Interaction Developer, Graph Specialist, Science

Company: Amplify
Location: Brooklyn
Posted on: April 16, 2024

Job Description:

A pioneer in K-12 education since 2000, Amplify is leading the way in next-generation curriculum and assessment. Our core and supplemental programs in ELA, math, and science engage all students in rigorous learning and inspire them to think deeply, creatively, and for themselves. Our formative assessment products help teachers identify the targeted instruction students need to build a strong foundation in early reading and math. All of our programs provide educators with powerful tools that help them understand and respond to the needs of every student. Today, Amplify serves more than 10 million students in all 50 states. For more information, Amplify Science is a K-8 science curriculum that blends hands-on investigations, literacy-rich activities, and interactive digital tools to empower students to think, read, write, and argue like real scientists. It was developed by UC Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science. As The Lawrence's first curriculum designed to address the new science standards, Amplify Science reflects state-of-the-art practices in science teaching and learning.Interaction Developer, Graph Specialist, Science is a highly technical, collaborative, and creative role. Graph specialists work closely with content experts, designers, computation layer (CL) specialists, editors, and others to ideate custom student-driven interactions within the Desmos platform, then create them using mathematics as a coding tool within the Desmos graphing calculator. The role can be thought of in many ways as a cross between software engineering and interaction design. Graph specialists must problem solve and think through difficult logical tangles daily in order to deliver their custom interactions. They understand that the hard work of creating delightful K-12 interactions is challenging and requires passion, an open mind, and recognition of the talent in others. They collaborate with skill and humility.We are currently seeking individuals who will focus on building custom interactions within the Desmos platform for our science K-8 curriculum. This role is a great fit for you if you have experience teaching science; enjoy spending significant time in the Desmos graphing calculator; have strong opinions about what makes an interaction intuitive, delightful, and visually appealing; and can help us understand the perspectives of people who are historically excluded in science, education, or technology. You love learning new things, relish a challenge, and take satisfaction not only in elegant solutions, but also in the creative journey along the way.Amplify's COVID-19 vaccination policy requires all staff to provide proof of vaccination for in-person meetings unless an approved exemption is provided.Responsibilities of the Interaction Developer, Graph Specialist, Science:Build Delightful Student Experiences

• Participate in cross-functional ideation sessions with your project team.
• Contribute to the development of Amplify's digital education products by creating new interactions in the Desmos graphing calculator. This includes interactions you adapt from your colleagues' ideas and interactions you adapt from your own ideas.
• Optimize the performance of interactions so that they run smoothly across diverse hardware capabilities because all learners deserve seamless experiences, regardless of device limitations.
• Use our Computation Layer language in a lightweight way to connect Desmos graphs to other components in the Desmos Activity Builder. Collaborate with CL specialists to handle more complex scenarios.
• Work closely with Design and Illustration to produce the highest levels of usability and delight.Collaboration and Communication:
  • Join other graph specialists in steadily leveling up the team's graphing skills by sharing best practices, discussing challenging problems, and reviewing animations and interactions in existing lessons.
  • Receive, synthesize, and strategically implement feedback from other team members to improve and polish your interactions.
  • Offer feedback in written form and also via video chat because conversation is a natural way humans think together.Continuous Learning and Innovation:
    • Explore the boundaries of what's possible with our technology and offer feedback to the product and engineering teams to help drive future development of our tools.
    • Learn about Amplify and The Lawrence Hall of Science's philosophies for technology, design, pedagogy, accessibility, and equity.
    • Identify ways that our approach to equity can further inform our work, in terms of the products we make, the processes we use to make them, and the ways we interact with our teammates.
    • Support and be supported by the rest of the team throughout your tenure at Amplify.Qualifications of the Interaction Developer, Graph Specialist, Science:
      • Bachelor's Degree
      • 3+ years of experience teaching science in K-8 classrooms
      • Basic proficiency in the Desmos Graphing Calculator (or a related graphing tool) with lists, sliders, polygons, restrictions, and parametric equations
      • Excellent problem solving skills
      • Alignment to team and company values around technology, design, pedagogy
      • Shared commitment to team efforts around accessibility and equity workPreferred (not Required) Qualifications of the Interaction Developer, Graph Specialist, Science:
        • 5+ years of experience teaching science in K-8 classrooms
        • Intermediate - High proficiency in using the Desmos graphing calculatorIf you don't meet all of the qualifications listed above, but believe you still may be a great fit for the role, please apply! We know that historically marginalized and underrepresented groups are less likely to apply when they don't meet every qualification. We are dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable workplace, so if you are excited about this job, we encourage you to apply! You may be the right candidate for this job, or for another position within the company.What we offer:Salary is only one component of the Amplify Total Rewards package, which includes a lucrative 401(k) plan, competitive health insurance and mental health options, basic life insurance, paid time off, parental leave, and access to best-in-class development programs. The gross annualized salary range for this role is $75,000 - $90,000. This role is eligible to receive an annual discretionary bonus that rewards individual and company performance.We celebratediversityand are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. To that end, we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from adiversecandidate pool.Amplify is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.This position may be funded, in whole or in part, through American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funds.Amplify Education, Inc. is an E-Verify participant.

Keywords: Amplify, West New York , Interaction Developer, Graph Specialist, Science, IT / Software / Systems , Brooklyn, New Jersey