INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEMS SPECIALIST

Description:

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Requirements:

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional and Scientific Positions, to include the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for the GS-1750, Instructional System Specialist Series.

BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT: Applicants must have a degree that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours appropriate to the work of the position to be filled. The course work must have included study in at least four of the following five areas:

1. Learning theory, psychology of learning, educational psychology: Study of learning theories as they relate to the systematic design, development, and validation of instructional material.
2. Instructional design practices: Study of the principles and techniques used in designing training programs, developing design strategy and models, and applying design methods to the improvement of instructional effectiveness.
3. Educational evaluation: Study of the techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of instructional/educational programs, including developing written and performance tests and survey instruments, and determining reliability and validity of evaluation instruments.
4. Instructional product development: Study of the techniques appropriate for developing training materials, including identifying learner characteristics, specifying objectives, applying training strategy, validating training materials, and evaluating training.
5. Computers in education and training: Study of the application of computers in education and training, including selecting appropriate computer software.

Some positions in this series may specialize in one or two functional areas, where more specific academic preparation may be necessary. For such positions, agencies may require course work in the applicable functional area(s) as part of the above-required 24 semester hours. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

AND
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-11, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes broad knowledge and wide range of experience in instructional systems design, instructional technology, multimedia development, social media, and a wide variety of established commercial applications software. Broad knowledge and skills in learning theory and strategies for education for resident, distance and blended-learning programs. Knowledge and abilities to analyze a wide range of facts and/or conditions and make assessments and improvements to academic program effectiveness. Broad knowledge and skill integrating and optimizing instructional technology into teaching and learning in educational programs. Ability to prepare systems documentation to include functional descriptions, maintenance manuals, test, and implementation plans, cost analysis, specification documents, feasibility studies and user guidance. Broad knowledge and skill in designing, developing, fielding, and evaluating courseware and education-technology implementation strategies.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Broad knowledge and wide range of experience in instructional systems design, instructional technology, multimedia development, social media, and a wide variety of established commercial applications software. Ability

2. Broad knowledge and skills in learning theory and strategies for education for resident, distance and blended-learning programs. Knowledge and abilities to analyze a wide range of facts and/or conditions and make assessments and improvements to academic program effectiveness.

3. Broad knowledge and skill integrating and optimizing instructional technology into teaching and learning in educational programs. Ability to prepare systems documentation to include functional descriptions, maintenance manuals, test and implementation plans, cost analysis, specification documents, feasibility studies and user guidance.

4. Specialized skills in the application of interactive technology and systems delivering instruction in support of educational outcomes.

5. Broad knowledge and skill in designing, developing, fielding, and evaluating courseware and education-technology implementation strategies.

6. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with a wide range and diverse groups of people.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.