2013 IT Transformation Grant

University of Delaware faculty are encouraged to apply for a 2013 IT Transformation Grant to transform education with the support of innovative uses of technology. This year’s grant program combines resources from Information Technologies (IT) and the Center for Teaching and Assessment of Learning (CTAL) to accommodate funding requests for faculty time, graduate or undergraduate student time, conference attendance and travel, software, and equipment.

Applicants are encouraged to think big, add new instructional models that are not currently available, eliminate barriers they have identified in their teaching, and help define the next generation of education and technology.

Funding will be awarded on a competitive basis for proposals that best fit the goals and criteria for transforming teaching and learning through the innovative use of technology. Successful proposals will test and assess instructional techniques and technologies that have the potential to establish new practices and resources on campus—and beyond.

I. Two-step proposal process

• Although the pre-proposal deadline has passed, we are always available to discuss your ideas for transformation and to help identify available resources: contact us.
• Full proposals are due May 1, 2013. Before submitting a full proposal, an approved pre-proposal is required.
• Awards will be announced at the 2013 Summer Faculty Institute on May 28, 2013.
• Project development and funding will begin June 1, 2013.
• Project completion is required by the end of the spring semester 2014.

II. Writing your pre-proposal

A successful pre-proposal will convey the strength of your idea to the review committee as briefly as possible. It’s understood that the details will have to be developed, so use just a few sentences to explain your idea and it’s potential to be transformative.

Faculty will receive immediate feedback on the feasibility and quality of the idea in their pre-proposal. The review committee may have follow-up questions about the idea or suggest partners for a combined proposal.

III. Framing your full proposal

Faculty who have their pre-proposal accepted will be invited to submit a full proposal. An accepted pre-proposal is a requirement before submitting a full proposal.

The following prompts may be helpful. Choose those that are relevant to your project idea. Keep in mind that funding is competitive, so a successful proposal will go beyond these questions.

Problem description

• What instructional problem are you trying to solve?
• What is the history of this problem (previous efforts at UD and elsewhere)?
• List all of the stakeholders that need to be involved to solve this problem successfully and their roles (departmental support and buy-in is highly recommended).

Role of technology

• What application of technology does your project introduce or advance at UD?
• How does technology improve upon a no-tech approach to your problem?
• How will the technology for your project be adaptable by others?
• How is your project positioned to exploit anticipated future technological directions?

Outcomes and impact

• What learning outcomes will you be able to measure?
• What impact will your project have elsewhere on campus?
• How would you describe "success" for your project?
• What are the economic implications of maintaining and expanding your project (in other words: reflect on how could it become sustainable and scalable)?

IV. Requirements for full proposals

• Applicants must be University of Delaware faculty. Graduate students and staff who hold teaching responsibilities may apply for a CTAL instructional grant to enhance their instruction.
• Proposals are limited to 3 pages.
• Proposals will include (at a minimum):
  • a statement of the problem
  • how technology is integral to addressing the problem
  • anticipated outcomes with specific metrics for measuring success
  • an implementation timeline, which must conclude by the end of spring semester 2014.
  • a budget estimate that may include: faculty time (summer S-contract), graduate or undergraduate student time, conference attendance and travel, software, and equipment.

V. Conditions of acceptance

• Faculty will engage in regular milestone meetings with IT and CTAL staff and roundtable sessions with other grant awardees.
• Faculty and student participants in their project will complete a survey to evaluate the project.
• Faculty will submit a final report evaluating their project no later than June 15, 2014.
• Faculty will present their project results at a Winter or Summer Faculty Institute.
• Any awarded funds which are not spent by May 31, 2014, will revert to the grant sponsors.

If your proposal does not have a technology component, you may apply directly for a CTAL instructional grant.

Any questions? Contact us.