Director of Bourn Idea Lab/Makerspace Educator

n n Director of Bourn Idea Lab/Maker Space Educator nn Director of Bourn Idea Lab/Makerspace Educator nn nn As Castilleja’s primary makerspace, design studio, and robotics lab, the Bourn Idea Lab plays a key role in realizing Castilleja’s vision for the 21st century.

Based on the belief that inquiry is at the core of student learning, our makerspace educators help students gain creative competence and hands-on practice in turning abstract concepts into physical reality and prototypes. n nIf: You are an educator and engineering or technology enthusiast who wants to empower girls to bring their many incredible ideas to life;  n You have experience in design thinking, engineering, or making; You are interested in working with young people in a rich, cross-disciplinary, project­-based learning environment; we want to hear from you.

n This is a full-time position with great potential for growth and leadership development.

nn nn Your responsibilities will include: n Teaching, Curriculum Development and Evaluation nn nn Work with teachers across curriculum areas and grade levels to integrate hands-on learning opportunities into core classes nn nn Coordinate making, digital fabrication, and design curriculum development and education in both the middle and upper school, including identifying new opportunities nn nn Design and implement co-curricular programming nn nn Educate students and faculty in the use of design thinking in problem strategizing nn nn Mentor Upper School student interns to plan and teach making activities to middle schoolers nn nn Collaborate with Castilleja’s Institutional Researcher to create and design tools and best practices for assessment of hands-on learning nn nn Coordinate interdisciplinary experiences nn nn Evaluate student participation and engagement  nn nn Professional Development and Outreach nn nn Professional Development includes designing and running workshops for teachers, overseeing the Bourn Fellows program, a year-long fellowship for Castilleja teachers,  researching external opportunities related to making, digital fabrication, design thinking, and/or STEM education, and publicizing them to faculty n nn nn Outreach includes representing Castilleja at relevant conferences and events, e.g.

Maker Faire, FabLearn, contributing to the makerspace blogosphere, and promoting the lab and its use through the school’s various communication channels, including website and social media nn nn Administration and Lab management nn nn Oversee the daily functioning of the Bourn Idea Lab and Tinkering Nook, including workflows, scheduling, inventory, purchasing, maintenance and repairs nn nn Manage the Robotics Advisor and ensure a consistent lab presence nn nn Manage Bourn Lab Budget nn nn You would enjoy this role if you have: nn nn An initiator’s mindset: you can move ideas from vision to implementation and bring others along with you to co-create programming, as well as literally anything one might design/build/make nn nn Passion for 6-12 design and maker education, helping students become confident designers, makers, and engineers nn nn Interest in working with young people to guide them in taking their ideas from initial prototypes to completion, while leaving the locus of control in students’ hands nn nn Willingness to learn new technologies quickly and design curriculum accordingly in order to respond to emergent student interests nn nn Desire to get involved in the many aspects of our Bourn Lab program, teaching electives, supporting student projects, mentoring MS Robotics, etc.

nn nn Desire to learn by doing and to learn with/from others, including students and adults nn nn Flexibility, creativity, and openness to feedback in working in a collaborative team environment where new ideas, mistakes, and iteration are embraced nn nn  We are looking for someone with some subset of the following: nn nn Experience working with young people, teaching or coaching in a formal classroom setting or informal co-curricular settings  nn nn Demonstrated experience with design thinking as a set of techniques and tools to help with problem strategizing nn nn Familiarity with some special topics in design, computer science, or engineering  nn nn Familiarity and experience with some of the design and fabrication processes available in the Bourn Idea Lab, such as laser cutting, 3D printing, textiles, woodworking, CAD, robotics, electronics, physical computing (such as Arduinos), etc.

nn nn Deep commitment to ongoing professional development and ability to model lifelong learning for, and sometimes in front of, students nn nn Steadfast commitment to shop safety, respectful behavior, and inclusive attitudes nn nn Ability to explain things in varied ways to reach both less-experienced and more-experienced students nn nn Strong communication skills and ability to speak to a wide variety of audiences, from students to parents to fellow educators nn nn Bachelor’s degree, or higher, in engineering, design, or a related field and/or relevant industry experience nn nn Please send cover letter, resume, and a signed application  from the website to hr@castilleja.org.

You must use BOURN LAB in the subject line of your email.

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