War Child International
Training of Trainers activities in an online learning platform
Background
War Child reaches many thousands of children and youth every year – yet there are 468 million children living with the effects of armed conflict. We will never reach them all by ourselves – which is why our strategic goal is to scale our impact by implementing evidence-based methodologies with partners, so that together, we can support the mental health and well-being of children affected by conflict and their caregivers.
ReachNow (formerly known as the Community Case Detection Tool; CCDT) is a tool that aims to improve help-seeking among children and adolescents in need of mental healthcare by strengthening community-level proactive detection and help-seeking encouragement. The tool is made up of illustrated case stories depicting most common, culturally relevant indicators of childhood psychological distress, like – social withdrawal, loss of hope, risk-taking behaviour, and excessive verbal and physical aggression. Each vignette uses specific cultural idioms of distress, adapted to each specific context, and avoids using stigmatizing or psychiatric terminology. When a child matches the patterns of behaviour presented on the tool, and these are thought to be impacting daily functioning, the trained end-user is advised to encourage help-seeking at an available and adequate source of support where a further assessment of the needs can be done and where adequate care can be provided or referral to relevant other available services can take place.
Before using the tool, new users will be trained for two-days. An end-user training manual is available and addresses the following topics: objectives of proactive case detection, signs of severe psychological distress in children, roles and responsibilities, ethical considerations, and child safeguarding. The training emphasises group discussions and includes practising through role-plays. End-user will be trained by trained trainers, who will have to follow a 3,5 day blended online/offline training. The training of trainers (TOT) starts with an online, self-paced introductory module which needs to be followed prior to the face-to-face training module, and a closure online self-paced module.
Purpose of the project
War Child is currently developing this TOT learning path for ReachNow. Most of the content for the TOT is available, including learning objectives, session description and detailed technical/theoretical description of the topic discussed. To enhance the effectiveness of the TOT, we seek a consultant with expertise in instructional design and online learning platforms.
The primary objective of this consultancy is to enhance the existing TOT materials by designing engaging and effective activities, multimedia materials and assessments based on the content provided, and ensuring they are integrated into our online learning platform. All designed materials should be appropriate for settings with limited or interrupted internet connectivity.
Guiding principles for the TOT learning pathway:
- Modular
- Inclusive, participative, user-centred design, experiential learning
- Accessible (balancing time, quality, costs and needs)
- Transparency on progress of trainers
- Localization and sustainable implementation
- Scalable
- Working from strengths
- Cross-sectoral and cross-organizational
Scope of work
The consultant will be responsible for:
- Reviewing and making improvements to the current TOT outline, including learning objectives and session content, as well as the TOT manual.
- Providing advice on the integration of the highlighted design principles into the learning path.
- Ensure modularity of the learning path, taking into account pre-existing learning profiles.
- Identifying suitable didactical activities and assessments that align with the learning objectives and enhance participant engagement and learning outcomes.
- Designing these activities and assessments, ensuring they are interactive, engaging, suitable for an online learning environment and appropriate for settings with limited or interrupted internet connectivity.
- Conducting series of user tests with potential trainers in War Child and potentially with partners.
- Integrating the designed activities into the specified online learning platform (War Child uses Kaya/Totara based Learning Management System plus Evolve e-learning tool).
Deliverables
The consultant is expected to deliver the following:
Feedback on current TOT outline:
- Engage potential users in a review of the content.
- Detailed review of the current TOT materials.
- Recommendations for suitable didactical activities for each session.
Activity and assessment design and development:
- Design of didactical activities for each session, including instructions, resources, and any necessary materials (e.g., animations or videos).
- Design of assessments for each session.
- Develop final video products and assessment tools for use within sessions.
- Utilizing existing materials to improve facilitation skills components.
Editing and upgrading the TOT manual based on the deliverables 1 and 2.
- Finalizing an adapted version of the TOT manual in Word.
Integration into the online learning platform:
- Integration of the activities into the online learning platform, ensuring appropriateness for settings with limited or interrupted internet connectivity.
User testing and finalization:
- User testing with (partner) staff.
- Feedback incorporation to ensure the activities function as intended.
Responsibilities of War Child
- Provide all background materials for the instructional designer including storyboards, scripts and content for assessments.
- Collaborate with the instructional designer (i.e. you) to support the development of learning materials.
- Ensure the participation and support of other staff.
- Monitor adherence to specified deadlines; facilitating access to required information.
- Monitor adherence to the ReachNow methodology.
- Provide guidance and content development support throughout all phases of execution, approving all deliverables, and facilitating access to any documentation (or any person) deemed relevant to the process.
- Perform quality control, as required of all deliverables.
Duration and timeline
This assignment is expected to start as soon as possible, and has to be conducted before the end of September, with the following indicative timeline:
- Week 1-2: Initial assessment and review of the TOT.
- Week 3-7: Activity and assessment design and development
- Week 7: Update TOT manual and integration into online learning platform.
- Week 8-10: User testing.
- Week 11-12: Final revisions and handover.
Our offer
Our compensation rates are in line with sectoral standards. You will work under the supervision of the scaling coordinator and lead researcher in the Research and Development department with close collaboration with the Program Quality focal point for ReachNow. You will take direction from the Learning Lead in the Program Quality department. We are looking for someone who can join us as soon as possible.
Qualifications
The ideal consultant should have:
- Proven experience in instructional design and online learning.
- Strong understanding of adult learning principles and methodologies.
- Expertise in designing interactive and engaging learning activities.
- Familiarity with various online learning platforms and their functionalities. Preferably Kaya/Totara and Evolve.
- Can coordinate or conduct video development, in a team or independently. Experience with video editing tools (such as Adobe Premiere) and/or visual design tools is a bonus.
- Strong written and spoken English language skills. Ability to speak Arabic, Spanish, French, Ukrainian or Russian is a bonus.
How to apply
This is a rolling vacancy we’ll evaluate applicants as they come in. Interested and qualified candidates are invited to apply by submitting the following in English, before July 4th 2024. Please share your application with [email protected].
- A short cover letter outlining their relevant experience and approach to the project.
- A CV.
- Examples of previous work related to instructional design and online/blended learning.
- A proposed timeline, draft high-level workplan and budget for the consultancy – ranging between 8,000 and 10,000 EUR incl. VAT.
Our Organisation
War Child is a young and dynamic organisation. We try to keep an informal ambiance within our office, with a lot of room for creativity, inspiration and self-initiative from employees. We practice what we preach: dynamic, innovative, integrity focused and a drive to reach the highest possible results against the lowest possible costs. War Child offers a challenging job in an inspiring workplace in Amsterdam.
By submitting your application you certify that all of the statements made in your application are true, complete, and correct and are made in good faith. You understand that falsifying, misrepresenting or intentionally withholding information will be grounds for rejection of your application or withdrawal of any offer of appointment or, if an appointment offer has been accepted, this will be ground for employment sanctions, such as, but not limited to, instant dismissal. In addition, you understand that you need to submit a Criminal Record Certificate and that, if you fail to submit it, no employment relationship can be established.
War Child is an international organisation, and we are committed to be a diverse and inclusive employer, placing human and child rights at the centre of our existence and work. We hire our new colleagues based on their talents, competences and shared values; we do not distinguish them based on their age, gender and gender identity, race, colour, ethnicity, religion, culture, sexual orientation, disability etc.
The safety of children and youth is a paramount and essential to War Child’s work. War Child has a zero tolerance policy towards any form of abuse. To prevent placing children and youth at any risk this subject is addressed in our recruitment and selection procedures. Moreover, the accepted candidates will be required to state their commitment/ intent to be aware, consider and adhere to the minimum standards applicable in development and humanitarian settings, such as humanitarian values and principles, Sphere Humanitarian Charter, Standards in the Humanitarian Standards Partnership, Core Humanitarian Standard, International Humanitarian Law, Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief and IASC Six Core Principles Relating to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
Disclaimer
• Only applications received via our website are processed.
• If we appoint a suitable candidate before the given closing date, we reserve the right to remove the vacancy from our website before that date. In such a case, any responses received after that time are not processed.
• It could be that during our selection process the closing date for the vacancy is extended. If so, and you have not yet heard from us, your application will remain active.
Deadline: 4-Jul-24