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April 14, 2022

Closed - RA Opportunity: Investigating Gamification and Learners' Personality Traits

April 14, 2022

Research Assistant Opportunity

The Simon Fraser University Institute for the Study of Teaching and Learning in the Disciplines (ISTLD) invites applications for a research assistant appointment for the Teaching and Learning Development Grant project Gamified Pedagogy: Investigating How Gamification Combined with Effective Pedagogy Can Affect Learners' Personality Traits to begin May 10, 2022, or earlier.

This project aims to understand better the relationship between learners' personality traits and perceived preferences for various gamified elements.

Research assistant responsibilities include:

  • Undertaking literature reviews related to the project;
  • Instrument design such as creating surveys, rubrics, interview protocols, observation protocols/checklists, self-reflection tools;
  • Quantitative data analysis (documenting workflow, data cleaning, appropriate (statistical) analyses, concluding, data visualization);
  • Supporting sharing of/the presentation of project findings within and beyond SFU;
  • Analyzing and summarizing data, such as survey and interview data; and
  • Attending meetings with project lead/team.

Required qualifications, skills and experience:

  • Experience in doing literature reviews;
  • Experience in research instrument design, such as creating surveys, rubrics, interview protocols, and interview questions;
  • Experience coordinating, conducting, recording and transcribing interviews;
  • Familiarity with quantitative data analysis packages/languages, such as SPSS or R;
  • Some familiarity with qualitative data analysis;
  • Ability to select and implement meaningful analyses, including appropriate statistical treatment, and effectively communicate the work to a non-data-science audience;
  • Academic research and writing skills, as demonstrated by prior completion of similar projects;
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, including strong oral and written communication skills;
  • Ability to work independently, productively, and creatively; and
  • Currently enrolled as a student at SFU.

Experience and skills that would be an asset:

  • Interest in game-based learning / serious games, educational technology, meta-cognitive skills, learning analytics, motivation, adaptive and intelligent learning systems, personalization, student/user modelling or related areas.
  • Interest in conducting applied research in education that benefits real-world learners
  • Interest in evidence-based teaching and learning in post-secondary education.

Rate of pay: $24 - $26/hr (incl. vacation and statutory holiday pay, no medical or dental benefits) - based on experience, qualifications and degree program.

Duration and time commitment: May to October 2022. Up to 100 hours, with the possibility of additional hours.

To Apply: Applicants should submit: (1) a 1-page cover letter structured to address the qualifications, skills, and role responsibilities as listed above, and (2) a 1-2 page resumé with two references listed. These two items should be organized as one PDF attachment and addressed to Hazra Imran and emailed to himran@sfu.ca with the subject line: TLDG RA Position.

Note: Letters of reference will only be requested from short-listed applicants.

Application deadline: April 28, 2022. We appreciate all replies to this position posting. However, we will only contact short-listed applicants.

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