The Student Digital Experience (DIGE) workstream is a collaboration between the Learning Technologies Group (LTG) in Oxford University Computing Services and the Student Systems Replacement Programme (SSRP) in the Academic Administration Division. It runs from 1st October 2011 until 30th April 2012 and has two principal objectives:
1. Map the current ‘landscape’ of the digital services and systems that Oxford provides for both students and staff in order to support teaching and learning, and also to support student life in general: for example, OxCORT, GSS, Nexus, WebLearn, SOLO, OxLIP and Mobile Oxford. This landscape is to be mapped in terms of a) the architecture of these services and systems and b) how they are experienced by students and staff.
2. Research, and document, the University’s vision for the future direction of these services and systems over the next five years; set out a series of recommendations to faculties, departments and administrative units.
The project is seeking to recruit two graduate students to assist its work for up to 15 hours a week each. The appointments will start as soon as possible and will run until 31st March, 2012. An hourly rate of £11.86 is payable.
Main duties
Contribute to the design of data collection instruments.
Participate in data collection, particularly interviews and focus groups.
Participate in data analysis.
Contribute to the preparation of formal project reports.
Attend meetings of the workstream team and of the Workstream Implementation Group (WIG) which is overseeing DIGE.
Carry out any other project-related activities that arise during the employment period, and for which the individual has the appropriate skills and time available.
Person specification
Education to at least a bachelor’s degree in a social science.
Interest in the use of digital technologies (websites, software applications and devices) to support students’ academic and social lives, both those technologies provided by the Universities and those that students obtain themselves.
Experience in the use of qualitative research methods, in particular interviewing, and an awareness of computer-based methods that can support data collection and analysis.
Ability to pay attention to detail while keeping the broad picture in view.
High personal motivation and self-management; ability to take manage conflicting commitments, meet deadlines and make progress without direct supervision.
Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate confidently and effectively with undergraduate and postgraduate students, administrative and support staff, and, if required, academic staff.
The ability to work effectively with others, co-operating with colleagues in different departments and responding in a flexible manner to changing circumstances
Team-working skills that would provide support to the project managers in ensuring that the progress of the work is kept on track.
Experience of writing research reports (desirable).
To apply for one of these positions, please send a letter briefly describing your experience and how you believe you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification to the Project Manager, Kat Lee.
To confound the outsider, not only is there a college called ‘University’, but also a building called ‘Schools’. When I first arrived at Oxford I was impressed how many colleagues seemed to be having meetings ‘all day in schools’. So much outreach and admissions work going on!
