New technology grants support curriculum changes

A new grant program will encourage faculty to use the latest technology to transform large, introductory courses; introduce or enhance active learning approaches into a department's curriculum; or develop and improve LIFE, Pathways and Capstone courses, the offices of the Provost and Information Technologies have announced.

According to Acting Provost Dan Rich, "The purpose of the program is to explore ways that information technologies can enhance the University's overall program of instruction. We expect to approve proposals that will have a programmatic impact on a department's curriculum and that include ways to measure and assess how well students are learning the material."

Rich said that these Technology-Enhanced Course Redesign grants, including matching funds, will range from $2,000 to $20,000 depending upon the scope and scale of the initiative undertaken and the total number of grants awarded.

"The information technologies currently available to faculty present a wealth of opportunities for innovative delivery of instructional material to our students," Susan Foster, vice president for Information Technologies (IT), said. "These grants should encourage faculty to seize the opportunities to enhance and transform teaching and learning."

Individual faculty members and groups of faculty may submit proposals to the provost's office through their department chairs and deans. Proposals must have the approval and advocacy of department chairs and be prioritized by deans. Successful proposals will be those judged to have a programmatic impact on the curriculum. In addition, faculty must be able to acquire the necessary technical skills and dedicate the time needed to ensure not just a project's successful implementation but also its continued development and success.

"Proposals of this scope are likely to require several meetings with individuals who are experienced in applying technology to student learning," Janet de Vry, manager in IT-User Services, said. "Because of technology's potential for transforming the way a course is delivered, it is imperative that faculty developing such a proposal discuss it with other faculty and staff who have had experience using the technology to teach and assess student success."

IT, Center for Teaching Effectiveness (CTE) and University Library staff will be available to meet with interested department chairs and their faculties to provide further clarification of the program and to offer expertise as faculty develop their proposals.

For application materials and for further information on these technology grants–including questions to help a department determine its readiness to develop, implement and sustain curriculum redesign projects--visit [http://www.udel.edu/present/ grant].

GRANT PROCESS TIMELINE

Later this month, the provost and vice president for information technologies will formally invite deans to solicit proposals from faculty and department chairs. These proposals should be for projects that can be implemented during the 2002-2003 academic year.

Faculty may begin preparing proposals as soon as the deans receive the formal invitation. Application materials will be available at [http://www.udel.edu /present/grant ].

As they prepare their proposals, faculty should discuss their instructional goals, strategies for meeting those goals, strategies for assessing success and technology's role in helping them develop those strategies with staff in

• IT's PRESENT ([present-site @udel.edu] or 831-0640),
  
  
• CTE ([cte-reg@udel.edu] or 831-2027) and
  
  
• the University Library (contact Sandra Millard, at [skm@udel.edu] or 831-2231).

Beginning May 1 and continuing until July 31, deans will forward to the provost completed proposals that are most aligned with department, college and University goals.

Faculty should submit their proposals to their department chairs no later than July 19 in order to allow time for chair review and submission to the appropriate dean.

Announcement of successful grant proposals will be made on a rolling basis, but no later than Aug. 15.

A subsequent round of proposals may be solicited for the 2003-2004 academic year. Deadlines for the submission of those proposals will be announced later. 

Faculty should note that this Technology-Enhanced Course Redesign grant program is different from the Advanced and Emerging Technologies program, administered by CTE to support the use of the latest technologies in often experimental contexts. For more information about that technology grant program, visit [http://www.udel.edu/cte/techgrants.htm].