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11.17.2021: SSHMP seeks Curriculum Development Consultant copy

Written by Sabrina Craig on 11.19.2021

SSHMP seeks Curriculum Development Consultant

South Side Home Movie Project seeks an experienced Curriculum Development consultant to help bring the rich resources of the SSHMP archive into local classrooms and after school programs.

SSHMP is hiring! With generous support from the Donnelley Foundation, SSHMP is creating a curricular toolkit for teachers and teaching artists to introduce the archive as a valuable resource for high school students through a range of lesson plans, activities and creative reuse projects. Utilizing participatory practices, the consultant will work in collaboration with the SSHMP team to engage local educators in the curriculum development process and to develop lesson plans that incorporate a range of resources. We are seeking an experienced Curriculum Development Consultant to work with us from January – June 2022. Key responsibilities will include recruiting teachers and teaching artists to serve as project advisors, supporting the design, review and revision of curricular materials, aligning educational resources with ISBE learning standards and IL Fine Arts Learning Standards, and supporting partner schools and organizations in piloting the new resources in classrooms and other settings.

Click here to see the Scope of Work for complete job details, qualifications, application process and contact information.

The curriculum will provide self-guided lesson plans for CPS teachers and teaching artists, connect episodes of “Spinning Home Movies” and other creative reuse projects to activities and links that provide entry points to the archive; and generate enthusiasm for the creative and academic applications of this unique local archive. Additionally, it will incorporate the interactive online features of new website upgrades (coming in 2022) to invite young visitors and teachers to engage with the historical material through contemporary digital tools, and to explore local history in a dynamic new way. Curricular tools will be tested and piloted by local students and teachers to ensure functionality, accessibility and alignment with instructional goals. In the long term, we anticipate that these tools and activities will be used to introduce young people to the archive as part of a curriculum in history, social studies, media, architecture, music and other classes.

Curriculum Development Consultant
SCOPE OF WORK | January – June, 2022

Organization Summary
The South Side Home Movie Project (SSHMP) is a five-part initiative to collect, preserve, digitize, exhibit, and research home movies made by residents of Chicago’s South Side neighborhoods. The SSHMP seeks to increase understanding of the many histories and cultures comprising Chicago’s South Side, and of amateur filmmaking practices, by asking owners of home movies (shot on 8mm, Super 8mm, 16mm film) to share their footage and describe it from their personal perspectives.

The project brings materials that are typically kept in private collections into public light and discussion. We aim to build an alternative, accessible visual record, filling gaps in existing written and visual histories, and ensuring that the diverse experiences and perspectives of South Siders will be available to larger audiences and to future generations.

SSHMP is based at UChicago’s Arts + Public Life. The Curriculum Development project is supported by grants from the University of Chicago Women’s Board and the Donnelley Foundation.

Job Summary
South Side Home Movie Project is seeking a curriculum specialist to assist in the development of educational resources for teaching artists, classroom teachers and youth. Utilizing participatory practices, the consultant will work in collaboration with the SSHMP team to engage local educators in the curriculum development process and to develop lesson plans that incorporate a range of resources.

Curricular materials will introduce the SSHMP archive as a valuable resource for high school students, teachers and teaching artists; provide self-guided lesson plans aligned with Illinois learning standards; connect creative reuse projects to activities and links that provide entry points to the archive; and generate enthusiasm for the creative and academic applications of this unique local archive.

Consultant Responsibilities

- Assist with recruiting teachers and teaching artists to serve as project advisors

- Support the review process, collection of feedback, and revision of curricular materials

- Align educational resources with ISBE learning standards and IL Fine Arts Learning Standards

- Advise regarding engaging learning strategies and supports for all learners to participate

- Support partner schools and organizations, teachers and teaching artists in piloting resources in the classroom and other settings

- Align user engagement opportunities with website interactive features

- Document and evaluate user engagement opportunities

- Assist in final formatting, design and production of set of curriculum materials

- Develop and execute an outreach and user engagement plan for newly developed resources

Desirable Skills and Qualifications

- At least 3 years experience working in education or curriculum development

- Skills in developing culturally relevant and youth-centered curriculum and lesson plans

- Cultural competency to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds

- Ability to work with various artists, communities, organizations, and educational institutions

- Familiarity with virtual learning environments and teaching strategies

- Knowledge of working with Chicago Public Schools, preferred

- Ability to work in a team environment with minimal supervision

- Ability to work independently, be flexible, and manage multiple priorities

- Exceptional communication and organizational skills

Contract details
This is a 6-month contract position with SSHMP, an initiative of Arts + Public Life, beginning January 2022. Rate of pay is $40 per hour with an expectation of 15 hours per week.

Application process
To apply, send a cover letter and resume to the address below. Please include supplemental materials you would like to share (curricular projects, lesson plan samples, other related work) as attachments or links.
Deadline for applications is December 15, 2021.

Send application and inquiries to:
Sabrina Craig, Assistant Director of Community Engagement
South Side Home Movie Project
scraig1@uchicago.edu