Top 12 Adjunct Faculty Skills to Put on Your Resume

Crafting a compelling resume as an adjunct faculty member requires showcasing a unique blend of skills that highlight your expertise and adaptability in the educational field. Demonstrating a comprehensive set of abilities, from pedagogical expertise to interpersonal acumen, is essential in standing out to potential employers and securing your next teaching position.

Adjunct Faculty Skills

1. Curriculum Development
2. Online Instruction
3. Blackboard Learn
4. Zoom Proficiency
5. Student Engagement
6. Assessment Creation
7. Moodle Expertise
8. Research Methods
9. Canvas LMS
10. Scholarly Writing
11. Google Classroom
12. Lecture Capture

1. Curriculum Development

Curriculum development, in the context of an Adjunct Faculty, involves designing, updating, and evaluating educational courses and programs to ensure they meet the academic standards and learning objectives of the institution, while addressing the needs and interests of students. This process may include creating syllabi, selecting textbooks, developing assignments, and incorporating new teaching methodologies.

Why It's Important

Curriculum development is crucial for adjunct faculty as it ensures the delivery of up-to-date, relevant, and comprehensive educational content. This alignment with educational standards and industry expectations enhances student learning outcomes, employability, and overall educational quality.

How to Improve Curriculum Development Skills

Improving curriculum development, especially for adjunct faculty, involves a few focused strategies aimed at enhancing educational outcomes and aligning teaching with current academic and industry standards. Here are concise strategies:

1. Stay Updated: Continuously update your knowledge in your field. Use resources like Google Scholar and ResearchGate to keep abreast of the latest research and trends.

2. Leverage Technology: Incorporate technology through platforms like Khan Academy for supplementary learning materials and Canvas for an integrated learning management system.

3. Engage with Peers: Participate in academic networks and forums such as Academia.edu to share and receive feedback on curriculum ideas and teaching methods.

4. Student Feedback: Use tools like SurveyMonkey to gather student feedback systematically, allowing for responsive curriculum adjustments.

5. Professional Development: Engage in continuous professional development through platforms like Coursera and LinkedIn Learning to enhance your teaching skills and methodologies.

6. Outcome-Based Objectives: Design your curriculum around clear, measurable learning outcomes, ensuring that content, assessments, and teaching strategies align with these objectives.

By integrating these strategies, adjunct faculty can significantly improve the quality and relevance of their curriculum, thereby enriching the educational experience for their students.

How to Display Curriculum Development Skills on Your Resume

2. Online Instruction

Online instruction, for an adjunct faculty, involves teaching courses to students via the internet using digital platforms, rather than in a traditional classroom setting.

Why It's Important

Online instruction is important for adjunct faculty as it offers flexibility in teaching schedules, expands access to a diverse student population, and allows for innovative use of digital tools and resources, enhancing the educational experience.

How to Improve Online Instruction Skills

Improving online instruction involves a multifaceted approach that emphasizes engagement, clarity, and accessibility. Here are concise strategies for adjunct faculty:

1. Engage Actively: Foster a participatory online environment. Use discussion boards and real-time interactions via video calls to engage students. Zoom and Microsoft Teams are effective for live sessions.

2. Provide Clear Instructions: Ensure all assignments and course materials are clearly explained. Utilize platforms like Canvas or Blackboard to organize content coherently.

3. Incorporate Multimedia Resources: Enhance learning by integrating videos, podcasts, and interactive activities. Khan Academy and TED-Ed offer diverse educational content.

4. Offer Regular Feedback: Provide timely and constructive feedback to support student progress. Tools like Turnitin can assist in managing and delivering feedback efficiently.

5. Promote Accessibility: Ensure all materials are accessible to students with disabilities. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) offer standards for web content accessibility.

6. Utilize Assessment Tools: Leverage online assessment tools for varied and interactive evaluations. Kahoot! and Quizlet provide platforms for creating engaging quizzes and learning games.

7. Encourage Self-paced Learning: Incorporate resources that allow students to learn at their own pace. Coursera and edX offer courses that can complement your curriculum.

8. Stay Updated with Technology: Continuously explore new tools and technologies to enhance the online learning experience. Regularly visit educational technology websites like EdTech Magazine for the latest trends and tools.

By implementing these strategies, adjunct faculty can significantly improve the quality and effectiveness of online instruction, fostering a more engaging and inclusive learning environment.

How to Display Online Instruction Skills on Your Resume

3. Blackboard Learn

Blackboard Learn is a web-based learning management system (LMS) designed to facilitate online learning and teaching. It offers tools for course content delivery, student assessment, communication, and collaboration, tailored to meet the needs of educators, including adjunct faculty, in managing and delivering their courses effectively.

Why It's Important

Blackboard Learn is important for Adjunct Faculty as it provides a comprehensive platform for creating and managing course content, facilitating student engagement, and assessing learning outcomes, thereby enhancing the quality and efficiency of their teaching experience.

How to Improve Blackboard Learn Skills

Improving your experience with Blackboard Learn as an Adjunct Faculty can enhance both teaching efficiency and student learning outcomes. Here are brief, actionable strategies:

1. Streamline Communication: Utilize the Announcements feature for timely updates, and encourage the use of Discussion Boards for student interactions. This fosters a community feeling. Blackboard's Communication Tools

2. Organize Course Content: Structure your course content into weeks or topics using Content Areas and Folders. This makes navigation easier for students. Organizing Your Course

3. Incorporate Multimedia: Enhance learning by embedding videos and interactive content directly into course materials using the Mashups tool. Using Multimedia

4. Leverage Grade Center: Use Smart Views to efficiently manage grading and provide timely feedback. Customize the Grade Center to track student progress effectively. Grade Center Basics

5. Utilize Assessment Tools: Create varied assessments like quizzes, assignments, and surveys to gauge student understanding. Utilizing SafeAssign helps ensure originality in submissions. Assessment Tools

6. Offer Virtual Office Hours: Use Blackboard Collaborate for real-time interaction, offering a personalized approach to student inquiries and support. Virtual Office Hours

7. Engage with Mobile Learning: Promote the use of the Blackboard app among students for accessing course materials and notifications on the go, ensuring learning flexibility. Mobile Learning with Blackboard

Implementing these strategies can significantly improve your use of Blackboard Learn, making your teaching more effective and engaging for students.

How to Display Blackboard Learn Skills on Your Resume

4. Zoom Proficiency

Zoom Proficiency for an Adjunct Faculty refers to the ability to effectively use Zoom for online teaching, including hosting live classes, managing breakout rooms, sharing screens, using virtual backgrounds, and ensuring interactive and engaging learning experiences for students.

Why It's Important

Zoom proficiency is crucial for Adjunct Faculty to effectively deliver online courses, engage students, manage virtual classrooms, and ensure smooth communication, thereby enhancing the overall educational experience in a remote learning environment.

How to Improve Zoom Proficiency Skills

Improving Zoom proficiency as an adjunct faculty involves mastering the platform's features to enhance teaching effectiveness. Here are concise steps and resources:

1. Familiarize with Basic Functions: Start with understanding how to schedule meetings, share your screen, and use the chat function. Zoom Video Tutorials provide quick, comprehensive guides.

2. Engage Students: Use breakout rooms for small group discussions and polling for instant feedback. Breakout Rooms and Polling features can make sessions interactive.

3. Enhance Presentation Skills: Leverage virtual backgrounds and filters to maintain professionalism and keep students engaged. Learn more about Virtual Background.

4. Utilize Security Features: Familiarize yourself with Zoom’s security settings to manage participants and ensure a safe learning environment. Check Meeting and Webinar Security for detailed guidance.

5. Incorporate External Tools: Integrate tools like Kahoot! or Menti for quizzes and surveys to make learning more dynamic. Learn about Zoom App Marketplace for integration options.

6. Stay Updated: Zoom frequently updates its features. Regularly check the Zoom Blog for the latest updates and tips.

7. Practice: Finally, the key to proficiency is practice. Organize trial sessions with colleagues to explore Zoom's features in a low-pressure environment.

By consistently applying these strategies and exploring the provided resources, adjunct faculty can significantly improve their proficiency and leverage Zoom to create engaging and effective learning experiences.

How to Display Zoom Proficiency Skills on Your Resume

5. Student Engagement

Student engagement refers to the degree of attention, curiosity, interest, optimism, and passion that students show when they are learning or being taught, which extends to the level of motivation they have to learn and progress in their education. For an Adjunct Faculty, it involves employing strategies to encourage active participation and interest in the subject matter, ensuring that students are intellectually challenged and emotionally invested in their learning process.

Why It's Important

Student engagement is crucial for adjunct faculty as it enhances learning outcomes, fosters a positive classroom environment, promotes student retention, and facilitates deeper understanding of the subject matter. Engaged students are more likely to succeed academically and develop a passion for lifelong learning.

How to Improve Student Engagement Skills

Improving student engagement, especially for adjunct faculty who might have limited time with students, involves a mix of strategies focused on active learning, communication, and feedback. Here are concise tips:

1. Active Learning: Incorporate activities that require students to apply concepts, such as case studies, problem-solving exercises, and group projects. This approach promotes deeper understanding and retention. Cornell University Center for Teaching Innovation provides excellent resources on active learning strategies.

2. Interactive Lectures: Make your lectures interactive by including polls, quizzes, or short discussions to break the monotony and keep students engaged. Tools like Poll Everywhere can facilitate real-time interaction.

3. Feedback and Communication: Provide timely, constructive feedback on assignments and encourage open communication. Setting up regular office hours and utilizing discussion forums on platforms like Canvas or Blackboard can enhance interaction outside of class.

4. Technology Integration: Leverage technology to create engaging presentations and interactive course materials. Kahoot! for gamified quizzes and Prezi for dynamic presentations can add a new dimension to your teaching methods.

5. Personal Connection: Take time to learn about your students. Tailoring the content to their interests and experiences can increase relevance and engagement. Simple strategies like beginning class with a relevant question or anecdote can make a big difference.

6. Peer Learning: Encourage students to teach and learn from each other through peer review sessions or group projects. This not only reinforces their learning but also builds a sense of community. The Peer Instruction Network offers insights into effectively implementing peer instruction.

By blending these strategies, adjunct faculty can create a more engaging and interactive learning environment that motivates students and enhances their educational experience.

How to Display Student Engagement Skills on Your Resume

6. Assessment Creation

Assessment Creation for an Adjunct Faculty involves designing and developing tests, quizzes, projects, or other evaluation tools to measure students' understanding, skills, and progress in a specific course or subject area.

Why It's Important

Assessment creation is crucial for Adjunct Faculty as it directly measures student learning and comprehension, aligns with course objectives, and provides essential feedback for both instructors and students to guide instruction and improve academic outcomes.

How to Improve Assessment Creation Skills

Improving assessment creation, especially for Adjunct Faculty, involves a blend of clear objectives, diverse question types, and feedback mechanisms. Here’s how to enhance your assessment creation process:

1. Define Clear Learning Objectives: Begin by establishing what students should know or be able to do by the end of your course. Use Bloom’s Taxonomy as a guide to ensure a range of cognitive skills are assessed.

2. Incorporate Various Question Types: Mix multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay questions to assess different levels of understanding and critical thinking. The University of Waterloo offers insights on crafting effective questions.

3. Utilize Technology: Leverage online platforms such as Google Forms or Moodle for creating and managing assessments. These tools can also provide instant feedback to students.

4. Align Assessments with Course Content: Ensure your assessments directly reflect the content and skills taught in your course. The Chronicle of Higher Education frequently discusses alignment and relevance in higher education assessments.

5. Provide Clear Rubrics: Develop and share grading rubrics that outline how assessments will be scored. The Association of American Colleges & Universities offers examples of rubrics across various disciplines.

6. Offer Practice Opportunities: Before the actual assessment, provide practice quizzes or assignments. Tools like Quizlet can be useful for creating study sets and practice tests.

7. Seek Feedback and Reflect: After grading, ask for student feedback on the assessment process and reflect on what worked or what could be improved. This continuous improvement cycle is crucial.

Remember, effective assessment creation is an evolving process that benefits significantly from reflection, adaptation, and the integration of technology.

How to Display Assessment Creation Skills on Your Resume

7. Moodle Expertise

Moodle Expertise, in the context of an Adjunct Faculty, refers to a deep understanding and skillful use of the Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) for creating, managing, and delivering course content, assessments, and interactions online to support and enhance the learning experience of students.

Why It's Important

Moodle expertise is crucial for an Adjunct Faculty because it enables effective course design, enhances student engagement through interactive tools, and facilitates efficient assessment and feedback processes, ensuring a high-quality learning experience in online and blended environments.

How to Improve Moodle Expertise Skills

To improve your Moodle expertise as an adjunct faculty, consider the following steps:

1. Enroll in Moodle Courses: Start with Moodle's official Learn Moodle free courses designed for educators. These courses cover basics to advanced features.

2. Join Moodle Community Forums: Engage with the Moodle community to ask questions, share experiences, and get advice from other educators and Moodle experts.

3. Explore Moodle Documentation: For in-depth understanding, refer to Moodle Docs, the official documentation that covers all aspects of using Moodle efficiently.

4. Attend MoodleMoots: Participate in MoodleMoot conferences to learn from Moodle practitioners, attend workshops, and network with peers.

5. Practice Regularly: Apply your learning by experimenting with course creation, quizzes, and other features on your Moodle site to get hands-on experience.

By following these steps and actively engaging with Moodle resources and the community, you'll enhance your Moodle expertise effectively.

How to Display Moodle Expertise Skills on Your Resume

8. Research Methods

Research Methods refer to the systematic processes and techniques used by scholars, including adjunct faculty, to collect, analyze, and interpret data in order to contribute to academic knowledge in their field.

Why It's Important

Research methods are crucial for adjunct faculty because they provide systematic, evidence-based approaches to investigate and understand phenomena, ensuring academic rigor, credibility, and the advancement of knowledge in their field.

How to Improve Research Methods Skills

Improving research methods, especially for an Adjunct Faculty, involves continuous learning and adapting to new methodologies, technologies, and collaborative opportunities. Here are concise strategies:

1. Stay Updated: Regularly read relevant academic journals and publications within your field to stay abreast of new research methodologies (Google Scholar).

2. Professional Development: Attend workshops, seminars, and courses focused on research methods. Online platforms like Coursera and edX offer courses developed by universities and institutions.

3. Utilize Technology: Leverage software tools and platforms for data analysis (SPSS), qualitative data analysis (NVivo), and research project management (Trello) to enhance efficiency and accuracy.

4. Networking and Collaboration: Engage with colleagues within and outside your institution to share insights and collaborate on research projects. Professional networks like ResearchGate and Academia.edu can facilitate these connections.

5. Feedback and Review: Regularly seek feedback on your research methods from peers and mentors. Participating in peer review processes for journals or conferences can also provide insights into effective research methodologies.

6. Ethical Considerations: Ensure you're up to date with ethical guidelines and considerations in research, which can often evolve. Resources like the Office for Human Research Protections provide valuable guidance.

By integrating these strategies, adjunct faculty can enhance their research methodologies, contributing to higher quality and impactful research outcomes.

How to Display Research Methods Skills on Your Resume

9. Canvas LMS

Canvas LMS is a web-based learning management system that allows adjunct faculty to create, manage, and deliver educational courses and materials online, facilitating interaction with and between students through features such as assignments, quizzes, grading, and discussion forums.

Why It's Important

Canvas LMS is important for an Adjunct Faculty because it provides a centralized, user-friendly platform for managing course content, facilitating communication with students, and tracking academic performance, thereby enhancing the teaching and learning experience.

How to Improve Canvas LMS Skills

To enhance the Canvas LMS experience for an Adjunct Faculty, consider the following concise strategies:

1. Streamline Communication: Utilize the Announcements feature to keep students informed and engaged. Regular updates can help maintain a clear line of communication.

2. Organize Content Effectively: Make use of Modules to structure course materials logically. This helps students navigate the course easily.

3. Incorporate Multimedia: Enhance learning by embedding videos and external links directly into course content. This can cater to various learning styles and keep content engaging.

4. Utilize the Calendar: The Calendar feature helps in scheduling assignments, lectures, and exams, ensuring that both you and your students stay organized.

5. Engage with Discussions: Discussion forums can foster a sense of community and encourage interaction among students, providing a platform for collaborative learning.

6. Feedback and Grading: Take advantage of SpeedGrader for efficient marking and personalized feedback to support student improvement.

7. Continuous Learning: Enroll in Canvas Network courses specifically designed for instructors to keep abreast of the latest tools and pedagogical strategies within Canvas.

Implementing these strategies can significantly improve the usability and effectiveness of Canvas LMS for both adjunct faculty and their students.

How to Display Canvas LMS Skills on Your Resume

10. Scholarly Writing

Scholarly writing is a formal, precise, and evidence-based style of writing used by academics, including adjunct faculty, to communicate research findings, analyze scholarly works, or present theoretical perspectives. It is characterized by clear argumentation, rigorous citation of sources, and engagement with existing scholarly discourse.

Why It's Important

Scholarly writing is vital for an Adjunct Faculty as it demonstrates expertise, contributes to the academic community by advancing knowledge, supports professional development, and enhances credibility and reputation within the discipline.

How to Improve Scholarly Writing Skills

Improving scholarly writing, especially for an adjunct faculty member, involves honing skills in clarity, structure, and argumentation. Here are concise tips with relevant resources:

1. Understand Your Audience: Tailor your writing to your specific academic audience, considering their background and knowledge level. Purdue OWL offers guidelines on academic writing essentials.

2. Strengthen Your Argument: Develop a clear thesis and support it with evidence. Harvard College Writing Center provides insights on crafting a strong thesis and argument.

3. Improve Clarity and Conciseness: Use straightforward language and avoid unnecessary jargon or complexity. The Writing Center at UNC-Chapel Hill offers strategies for making your writing more concise.

4. Organize Your Writing: Structure your paper logically, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Monash University has excellent resources on structuring your work effectively.

5. Master APA or MLA Style: Familiarize yourself with the relevant citation style for your field (APA for social sciences, MLA for humanities). The APA and MLA websites provide comprehensive guides.

6. Seek Feedback: Regularly ask colleagues or mentors to review your work. Peer feedback can provide critical insights. Elsevier highlights the importance of feedback in publishing success.

7. Edit and Proofread: Rigorously edit your work for clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy. Tools like Grammarly can help catch common errors.

8. Read Extensively: Exposure to high-quality writing within your field can inspire and inform your own writing style. Google Scholar is a valuable resource for accessing scholarly articles.

9. Practice Regularly: Writing is a skill that improves with practice. Dedicate time to write daily or weekly, focusing on both short pieces and longer works.

10. Attend Workshops and Seminars: Participating in academic writing workshops can provide new strategies and perspectives. Check university offerings or online platforms like Coursera for relevant courses.

By incorporating these strategies and utilizing the linked resources, adjunct faculty can significantly enhance their scholarly writing skills.

How to Display Scholarly Writing Skills on Your Resume

11. Google Classroom

Google Classroom is a free web service developed by Google for schools that aims to simplify creating, distributing, and grading assignments in a paperless way. It serves as a platform for facilitating communication, sharing files, and organizing tasks between teachers (including adjunct faculty) and their students, streamlining the teaching and learning process.

Why It's Important

Google Classroom is important for an Adjunct Faculty because it streamlines the sharing of assignments, boosts communication with students, and organizes course content efficiently, all in one accessible platform, facilitating a more manageable and effective teaching experience.

How to Improve Google Classroom Skills

To enhance Google Classroom for Adjunct Faculty, consider the following concise strategies:

1. Organize Course Content Efficiently: Use topic labels to categorize materials, making it easier for students to navigate through the course. Google's Help Center offers guidance on organizing work in Classwork.

2. Integrate External Tools: Leverage Google Classroom's ability to integrate with various educational tools and apps for a richer teaching experience. Explore options in the Google Workspace Marketplace.

3. Enhance Communication: Utilize the announcement and question features for better interaction. Engage students with regular feedback and discussions. Tips on effective communication can be found in Google Classroom's guide.

4. Streamline Grading with Rubrics: Create and use rubrics for assignments to provide clear grading criteria and feedback. Google Classroom supports rubric creation, as detailed in their support documentation.

5. Leverage Google Forms for Assessment: Use Google Forms for quizzes and surveys. This tool integrates seamlessly with Classroom, offering automatic grading and feedback options. Learn how to create quizzes with Google Forms.

6. Continuously Seek Feedback: Regularly collect feedback from students on the course content and delivery to make necessary adjustments. Google Forms can be an effective tool for this purpose.

7. Participate in Professional Development: Engage in Google Classroom training and professional development opportunities to stay updated on new features and best practices. Teacher Center Training offers courses specifically for Classroom.

Implementing these strategies can significantly improve the functionality and effectiveness of Google Classroom for adjunct faculty, enhancing both teaching and learning experiences.

How to Display Google Classroom Skills on Your Resume

12. Lecture Capture

Lecture capture is a technology that allows instructors, including adjunct faculty, to record classroom lectures and make them available digitally for students to review later.

Why It's Important

Lecture capture is important for adjunct faculty as it allows for flexible teaching methods, enhances student learning through accessible review materials, and supports diverse student needs. It also provides a resource for self-evaluation and improvement of teaching techniques.

How to Improve Lecture Capture Skills

Improving lecture capture involves enhancing both the technical quality and the pedagogical effectiveness of the recorded content. Here are concise strategies tailored for adjunct faculty:

1. Enhance Audio Quality: Use a high-quality external microphone to ensure clear audio, as clear audio is more crucial than video quality for lecture comprehension. Audio Tips for Lecture Capture

2. Improve Lighting and Framing: Make sure your face is well-lit and centered in the frame. Natural light is best, but if unavailable, position lamps to avoid shadows. Video Framing Tips

3. Engage with the Camera: Treat the camera as your students. Making eye contact through the lens helps in creating a connection with your audience. Engaging Students in Video Lectures

4. Incorporate Interactive Elements: Use quizzes, polls, or short assignments to break up the lecture and engage students actively. Many platforms like Zoom and Panopto offer these features. Interactive Lecture Capture Tips

5. Edit for Clarity: Use editing software to trim start/end of the lecture, remove long pauses, and add titles or key points as text overlays. This makes the content more accessible and engaging. Basic Video Editing Tips

6. Optimize for Accessibility: Include closed captions and ensure any visual materials are described audibly for those who might have visual impairments. Creating Accessible Videos

7. Seek Feedback and Reflect: Regularly solicit feedback from your students on lecture capture quality and content. Use this feedback for continuous improvement. Effective Student Feedback Strategies

By focusing on these areas, adjunct faculty can significantly enhance the effectiveness and quality of their lecture capture efforts, leading to better student outcomes and engagement.

How to Display Lecture Capture Skills on Your Resume