering successful outcomes.
  • Proven track record of producing creative learning solutions using a combination of relevant software packages.
  • Keep abreast of developments in learning technologies in HE and beyond by attending relevant conferences and workshops in order to improve and enhance learning technologies support provision.

Performance criteria

Evidence of:
  • Attracting funding and/or bids for other financial support, or equivalent measure of impact
  • Contribution to programme design and quality
  • Contribution to broader processes e.g. departmental/faculty course development, assessment examinations, recruitment, etc
  • Effective management of resources
  • A developing reputation in the subject
Learning Level 5/ Principal Teaching Fellow Grade

Roles at this level commonly reflect extensive professional experience. Individuals have a substantial reputation in their field and make a significant impact on their discipline or profession through effective and innovative teaching or learning technology. Roles will focus on developing teaching and learning technology at the faculty/College level.

Where staff have line management responsibilities, Imperial expects them to lead by example.

Representative work activities

Teaching and Learning Support
  • Responsible for major areas of teaching activity within either Faculty or College.
  • Design, develop and deliver a range of programmes of study and contribute to the development of learning and teaching strategies.
  • Teach as a member of a teaching team.
  • Give lectures
  • Provide strategic leadership in curriculum design and delivery across a range of programmes of study at various levels.
  • Ensure management and enhancement of teaching quality within a faculty/College.
  • Responsible for enhancing student experience in the Faculty or College.
  • Develop and apply innovative and appropriate teaching techniques and material which create interest, understanding and enthusiasm amongst students.
  • Develop own teaching materials, methods and approaches
  • Use appropriate teaching, learning support and assessment methods
  • Identify areas where current provision is in need of revision or improvement
  • Contribute to the planning, design and development of objectives and curricula
  • Be module/course /year organiser as appropriate
  • Design, organise and run laboratory classes
  • Supervise the work of students, provide advice on study skills and help them with learning problems.
  • Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate student projects, field trips and placements
  • Set and assess work and examinations and provide timely feedback to students
  • Assess the work and progress of students using appropriate criteria and provide constructive feedback to students, including feedback on essays and course assessments.
  • Mark examinations and course work
  • Coordinate with internal or visiting lecturers
  • Hold departmental position in teaching e.g. Admissions tutor/Senior tutor
  • Assist in admissions process for the faculty/College
  • To promote the College's responsibility for its pastoral care of students
Research and Scholarship
  • Engage in education related research and other scholarly activities.
  • Secure internal or external funding for teaching initiatives or scholarship.
  • Responsible for the development of teaching and learning strategies in the Faculty or College
  • Apply knowledge acquired from scholarship to teaching
  • Reflect on practice and the development of own teaching and learning skills
  • Professional in practice and maintain knowledge in own specialist area.
Administration and other activities
  • Contribute to the efficient management and administration of the Faculty or College by performing administrative duties as allocated and by taking on appropriate positions of responsibility.
  • Provide leadership to those working in programme areas, as course leader or equivalent.
  • Manage and develop teams and staff involved in teaching, e.g. teaching fellows, technicians or administrators.
  • Participate in and develop activities such as student recruitment, student placements and outreach work.
  • Participate in committees and working groups within the Faculty and College as required.
  • Participate in relevant professional activities.
Learning Technology
  •  Work under the direction of the Pro-Rector for Education to set the College's e-Learning strategy for the design and development of engaging, interactive and instructionally sound materials.
  • Oversee the efforts of Senior Learning Technologists in supporting teaching via e-learning methods across the College in line with the College's e-Learning strategy.
  • Lead, co-ordinate and manage effectively the planning, design and development of high-quality e-Learning resources.
  • Coordinate and chair the College's e-Learning Strategic Committee.
  • Provide strategic leadership for the College in terms of e-Learning activities.
  • Be responsible for the College e-Learning budget and help raise internal and external funding to support e-Learning activities.
  • Be responsible for the promotion and use of the College's VLE, and other appropriate technologies, to all staff involved in teaching and learning across the College.
  • Oversee and coordinate the efforts of Senior Learning Technologists in the organisation of e-Learning meetings and events.
  • Manage and develop those staff who report directly to the Principal Learning Technologist.
  • Responsible for periodic review and evaluation of the effectiveness of the online materials and courses across the College.
  • Responsible for the initiation and overall co-ordination of a relevant programme of pedagogical training and be recognised at a senior level by relevant professional body/bodies.
  • Attend and give keynote lectures at conferences and workshops, which are relevant to e-Learning both nationally and internationally.

 Knowledge, skills & experience

Teaching
  • A degree and postgraduate qualification, or equivalent, in relevant discipline
  • Recognised qualification in Higher Education learning and teaching.
  • In-depth understanding of education and practice in own specialism.
  • Familiarity with a variety of strategies to promote and assess learning.
  • Proven ability and major achievements in teaching, demonstrated by consistently high quality and substantial record in teaching, including national and/or international recognition.
Learning Technology
  • A degree and postgraduate qualification or equivalent in Instructional Technology Development, Computer Science, Information systems or other related discipline.
  • Recognition by relevant professional bodies.
  • Significant relevant experience of working in e-Learning or in a teaching and learning environment.
  • At the cutting-edge of web-based technologies and their use in higher education.
  • Nationally and/or internationally recognised for in-depth experience of using a VLE for the development of e-Learning materials.
  • Outstanding track record in leading a team in the management and successful delivery of large-scale, creative e-Learning projects and to prioritise the deployment of staff when working on multiple projects.
  • Proven track record in securing funding to support e-Learning projects.
  • Be at the forefront of the application of e-Learning techniques in higher education.

 Performance criteria

Evidence of:
  • Contribution to the Faculty/College through broader processes, e.g. innovative course development, assessment exercises, examinations, projects or other initiatives
  • Contribution to the development of colleagues and/or students through coaching, acting as a mentor or otherwise leading development activities
  • Performance as a team leader, based on team performance and feedback
Learning Level 6/ Teaching Fellow (equivalent to Level 6 - title under review)

Teaching Fellow (equivalent to Level 6)

Contribution to the College's Educational Mission

  • Provide strategic leadership in curriculum design and delivery across a range of programmes of study at various levels, in a way which is consistent with the aims of the Learning and Teaching Strategy. Use an evidence-based approach to develop suitable strategies where areas of current provision are identified as in need of revision or improvement, considering both immediate and longer-term implications (e.g. education standards, quality assurance and other external evaluation)
  • Leadership of major areas of teaching activity, applying knowledge acquired from scholarship to own teaching practice. Support others in the effective use of appropriate teaching, learning support and assessment methods by translating scholarly activity and relevant educational theory and strategy into contextually relevant good practice
  • Lead, manage and develop those involved in planning, delivering and/or supporting teaching and learning activities and programmes, motivating and mentoring them to better meet current and future professional requirements
  • Evaluate teaching and learning provision, keeping abreast of external developments and using cross-sector awareness and expertise, adopting an evidence-based approach to enhance quality
  • Provide leadership to and develop activities such as admissions, student recruitment and outreach work
  • Identify trends, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in learning and teaching, student attainment and progression that may have an impact at College/Faculty level, reporting when appropriate so as to facilitate appropriate and timely response

 Educational Research, Evaluation and Critical Enquiry 

  • Lead and be recognised in activities of evaluation, critical enquiry and educational research
  • Engage in contextually-relevant education-related research and other scholarly activities e.g. through membership of appropriate bodies and committees, editorships of journals, writing textbooks etc.)
  • Publish educational policy/research leading to an established reputation in the subject area and sector
  • Secure internal or external funding for teaching initiatives or scholarship

Leadership and Management

  • Make a significant contribution to the efficient management and administration of the Faculty or College, facilitating change management and promoting good practice
  • Contribute to budgetary planning and resource management, using allocated budget/resources effectively and flexibly to control expenditure and ensure delivery of targets/objectives within budgetary constraints

Profession and Practice

  • Be recognised at a senior level by relevant professional body/bodies
  • Lead training and development for other staff, and shape provision
  • Assume external roles of responsibility (e.g. external examiner for degree programmes in other universities, subject expert in consultancy and advisory arrangements etc.)
  • Be a reflective, responsive practitioner committed to personal and professional development, and the development of own teaching and learning skills
  • Be actively involved in national academic and professional committees and networks making valued contributions and holding positions of responsibility (e.g. being chair)
  • Appropriate qualification and/or experience in relevant research ideally in a biomedical context or a skills biomedically qualified (PhD) practitioner with clear evidence of sustained critical disciplinary engagement

Learning Technologist (role specific)

Contribution to the College's Educational Mission

  • Lead or participate in the College's strategic technological learning committees or working parties
  • Provide leadership to those planning and leading teaching and learning activities and programmes, such as course leaders or equivalent. Engage in horizon-scanning, be proactive in identifying and responding to external factors (political, strategic, technological)
  • Make a significant contribution to the periodic review and evaluation of the effectiveness of the online materials and courses across the Faculty/College, in terms of both the technological and the pedagogical content and intent
  • Oversee multiple projects, ensuring each is managed and delivered to specification, time and budget
  • Lead and be recognised in the activities of research, evaluation, enquiry and data analytics

 Educational Research, Evaluation and Critical Enquiry

  • Make a significant contribution to the efficient management and administration of the Faculty or College, facilitating change management and promoting good practice. Manage relationships with a range of stakeholders. Use negotiation and influencing skills to achieve goals
  • Contribute to budgetary planning and resource management, using allocated budget/resources effectively and flexibly to control expenditure and ensure delivery of targets/objectives within budgetary constraints
  • Publish educational policy/research leading to an established reputation in the subject area and sector
  • Engage in contextually-relevant education-related research and other scholarly activities e.g. through membership of appropriate bodies and committees, editorships of journals, writing textbooks etc.) and assume external roles of responsibility (e.g. external examiner for degree programmes in other universities, subject expert in consultancy and advisory arrangements etc.)

 Leadership and Management 

  • Provide strategic leadership for the Faculty/College in using technology to enhance learning and teaching and make a significant contribution to setting a technology-led strategy for the design and development of engaging, interactive and instructionally sound materials
  • Provide expert advice and guidance to other professionals and encourage them to achieve College/Faculty/Divisional /Departmental objectives as appropriate
  • Manage and develop those involved in delivering and/or supporting teaching and learning activities and programmes, motivating and mentoring them to better meet current and future professional requirements
  • Undertake internal learning and development training as relevant to role

 Profession and Practice

  • Champion change, and influence others in the adoption of new practices and approaches
  • Engage with learning and development opportunities provided by vendors. Shape and co-deliver this provision
  • Actively participate in academic conferences and workshops which are relevant to e-Learning both nationally and internally (e.g. presenting, chairing, organising breakouts)
  • Be recognised as a subject matter expert in multiple institutional technologies
  • Be a reflective, responsive practitioner committed to personal and professional development
  • Educated to degree in Instructional Technology Development, Computer Science, Information systems or other related discipline
  • Recognition by a relevant professional body or bodies at senior level

 Teaching Fellow (equivalent to Level 7) - details to follow

Job Family Grading Structure summary

Learning and Teaching family

Overall Definition: Roles in this family are wholly or mainly focused on providing or improving the organisation and delivery of teaching and consequently improving the student experience.

In addition to the summaries given below, the full criteria for each level is also available.

Learning Level 3a – Assistant Teaching Fellow grade
Summary: Roles at this level are generally concerned with assisting and supporting the work of teaching staff within a department and either teaching within a clear and established programme or developing e-learning materials for teaching.  Roles at this level may represent the entry level for those who may wish to train and/or develop to take on a more senior role.

Learning Level 3b – Teaching Fellow grade
Summary: Roles at this level may represent the early stages of a teaching or learning technology career whereby the post holder undertakes a specific set of responsibilities within an established programme or area. Teaching or learning technology activities may be combined with appropriate organising and managing in support of these activities.

Learning Level 4 – Senior Teaching Fellow grade
Summary: Roles at this level are held by individuals experienced in teaching or learning technology. Roles at this level may involve innovation in course design and/or delivery and the contribution to the department/faculty through leadership and management may be significant.

Learning Level 5 – Principal Teaching Fellow grade
Summary: Roles at this level commonly reflect extensive professional experience. Individuals have a substantial reputation in their field and make a significant impact on their discipline or profession through effective and innovative teaching or learning technology. Roles will focus on developing teaching and learning technology at the faculty/College level.

Learning Level 6 – Teaching Fellow (equivalent to Level 6) title under review
Summary: Roles at this senior level reflect extensive professional experience. Individuals make an important and substantial impact in College through innovative educational or learning technology development, and make a significant contribution to the implementation and service delivery of educational strategy at the College. Roles will have an impact at Faculty/College level. Staff wishing to apply for promotion to this level are interviewed. Staff wishing to apply for promotion to this level should apply through the Learning and Teaching Promotions' web page, where the forms and application are available, as well as detailed guidelines on the criteria and promotion process.

 Teaching Fellow (equivalent to Level 7) - details to follow