Student Assistant - Web Application for Teaching and Learning (initially limited to three months) in Zürich

20%-40%, Zurich, temporary

The administrative department Educational Development and Technology (LET) at ETH Zurich is looking for a student interested in contributing to the next-generation learning content management system openLCMS. As part of the rectorate of ETH, LET supports all faculty and staff engaged in the teaching mission of ETH by providing professional development, curriculum development, evaluation, and technical infrastructure services. LET also fosters innovation in teaching and learning through a variety of efforts including educational software development.

openLCMS (open-source learning content management system) will foster the usage of Open Educational Resources (OERs) by providing a cross-institutional platform for generating, managing, sequencing, deploying, and evaluating educational content, including online assessment problems.

The project is currently at the white-paper stage, and collaborators are expected to engage in active discussions, background research, and the writing process. This work will include early stages of requirement gathering and analysis. Applicants will also need to study and document salient features of existing systems with similar goals, most notably LON-CAPA (http://www.lon-capa.org/). The position is initially limited to three months, with the possibility of extensions.

Applicants are expected to have a strong interest in educational software. They should be familiar with the architecture of modern web applications in an open-source stack. Familiarity with the design of web services, JSON, XML, databases, authentication and authorization schemes, and web application frameworks will be helpful. Applicants should be proficient in English and be willing to familiarize themselves with LaTeX/BibTeX. Applicants must be able to communicate well in speaking and writing, be willing to engage in challenging discussions and brainstorming sessions, but also be able to work independently and self-directed.

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specialising in science and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education, cutting-edge fundamental research and direct transfer of new knowledge into society. Over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries find our university to be a place that promotes independent thinking and an environment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, yet forging connections all over the world, we work together to develop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.