How to apply for Teacher's Toolkit Curriculum Development Manager

About Skeptoid Media Inc

Skeptoid Media Inc produces the Skeptoid podcast, which focuses on science literacy and critical thinking. This contract role lets you build educational materials directly from that existing content library. The work is remote and US-based.

About the role

You will create 27 downloadable lesson plan Toolkits across nine subjects and three grade levels, using curated Skeptoid episodes. You will beta test three Toolkits with volunteer schools, evaluate their effectiveness, and revise them. You will also train educators and promote the Toolkits to schools and educational organizations.

A typical day

A typical day might involve drafting lesson plans for a specific grade level, reviewing Skeptoid episodes for relevant content, and aligning activities to national standards. You might also coordinate with volunteer schools for beta testing, analyze evaluation data, or prepare training materials for educators. Since the role is remote and contract-based, you would manage your own schedule to meet the one-year deadline for 27 Toolkits.

Who Skeptoid Media Inc is looking for

• Has direct experience writing K-12 lesson plans or curriculum units that align to national education standards.
• Understands how to build self-contained educational Toolkits that teachers can download and use without extra support.
• Can design and run beta tests and evaluation measures with schools, then revise materials based on results.
• Is comfortable training educators and marketing educational resources to schools and organizations.
• Knows how to use podcast episodes as primary source material for science literacy and critical thinking lessons.

Tips for this application

• In your application, name the nine subject areas you would propose for the Toolkits and explain why each fits Skeptoid episode content.
• Provide a sample lesson plan or Toolkit outline for one grade level that shows how you would use a specific Skeptoid episode.
• Describe your experience with national curriculum review or standards alignment, including which standards bodies you have worked with.
• Explain how you would beta test three Toolkits with volunteer schools, including what evaluation measures you would use.
• State your availability and capacity to complete 27 Toolkits in one year as a contract worker.

What to cover in your cover letter

Your cover letter should address: your experience creating grade-specific lesson plans for elementary, secondary, and high school; your familiarity with national curriculum review and standards alignment; your plan for beta testing and evaluating Toolkits with schools; and your ability to train educators and promote Toolkits to schools and educational organizations.

Research before applying

• Listen to several Skeptoid podcast episodes to understand the tone, topics, and how they address science literacy and critical thinking.
• Review the Skeptoid website to see what educational materials or Toolkits already exist and how they are presented.
• Research national curriculum review processes and standards alignment requirements for US schools.
• Find examples of self-contained educational units or Toolkits from other podcast or media organizations.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Which nine subject areas would you choose for the Toolkits and how would you map them to Skeptoid episodes?
• How would you ensure each Toolkit passes national review for educational quality, standards alignment, and usability?
• What evaluation measures would you use during the beta test of three Toolkits with volunteer schools?
• How would you train educators to use the Toolkit materials effectively?
• What is your plan to promote and market Toolkit availability to schools and educational organizations?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic cover letter that does not mention Skeptoid, podcast-based curriculum, or the 27-Toolkit structure.
• Failing to show any experience with national curriculum review or standards alignment.
• Proposing lesson plans that are not grade-specific for elementary, secondary, and high school levels.