Innovation in Teaching
Goals
The Innovation in Teaching Grants support the development of faculty projects that seek to either Option 1) enhance teaching at UMass Dartmouth in significant and creative ways and/or Option 2) conduct scholarly research on university-level teaching and learning. A total of $25,000 is available to support these awards.
- Successful grants for Option 1 will: clearly delineate an innovative project aimed at enhancing student learning; draw on relevant scholarship on teaching and learning; show how the project's impact will be sustained and assessed over time; have a clearly laid-out budget; and present a thoughtful plan for sharing the outcome with the UMass Dartmouth community.
- Successful grants for Option 2 will: lay out a significant research question pertaining to university-level teaching and learning; present a clear methodology and research plan; draw on findings from relevant scholarly literature on teaching and learning; present plans for publication and scholarly communication.
Guidelines
Who is eligible?All UMass Dartmouth full-time faculty, including FTVLs, and librarians are eligible to apply.
What is the amount of the grant?
The maximum amount of the grants depend on funding. Proposed grant budgets can
range anywhere from $500 to $10,000. The quality of the proposed project is
the key selection criteria and relatively modest as well as very substantial
grants will be considered.
When is the deadline?
The application deadline is shown at the top of the main grants page.
What is the grant period?
The proposal must be for work to be completed within one year.
What can the grant cover?
The grant can cover costs for:
- Faculty stipends covering time spent on the project (including release time and summer support);
- Materials (books, videos, photocopying, etc.). This will only be for resources integral to the project that are not readily available from other sources. This grant is not intended to fund primarily equipment requests.
- Travel (for example, to meet with relevant experts; site visits to collect material, etc.)
- Employment of student assistants.
What does it mean that the project's impact should be "sustained over time?"
One-time innovations such as buying tickets to a museum or event are not funded by this grant. Projects should provide the basis for a teaching approach, tool, or materials that will continue to be used in courses after completion of the funded project.
How should the results of the project be documented?
Project recipients are expected to summit a narrative report (ca. 5 pages) that
outlines goals of the project, activities undertaken, expense report, and reflections
on the impact of the project. These reports will be made available to the UMass
Dartmouth community via the Center's web site.
How should the results of the project be communicated to the UMass Dartmouth community?
All projects must have a dissemination component. Results may be communicated through: a presentation at the annual Talking about Teaching conference, a Faculty Forum, or Teaching Institute seminar; development of a Teaching Resource Packet for the Center's web site; or publication of a scholarly article or campus-wide report. Dissemination of project results should be accomplished during the academic year following the grant work.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Prospective applicants are encouraged to consult with members of the Grant Committee.Send 5 hard paper copies of the completed application to Rita Girard at CTE and an electronic copy via email attachment to the Rita Girard (see contact us). Please provide the following information:
-
1. Background information: Department/Program, Contact, Telephone &
- What are the goals of the project?
- How does the project support the teaching objectives of the department/program and college?
- How does the project draw on the scholarship of teaching and learning?
- What do you propose to do? How and when will it be carried out? Who will participate?
- What are the anticipated results/products of the project? How will these results be sustained?
- How will you communicate the results to the UMass Dartmouth community?
Option 2 - What are the goals of the research project?
- How does the project draw on and potentially contribute to the scholarship of teaching and learning?
- What relevance will your research have for teaching at UMass Dartmouth?
- Explain your research methodology and plan? How and when will the research be carried out? Who will participate?
- What are your plans for scholarly communication and publication of the results?
e-mail, Grant history related to teaching and learning
2. Description of product:
-
Option 1
as possible.
APPLICATION DOWNLOADS
Download PDF Application
SELECTION PROCESS
The Grant Committee is comprised of representatives from the Center Advisory Board for each of the Academic Councils and the Center Director . Each member serves a three year term. Grant Committee members may not participate in the discussion of or voting on proposals by faculty from their own departments. Awards may be for the full or partial amount of the request. Proposals will be evaluated before the end of the Spring semester. A written explanation of the Committee's decisions will be provided to all applicants. Inquiries regarding the review criteria and process may be directed to the Director (x8735).
SUCCESSFUL GRANTS
- Assistant Professors Eli Stahl & Suzanne Joseph (PDF), Biology & Sociology/Anthropology
- Associate Professor Iren Valova (PDF), Computer and Information Science
- Proposal: Professor Ramprasad Balasubramanian, 2007 (PDF), Computer and Information Science
- Proposal: Professor Shouhong Wang, 2007 (PDF), Decision and Information Sciences
- Report: Assistant Professor Suzanne Joseph, Spring 2008 (PDF), Sociology/Anthropology
- Report: Assistant Professor Cristina Mehrtens, Spring 2008 (PDF), History
- Proposal: Assistant Professor Marilyn Asselin, 2008 (PDF), College of Nursing
