Club Facilitator/ Educator

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Dida Academy is the first and only self-directed homeschool learning center for teens in New York City. We serve youth aged 11-18 on their learning journeys with a supportive community, mentorship, trips, and other engaging learning experiences. Dida seeks several Club Facilitators for fall semester (Sept.-Dec. 2020). Note this position will work remotely and only interact with students via Zoom.

Dida Academy is redefining education through a self-directed, homeschool hybrid model. We provide an education that serves students above bureaucratic interests by guiding young people on a journey towards finding a fulfilling present and future. Our unique environment encourages students to follow their innate curiosity, learn through experience, and build meaningful relationships.

Our Core Values

• Trust and Respect - We trust our students to make their own decisions about what to learn, how to learn, and how to allocate their time at Dida. Facilitators foster a learning environment with respect at its core, with all members of our diverse community treated as equals.
• Empathy and Relationships - Through mentor conversations and collaborative activities, our students develop a deep sense of empathy while building authentic relationships. When conflicts arise, we problem-solve collectively to develop and revise community norms.
• Challenge and Achievement - Our community inspires and supports students to learn from mistakes, overcome obstacles, and realize their ideas. Students develop a unique skill set based on their interests to prepare for a fulfilling future.
• Lifelong Learning - Free to pursue their innate curiosities, students strengthen their skills as autodidacts (self-taught individuals). Facilitators and guests with eclectic backgrounds expose students to new areas for exploration and model what it means to be a lifelong autodidact.
• Fun and Play - Every day is an opportunity to play, laugh, and tinker with new ideas. We foster an environment where students feel comfortable to express themselves authentically and build self-confidence.

Club Facilitator Duties :

Learning Facilitation

• Engage warmly and enthusiastically with students, helping them to discover and pursue their interests

• Understand goals and methods of self-directed education and use as the framework for developing curriculum for the topics you’re teaching

• Plan and lead the assigned, 1 hour a week for 4 weeks, club group:

• Create a curriculum and lesson plan outlining skill progression, learning objectives, activities, projects, materials needed, etc.
• Facilitate weekly club meeting
• Facilitate reflection on learning

• "Bridge the gap" between the goal setting aspirations of students and the reality of executing them

• Balance predetermined learning goals with students interests and desires for learning
• Document student learning by writing Learning Logs, archiving student work in digital folders, etc.
• Communicate and share feedback with Outreach Coordinator, Program Manager, and Executive Director as necessary

Club Topic Needs

• We are in need of facilitators in

• Writing/ ELA- has experience with middle school/high school level english composition based in project based learning
• Video Editing- experience in YouTube content creation is ideal
• Sound Engineering- music and audio recording and editing
• Language Speciality- specifically Spanish, French, or German
• Health Science & Sexual Education- including nutrition and fitness
• Other Potential Club Topics
• 3D Design, Coding & Computers, Game Design, Robotics
• Acting, Dance, Singing, Storytelling, Film
• Sciences: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Exploratory Science, Physics
• Business/Entrepreneurship
• Math, Data & Statistics
• Music: Recording, Instrument Practice, Theory, or Digital Mixing
• History, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Race & Culture
• Life Skills: Handwriting, Fitness, People Skills, Personal Finance / Budgeting, Public Speaking, Typing
• Visual Art: Drawing, Painting, Photography, etc.

Qualifications

• Enthusiastic, lifelong learner who is looking to influence the next generation of students to also pursue a life of self-directed learning
• Enjoys working with teenagers, experience working with teens is a plus but not required
• Passion and sincere interest in club topics that are chosen
• Professional experience in club topic you are teaching is great, but not required
• Is excited to work with a small innovative organization
• Has knowledge of self-directed learning methods
• Has knowledge of Zoom and able to learn new technology quickly
• Cleared by standard background check (completed post application)

To apply:

Email your materials to opportunities@didaacademy.org, addressed to Danielle Denver (Executive Director). Include a resume, two references, and in lieu of a cover letter please answer the following questions. Please submit your application as an attachment (PDF preferred).

• Where did you find this posting?
• 2-4 sentence bio about yourself.
• Why are you interested in working with Dida Academy Students?
• Describe in your own words what self-directed education is.
• Describe a time in your life when you were motivated to learn something new, describe your process.
• List 2-5 different clubs you are interested in facilitating, give a brief description of each, include what you would hope to teach, your experience with the subject, and any major materials students might need for that topic.