Instructional Designer

Instructional Designer

The Instructional Designer provides strategic leadership and expert consultation and development to faculty and academic units in the College of Community Engagement and Professions (CCEP) at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) in the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of high-quality learning experiences. As a faculty-facing role, this position serves as a consultant and developer of pedagogy, course design, assessment, accessibility, and instructional innovation across face-to-face, hybrid, and online modalities.

The Instructional Designer participates in cross-functional initiatives related to CCEP institutional teaching and learning strategy.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Faculty Partnership & Pedagogical Consultation and Development

• Serve as a primary, faculty-facing instructional design consultant and developer, partnering with instructors to design, redesign, and enhance courses and curricula.
• Facilitate collaborative course design processes that respect faculty expertise while guiding evidence-based instructional decisions.
• Partner with faculty on learning objectives alignment, instructional strategies, assessment design including for purposes of data collection related to program accreditation, and student engagement.
• Support faculty adoption of inclusive, learner-centered, and active learning pedagogies.
• Promote and facilitate the development and incorporation of Open Educational Resources in collaboration with UWM Libraries, etc.

Leadership & Program Support

• Lead instructional design initiatives aligned with CCEP priorities (e.g., online program development, general education reform, teaching excellence initiatives).
• Develop and maintain instructional design standards, templates, best-practice guidelines, and course and program maintenance and re-invigoration schedules.
• Contribute to long-term planning for instructional design services and academic innovation.

Course & Curriculum Design

• Apply advanced instructional design frameworks (e.g., backward design, learning sciences, Universal Design for Learning) to course and program development.
• Guide faculty through course mapping and curriculum coherence at the program level.
• Ensure course designs meet internal quality standards and external frameworks (e.g., Quality Matters™ or comparable rubrics).
• Oversee review and continuous improvement of existing courses based on data, feedback, and meeting accreditation standards and competencies.

Faculty Development & Scholarly Teaching

• Design and facilitate workshops, institutes, and/or communities of practice focused on teaching effectiveness and course design.
• Create faculty-facing resources, guides, and exemplars related to pedagogy, assessment, and instructional technology.
• Support the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) through course design inquiry and assessment practices.

Learning Technology Strategy

• Provide guidance on the effective use of instructional technologies, Canvas, digital media tools, and educational software.
• Partner with IT, libraries, and accessibility services to select, integrate, and evaluate emerging technologies that enhance teaching and learning.
• Support the development of high-quality online, blended, and in-person learning experiences consistent with institutional standards.

Accessibility, Equity & Compliance

• Lead the application of accessibility standards (e.g., Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), Universal Design for Learning, and inclusive teaching practices.
• Consult and partner with faculty on designing and developing accessible course materials and learning activities that ensure compliance with federal, state, and university requirements, including ADA, copyright, and academic integrity standards.
• Promote equitable learning experiences that support diverse student populations.

Assessment & Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate with faculty and academic leaders on course- and program-level assessment strategies.
• Analyze learning data, course evaluations, and other evidence to inform instructional improvements.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for academic leadership on CCEP teaching and learning initiatives and strategic priorities.

• Applies project management principles to course or media design such as defining project scope, establishing milestones, and tracking progress
• Provides pedagogical consultation services for instructors and staff on instructional tools and technologies, best practices for digital instructional content, and institutional initiatives
• Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with instructors and other academic staff to advance excellence in teaching and learning
• Trains and supports instructors and staff to leverage technology and teach implement pedagogy effectively
• Works with campus partners across pre-production, production, and post-production stages of media development for implementation in courses and other campus initiatives
• Reviews courses, media, or other learning products for…