Information & Communication Technology in Education Consultant, USAID, Center for Education - Dexis Consulting Group
Washington, DC
About the Job
Dexis is a professional services firm that solves the most pressing social challenges in complex environments, paving the way for a more secure and prosperous world.
Dexis embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives to build and maintain a safe environment where we celebrate diverse backgrounds, treat everyone with respect, and value the unique lived experiences each person brings based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, military or veteran status, national origin, age, marital status or family status and related conditions.
At Dexis, you will experience a corporate culture of inclusiveness, fairness, and trust. You will be given the means and mentorship needed to succeed, and your creativity will be rewarded.
About the Position
The presence of information and communication technology (ICT) in education has increased at an exponential rate. It is becoming more of a necessity than a luxury in fact due to COVID-19 and the proliferation of teaching and learning that are taking place in non-traditional settings. ICT offers innovative methods of educating students in a variety of contexts including: low- and middle-income countries; crisis and conflict zones; and hard-to-reach communities which are often the most marginalized. Development programs leveraging ICT rely on several methods of low- and high-technology, including digital approaches to improve learning outcomes at scale by developing greater efficiency and effectiveness of an education system.
The Center for Education must be prepared to provide guidance and pursue partnerships in this rapidly growing and promising impactful tool in the education sector. It is imperative that the Center has a thorough understanding of not only the applications and trends of education technology, but also the impact technology has in achieving the desired learning outcomes. Empirical data coupled with digital development principles and knowledge of global education technology (Ed Tech) trends will provide invaluable data for USAID leadership to have informed conversations and make evidence-based Ed Tech investment decisions.
The purpose of this STTA is to gather insights and best practices from USAID Missions and other key stakeholders to inform how education technology is advancing USAID's education priorities. The scope of work is to develop concrete, contextual, in-depth knowledge about the integration of technology in USAID education programs to achieve educational goals and what other stakeholders are doing. The work will be remote and entail conducting literature review, program report reviews, Key Informant Interviews (KII), reviews, and writing up findings.
The consultant will work remotely for a period from on or aroundSeptember 16, 2024 to February28, 2025. The expected level of effort for this consultancy is full-time for 5 months.
Responsibilities
Under the supervision and collaboration of the ICT4E Advisor (USAID), the consultant will have the following duties and responsibilities:
Preliminary Planning:
- In collaboration with USAID, develop what aspects of education technology to review (type, purpose, processes) as well as identify appropriate education activities and their OUs
Literature Review and Planning:
- Conduct a comprehensive literature review (e.g., websites, ITR sites, EduLinks, Performance Plans and Reports, gray literature, Ed Tech assessment reports etc.)
- In collaboration with USAID, design interview questions and develop a detailed plan for conducting remote Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with Mission Staff and other key stakeholders such as government counterparts and implementing partners, as applicable
Conducting Key Informant Interviews (KIIs):
- Execute the planned KIIs, remotely engaging with relevant stakeholders
- Collect valuable insights, best practices, lessons learned, challenges, trends related to education technology in the education sector
Writing:
- Prepare a Best Practice Report based on the gathered information, which would include best practices, lessons learned, challenges, trends and recommended practices for various types of technologies by type, theme, and region
- Conduct two rounds of review and revision for the Best Practice Report
- Develop a slide deck presentation with key conclusions from the Best Practice Report
Dissemination & Use:
- In collaboration with USAID develop a dissemination plan and editorial calendar
Portfolio Backstopping:
- With direction from USAID, provide technical backstopping to the ICT4E Advisor's portfolio
Qualifications
- Bachelors degree and 5 years of experience, or Masters and 3 years of experience in education technology or related field
- Specialized experience in international development. Examples of specialized experience include:
- Designing and/or implementing education and technology-related programming, including digital programming, emerging technologies and/or distance learning;
- Monitoring, evaluating, and learning from educational technology programming;
- Proven ability to conduct research, literature reviews, and KIIs
- Experience in education and digital learning particularly in Lower- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) preferred
- Proven ability to synthesize key lessons learned into accessible and concise materials for various audience types
- Organized, detail oriented and proven communication skills
Dexis is on a mission to help solve today's most pressing global political, social, and economic challenges and create a world where all people are safe and prosperous. As a Dexis employee, you will be challenged, empowered, and mentored. Our motto is "find a way or make a way" — that's how Dexis goes "all in." How will you?
If you are passionate about this opportunity, apply now!
Only those applicants who meet the above criteria will be contacted for interview.
Dexis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, pregnancy, disability, age, genetic information, military service, veteran status, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, childbirth and related medical conditions, including lactation, or any other protected class under applicable law.
As part of a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, Dexis provides healthcare insurance in addition to other staff welfare benefits and perks.
If you are hired for a position that is paid from the Dexis home office, you will be required to submit proof that you have received the COVID-19 vaccine unless you qualify for a legally recognized medical or religious exception to the vaccine requirement. This does not apply to AL, AZ, FL, KS, MT, NH, ND, or TX residents.