Innovations in Teaching with Technology Awards

- Proposal Guidelines -

Priorities

  • In the spirit of innovation, all new ideas are welcome, but the focus must be on student learning. Priority will be given to projects that, if proven successful, can be replicated throughout the university.
  • Cross-disciplinary projects are encouraged, but not required.
  • Proposals that call for the use of collaborative teaching and learning strategies and student use of emerging technologies for teaching and learning are encouraged. These projects should be considered as "proof-of-concept" projects that are new to the University of Iowa.

Audience

  • Projects that primarily improve the instruction of undergraduates are encouraged. However, this program is not limited solely to undergraduate education.

Award

  • A total of $100,000 is available for awards.
  • The number of awards will be determined by the quality of the applications. A single award or multiple awards may be made.
  • Applications can be made to support the costs of hardware, software, and personnel.
  • Funding is not available to support faculty salaries or for projects that may be technologically sophisticated but are not oriented toward participatory learning.

Benefits of the Award 

  • Funding support.
  • Resources and consultation time with staff.
  • The award can be for a pilot project that has significant potential for a “Phase II” follow-up project, which could compete for a second award.

Expectations of Award Winners

  • Use the funding to incorporate or enhance the use of technology to improve student learning.
  • Assess the impact of the technology on student learning in a particular course.
  • Help build a culture of teaching excellence in their departments, colleges, and the university by actively disseminating the results of their efforts through workshops, wikis, mentorship, publications, virtual showcases, classroom teaching demonstrations for other instructors, poster presentations, publications or conference presentations, or similar peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
  • Make two presentations about the award to UI campus audiences.

Other Considerations

The selection committee also will consider the following:

  • The potential for broader applications beyond a single course, discipline, or the University of Iowa.
  • The possibility for collaboration among instructors in different courses or across disciplines.
  • Whether the project demonstrates a “fast follower” approach in that the applicant’s efforts will result in fairly rapid “payback” for other instructors and courses.

Application Process

To submit, include the following information:

What Are the Desired Learning Outcomes for Your Students and What Learning Gaps Have You Identified?

(A gap is the disparity between what students actually learn and what they are expected to learn.)

In this section you must:

  • State the overall unit/course level learning outcomes that you have for your students.
  • Outline the specific learning objectives that you have developed to help your students achieve these unit/course level outcomes.
  • Describe the learning gap(s) you have identified in your lesson/module/unit/course

 

What Teaching and Technology Interventions Will Close the Learning Gap(s) You Have Identified and Help Students Achieve the Desired Learning Outcomes?

In this section you must:

  • Describe the teaching intervention(s) that you intend to implement.
  • Describe the technology that will facilitate the teaching intervention(s).
  • Discuss how these interventions will close the learning gap(s) you have identified.
  • Describe how you plan to implement your idea into the lesson/module/unit/course.

 

Does the Chosen Technology Appropriately Assist the Learning Intervention?

In this section you must:

  • Describe why this technology will assist in the intervention.
  • What unique features of this technology aid in achieving the outcomes identified in the proposal.
  • Provide specific examples, when possible,

 

What is Your Evaluation Plan for Measuring the Impact of this Intervention?

(Be aware that assistance in developing an evaluation strategy is available.)

In this section you must:

  • Determine how long will it take for you to realize the effectiveness (evaluation timeline).
  • Describe what your expected outcome is. 
  • Describe how you will achieve this. 
  • Explain your instruments for measuring baseline (if applicable) and improvement (e.g., course surveys, exams, data set, etc.). 

 

Provide a Rough Breakdown of Anticipated Expenditures

In this section you must:

  • Detail anticipated costs that would be funded by this award. 

 

What Else Will You Need?

In this section you must:

  • Specify what you already have access to (if appropriate) and what you want funding for.
  • Include external consultants and partners as well as any required contract or licensed services.
  • Specify if you are using other funding sources for this project and what “needs” are being covered by these.
  • The award will not fund faculty time.

 

How Will Funding Be Sustained Beyond Initial Funding Period, Assuming Success?

In this section you must:

  • Describe how funding will be sustained for this project on an ongoing basis, assuming success.

 

Have You Consulted with Your IT Director Regarding Your Proposal?

  • We have found that it is helpful to discuss proposals with IT directors prior to finalizing applications to ensure required technology can be implemented.

 

References

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Office of Teaching, Learning & Technology for assistance in determining whether their proposal is suitable for the funding program.