Associate Dean, Experiential Learning Red Deer Polytechnic Red Deer, Alberta

Reporting to the Dean of the School of Health & Wellness, the Associate Dean, Experiential Learning leads the strategic development, implementation, and evaluation of experiential learning initiatives across the School of Health and Wellness. This role is responsible for managing simulation, immersive technologies (including VR and AR), standardized patient programs, and clinical education support. The Associate Dean ensures alignment with academic goals, industry standards, and emerging technologies to foster innovative, student-centered learning environments.

Experiential Learning Operations

• In partnership with the provincial stakeholders and subject matter experts, leads the establishment of a sustainable process for provincial student practice education policy development cycle including research, development, review, approval, implementation and ongoing maintenance.
• Leads policy and practice change initiatives through planning, implementation, evaluation and ongoing monitoring; provides skilled leadership throughout each step in the process at all levels within RDP including within the Health and Wellness Simulation Labs and Immersive Learning Experiences
• Provides coordination within a strategic context for collaborative planning tables for student practice placements; functions as a strategic resource for stakeholders to ensure that optimal structure, design and implementation of the change(s) is / are in place to achieve desired outcomes, results and benefits.
• Cultivate and manage strategic partnerships and collaborations with internal and external stakeholders, by supporting the creation and utilization of simulation and immersive learning scenarios, front line support for technology and resources and responding to requests for use, to achieve the labs and resources and RDP goals.
• Lead and facilitate Communities of Practice and participate in symposiums and expos as a representative of RDP.
• Advise faculty on the incorporation of best practices in simulation and other forms of immersive learning, including orientation, pre-briefing, debriefing, and psychological safety to maintain best practices.
• Coordinate facility improvements and new equipment deployment, by maintaining an equipment log for use and repairs / maintenance, providing education on equipment use and oversight of new purchased / capital equipment plans to ensure effective operations
• Provide orientation of faculty and students to principles of simulation, immersive learning, debriefing techniques, and provide faculty with related literature and policies, to maintain best practices
• Leads and expands the utilization of experiential learning in rural sites.
• Leads the design, development, implementation and evaluation of experiential initiatives within didactic and clinical phases of program curriculum, to maintain best practices
• Coach and develop staff across functional areas by working with faculty who are responsible for experiential learning design and development.
• Develop data collection and record keeping procedures to evaluate training method effectiveness and to ensure student / client satisfaction
• Ensures all standards and polices are met by being aware of changes in healthcare, educational technology or new techniques by attendance at in-service programs, vendors, tradeshows and conferences. Keeps apprised of updates in experiential learning including equipment upgrades and new product development, new scenarios developed and innovative adaptation of equipment to meet a variety of learning needs. The incumbent updates their knowledge by noting changes in equipment or technology that are used in any health care setting and relays this information to faculty. In addition, acts as a resource to faculty and lab staff with skills and techniques to maintain accreditation standards
• Conduct, facilitate, synthesize, and summarize market research related to experiential learning.
• Accountable for the overall operational leadership for Experiential Learning program(s). This includes participating in strategic and operational planning, fostering a culture of high quality, collaborative care, and continuous improvement, ensuring the effective deployment of resources and contributing to the development of and implementing operational plans.
• Demonstrates leadership within the School for continuous improvement, innovation, and learner centred operations.
• Operationalizes and applies Collective Agreements and institutional policies as they apply to School / Division Experiential Learning program, in conjunction with the Dean of Students, the Associate Vice President Teaching, other Deans, Associate Deans and People and Culture.
• Recruits, selects, coaches, and develops Lab staff in compliance with People Advising & Partnership Team policies and procedures, and POPA (Protection of Privacy Act), and in support of a high performing team
• Facilitates, where necessary, discipline and dismissal of reporting staff and faculty in consultation with the Dean and People and Culture.
• Develops successful structures and processes to ensure the effective distribution and delegation of work.
• Directs the day-to-day operations of Lab Coordinator and Simulation Lab Tech

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