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Learning Enhancement and Support Officer
Hull York Medical School
Learning Enhancement and Support Manager
Continuing
Administration
Hull Band 7 / York Grade 6
Specialist (Learning and Development) Band 7
n/a
HY0087R
Details Specific to the Post
Background and Context
Hull York Medical School (HYMS) is a collaboration between the Universities of Hull and York
and the NHS. HYMS operates from both University campuses and within teaching hospitals
and medical practices throughout the Yorkshire and Humber region. Having recently
celebrated its 10th anniversary, HYMS is a young medical school which is developing a
growing reputation for its teaching and research.
HYMS places significant emphasis on the provision of a high quality learning experience
for its students, and views technology-enhanced learning as an important element of its
flexible approaches to learning, teaching and assessment.
The student experience at HYMS across all academic programmes is based on a tripartite
relationship of learning and teaching within three main environments i.e. academic/classroom
focus, learning which takes place in a clinical/practice/lab environment and the remainder of
the student’s time which is supported through provision of learning and materials through a
wide variety of modes, including the Virtual Learning Environment (Blackboard) and other
media based platforms. The main focus of the Learning Enhancement and Support Team
(LEST) is therefore about using the skills and expertise of a small team to ensure that the
opportunities offered by the VLE and other media is used effectively as a powerful tool to
enhance the teaching and learning experience of all students in HYMS. Therefore a key
function of this team is in the relationships which are forged with academic and clinical
colleagues across a wide and diverse portfolio of programmes.
The overall aim of the Learning Enhancement and Support Team (LEST) is to support an
integrated learning environment through extensive use of learning technology, which will
enhance the learning experience gained by students and foster innovative pedagogic
approaches. The team serves as the primary School support centre for staff training and
development in the use of the VLE and e-learning technologies, and provides advice and
guidance to staff on a wide range of supported learning matters based on evidence of good
practice across the sector and which contributes to the wider enhancement agenda across all
teaching, learning and assessment in HYMS.
Learning Enhancement and Support Officer, version 1.0, December 2014
Uses: Specialist Job Description Template Band 7, Version January 2014
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
Teaching and Learning Support
1. Provide training to academic staff focusing on pedagogical guidance, as well as the
technical aspects of on-line course design and legal requirements (copyright,
accessibility and disability legislation).
2. Management and support of the Virtual Learning Environment for all HYMS content
and courses, including in testing out new software and advising staff on the range of
tools available to them and how they may be applied appropriately to specific
educational contexts.
3. Proactive contribution to the delivery of the VLE training programme, working with the
Clinical Programmes Manager providing end-user training and support to staff and
students, including the development of exemplary VLE training materials, manuals and
user guides.
4. Develop templates and resources on the authoring of on-line course materials, and
provide guidance documentation on innovative pedagogy and approaches to
enhancing the student learning experience.
5. Provide quality management and enhancement support to all academic programmes
by running health-checks on VLE provision, including distance, and blended learning
units/modules
6. Contribute to the evaluation of blended and distance learning modules, assisting with
the evaluation of modules and write-up of case-studies, working with the team in the
organisation of dissemination events e.g. changing the learning landscape workshops
Communication, Liaison and Networking
7. Advise academic and clinical staff on pedagogically appropriate forms of e-learning,
including best practice models and guidelines on blended course design and delivery
for use by staff.
8. Advise staff on internal and external learning and teaching resources appropriate to
their discipline and support available for technology-enhanced learning.
9. In collaboration with academic and clinical colleagues support and contribute to
content creation and adaptation for the VLE
10. Liaise with programme/module leaders to support all online aspects of all academic
programmes
Service Planning, Organisation and Delivery
11. Manage administration of back-end functions in the VLE including course copying,
batch enrolments, account management
12. Provide on-going support to staff undertaking blended and distance learning projects,
helping them to identify appropriate pedagogical approaches and relevant tools.
Learning Enhancement and Support Officer, version 1.0, December 2014
Uses: Specialist Job Description Template Band 7, Version January 2014
13. Develop and implement processes to ensure the smooth running of all courses within
the VLE, including the delivery of desk-side support to programme teams and
academic/clinical staff.
Analysis and Research
14. Investigate current and contemporary technology-enhanced learning approaches to
enhance the virtual learning experience of all students in HYMS, linking this to a
proactive staff development portfolio of support and training.
GENERIC JOB DESCRIPTION
Learning Enhancement and Support Officer, version 1.0, December 2014
Uses: Specialist Job Description Template Band 7, Version January 2014
The job duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature
of the role. The duties and responsibilities and the balance between the elements in the role
may change or vary over time depending on the specific needs at a specific point in time or
due to changing needs in the department. Candidates should note that there may not be an
immediate requirement to carry out all the activities listed below.
Overall Purpose of the Role
 The role holder:
o Will provide advice and/or support, directly or indirectly, to faculty and/or department
based upon a full understanding of a professional or specialised area of work.
o Will have gained a professional qualification (or are working towards) and/or
vocational or professional experience.
o Will be expected to contribute to longer term developments within the
faculty/department by giving advice and specialist support.
o May lead a team within the department and/or in project activity and plan, prioritise
and monitor to ensure effective use of resources.
o Will influence decisions or events by working collaboratively internally and externally
to the University.
o Will evaluate and analyse information and use initiative and creativity to solve non
standard problems.
Main Work Activities
Communication
 Provide advice and guidance of a specialist nature to managers, staff, students and
visitors.
 Deliver established presentations to communicate information across
Faculty/Dept/University
 Attend meetings to report on information/data.
 Take notes and produce formal minutes at meetings when required.
 Format and edit publications.
 Draft formal documentation.
 Compile procedural manuals and other University documentation.
Teamwork
 May be required to supervise the work of others.
 Provides advice and guidance to other members of the team.
Liaison and Networking
 Proactively develop and maintain internal and external contacts to benefit the University
Learning Enhancement and Support Officer, version 1.0, December 2014
Uses: Specialist Job Description Template Band 7, Version January 2014
Service Delivery
 Contribute to the development of excellent technology supported learning at HYMS,
including informing and shaping future strategic development
 Develop and implement processes to ensure the smooth running of all courses within the
VLE.
 In collaboration with academic staff, support and contribute to content creation and
adaptation for the VLE
 Investigate technology-enhanced learning approaches to enhance the virtual learning
experience of students in HYMS.
 Liaise with programme/module leaders to support online aspects of courses.
 Work proactively to assess the needs of staff and students to provide specialist expertise
in implementing / using learning technologies.
 Provide training to academic staff including pedagogical guidance, as well as the technical
aspects of on-line course design and legal requirements (copyright, accessibility and
disability legislation).
 Provide on-going support to staff undertaking blended and distance learning projects,
helping them to identify appropriate pedagogical approaches and relevant tools.
 Deliver desk-side support to programme teams and academic staff.
 Advise staff of best practice models and guidelines on blended course design and
delivery for use by staff.
 Advise staff on internal and external learning and teaching resources appropriate to their
discipline and other support available for technology-enhanced learning.
 Disseminate good practice and innovative use of learning technologies in order to
promote effective pedagogies in teaching practice.
 Develop training manuals and user guides, and deliver online and hands-on training to
staff and students.
 Develop templates and resources to facilitate authoring of on-line course materials.
 Provide guidance documentation on innovative pedagogy and approaches to enhancing
the student learning experience.
Analysis/Reporting
 Analyse qualitative and quantitative data producing draft reports identifying key issues
that inform management interventions. Formulate recommendations and provide advice
on the implications of the data.
Additionally the post holder will be required to:
 Fulfil the employees’ duties described in the University’s health and safety policies
and co-operate with the health and safety arrangements in place within the department.
May be required to undertake specific health and safety roles on request e.g. Display
screen equipment assessor, departmental safety officer, fire warden
 Show a commitment to diversity, equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices
This includes undertaking mandatory equality and diversity training
 Comply with University regulations, policies and procedures
Learning Enhancement and Support Officer, version 1.0, December 2014
Uses: Specialist Job Description Template Band 7, Version January 2014
COMPETENCY SPECIFICATION
To fulfil your role, you will need certain knowledge, skills and competencies. The following
competency specification provides a framework within which your performance will be
assessed. The interview assessment may include, for example, testing on IT skills.
The Competencies set out below are essential and are core requirements needed to
perform the role and any candidate who fails the requirement will not be taken forward for
further assessment or to interview.
Competency
Knowledge and Experience
Can demonstrate a full understanding of a professional or
specialised area of work.
Identified by
Application/Interview
A good honours degree or equivalent qualification
Application/Interview
Knowledge of pedagogy related to technology-enhanced
learning and its application in the design of blended and
distance learning courses across a range of academic
disciplines.
Application/Interview
Knowledge of the underlying educational processes in using
learning technologies to enhance student learning and
academic practice in higher education
Application/Interview
Awareness of e-learning standards and accessibility, disability,
copyright and licensing legislation for e-learning.
Application/Interview
Has an active approach to continuing professional
development/undertaking training as appropriate for personal
and professional development.
Application/Interview
Communication (Oral and Written)
Can demonstrate the ability to provide information in a suitable
format so that the others’ needs are met and adjusts the level of
content to help others understand.
Application/Interview
Teamwork and Motivation
Can demonstrate the ability to delegate work to others and/or help
to build co-operation to deliver team results.
Application/Interview
Liaison and Networking
Can demonstrate the ability to work across the University and/or
externally to build and strengthen working relationships. Actively
pursues a shared interest and works jointly to influence events and
decisions.
Application/Interview
Service Delivery
Can demonstrate the ability to seek ways to improve and adjust
current levels of service. Deals with complaints and initiates
contact with customers to obtain their reactions and views about
the service and future needs.
Application/Interview
Decision Making
Learning Enhancement and Support Officer, version 1.0, December 2014
Uses: Specialist Job Description Template Band 7, Version January 2014
Can demonstrate the ability to consider the impact on the
Faculty/Service. Knows where a decision is beyond their
responsibility and refers to others.
Planning and Organisation
Can demonstrate the ability to ensure that the work is carried out
effectively and that resources are available to meet demand.
Identifies the need for further action and resources by monitoring
progress.
Application/Interview
Initiative and Problem Solving
Can demonstrate the ability to investigate problems to identify their
cause, takes action to prevent recurrence of problems and
considers possible solutions to identify those which offer wider
benefits.
Application/Interview
Analysis/Reporting
Can demonstrate the ability to select appropriate methods for data
gathering and analysis. Gathers data thoroughly and accurately
and subjects it to rigorous analysis. Obtains additional data if
required.
Pastoral Care
Deals with difficult situations or confidential matters, according to
policy and procedures. Involves others or refers elsewhere for
assistance if the situation becomes more complex and if additional
help or information is required.
Application/Interview
Learning Enhancement and Support Officer, version 1.0, December 2014
Uses: Specialist Job Description Template Band 7, Version January 2014
Application/Interview