At Quinnipiac Innovations in Learning and Teaching (QILT), we collaborate with the university community to shape the future of teaching and learning. Our cross-functional team—comprising learning designers, technologists, and faculty development experts—works to create dynamic, inclusive, and student-centered learning environments that drive academic excellence and align with Quinnipiac’s strategic vision.
The Learning Designer plays a university-wide role in supporting faculty and academic programs in the design, development, and enhancement of online, hybrid, and face-to-face courses. Grounded in evidence-based instructional design and inclusive teaching practices, this position helps ensure that learning experiences are engaging, accessible, and aligned with learning outcomes and disciplinary priorities.
This role joins QILT at a pivotal moment as the university transitions from Blackboard to Canvas over the next two years. The Learning Designer will be instrumental in supporting this transition—guiding course redesign efforts, developing faculty training and support resources, and contributing to scalable approaches that enhance the teaching and learning experience in Canvas. The designer will also contribute to broader QILT initiatives, including faculty development programming, academic innovation pilots, and the continuous improvement of digital learning experiences across all schools.
This hybrid role is based in Hamden/North Haven, CT, with three days on-site and two days remote each week. It is not a fully remote position. Additional details will be provided during the process.
Learning Design and Instructional Development (50%)
- Collaborate with faculty, academic staff, and subject matter experts across the university to design, develop, and revise online, hybrid, and face-to-face courses aligned with learning outcomes, program goals, and accreditation standards.
- Apply instructional design best practices—including backward design, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and evidence-based learning science—to support engaging and inclusive learning environments.
- Build, review, and support courses in Canvas and other learning platforms, ensuring accessibility, clarity, and alignment with instructional goals.
- Partner with instructors and programs to improve assessment strategies, align learning objectives with measurable outcomes, and embed active and authentic learning experiences that drive student engagement.
- Liaise directly with specific academic programs to understand their unique pedagogical priorities, discipline-specific practices, accreditation needs, and instructional challenges—and to co-develop responsive resources, templates, and recommendations that reflect their context and needs.
Faculty Development and Educational Program Support (25%)
- Design and facilitate workshops, learning communities, and training sessions focused on effective teaching practices, instructional design, and educational technologies—including the use of generative AI and related tools.
- Create and maintain written and multimedia support materials (including on-demand resources) that guide faculty in designing inclusive, effective, and technology-enhanced learning experiences.
- Support faculty in identifying student learning needs and selecting appropriate pedagogical strategies and tools to enhance student learning and engagement.
- Advise on the ethical and pedagogical integration of evolving tools (such as generative AI) to promote innovation, academic integrity, and meaningful learning outcomes.
Learning Management System (LMS) Transition and Support (15%)
- Play a central role in Quinnipiac’s transition from Blackboard to Canvas over the next two years, assisting in course migration, content redesign, and instructor onboarding.
- Help academic programs adopt and adapt Quinnipiac’s Canvas base course template to reflect program-specific needs and instructional approaches, offering consultation on modifications that enhance usability and pedagogical alignment.
- Develop and support scalable transition resources (e.g., templates, guides, workshops) that meet the needs of diverse disciplines and teaching styles.
- Partner with programs to explore built-in Canvas tools (e.g., SpeedGrader, rubrics, modules, outcomes, announcements, etc.) and support meaningful integration of third-party tools, including generative AI applications, where appropriate.
Project Management and Strategic Initiatives (5%)
- Contribute to QILT-led and cross-functional projects, managing instructional design-related tasks, documentation, and timelines.
- Participate in campus-wide initiatives exploring innovative practices in learning design, digital tools, and academic transformation.
- Support quality assurance efforts by reviewing course designs for alignment with institutional, accessibility, and accreditation standards.
Leadership and Collaboration (5%)
- Serve as a thought partner and instructional design resource across the university community.
- Actively share knowledge of learning sciences, generative AI in education, digital pedagogy, and teaching practices with colleagues and campus partners.
- Build strong relationships across schools, programs, and departments to foster collaboration, consistency, and innovation in teaching and learning.
- 3-5 years of experience
- Demonstrated knowledge of how people learn and its implications for effective teaching and learning practices
- Ability to use technology meaningfully in support of pedagogy and student engagement
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including promoting inclusive teaching practices
- Knowledge and experience in accessibility practices and Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- Proficiency in instructional design practices, including backward design and learner-centered design
- Experience designing learning experiences in face-to-face, online, hybrid, and video-supported environments
- Experience designing, building, and supporting courses in a Learning Management System like Canvas, including course templates, rubrics, and integrations
- Ability to support faculty in adapting Canvas course templates and building context-responsive course designs
- Familiarity with HTML and CSS for content authoring and web presentation
- Experience creating content that meets web accessibility standards and presents information in multiple formats
- Ability to design and facilitate faculty development workshops on teaching strategies and instructional technologies
- Demonstrated success in collaborating with faculty to implement pedagogical and technological changes
- Experience developing interactive learning elements using tools like Articulate Rise
- Ability to evaluate and support the use of new tools, including generative AI, in ways that align with learning goals and academic integrity
- Knowledge of project and task management practices for organizing course development work and collaborative initiatives
- Awareness of federal regulations, data privacy, and ethical considerations in educational technology (e.g., FERPA, ADA)
- Strong interpersonal, writing, and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across the university community
- Ability to independently troubleshoot and solve problems in a timely and effective manner
- Commitment to continuous learning, staying current on trends, research, and innovations in instructional design and educational technology
- Preferred experience in learning design within nursing and healthcare programs.
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively with individuals from varied backgrounds.
Bachelor's degree required
Master's degree preferred
Quinnipiac University is a private, coeducational institution located 90 minutes north of New York City and two hours from Boston. The university currently has an enrollment of 9,000 students in more than 130 degree programs through its Schools of Business, Communications, Education, Computing, and Engineering, Health Sciences, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and the College of Arts and Sciences. Our 21 Division I teams have achieved remarkable success, boasting multiple conference titles. This includes a 2023 NCAA National Championship win in ice hockey, a three-time defending national champion women's rugby team, and a trip to the Sweet 16 for our women's basketball team. The Quinnipiac University Poll is nationally recognized as a leader in public opinion research, and the university is consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review's "The Best 388 Colleges." The university is in the midst of program expansion and renewal for both traditional and adult learners, attraction of diverse communities, development of innovative corporate partnerships, and construction of an ambitious set of capital projects. For more information, please visit qu.edu. Connect with Quinnipiac on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and X.