Call for Proposals

Summary

Award: Selected campus departments will receive $15,000 each, which can be used to purchase computing hardware/software and/or hire students for project development tasks.

Deliverable: At least five web-based instructional modules to be developed by two-five faculty members from one department. Preference will be given to departments whose module ideas focus on the undergraduate curriculum. We are especially interested in proposals that address the University's Intercultural and International Initiative (QEP). For further information about the QEP, please see: https://san4.dii.utk.edu/pls/portal30/docs/FOLDER/SACS/ SACSQEP/index.html

Proposal Deadline: Monday, October 17, 2005 at 8:00 AM

If you have any questions regarding this grant opportunity, please contact Jerry Riehl at (865) 974-9309, email: jriehl@utk.edu or Jean Derco at (865) 974-9551, email: jderco@utk.edu.

Overview

The Innovative Technology Center (ITC) invites applications from Knoxville campus departments interested in exploring new directions in teaching and learning. We encourage departments to apply that have two to five faculty members who are interested in creating a total of at least five modular pieces of instruction that will be delivered on the Web. These modules must be structured so that a student can progress through the instruction in a self-directed manner.

For this grant, a module is defined as a self-contained unit of instruction that addresses one learning objective. A module should contain instruction about the difference between what students already know and what they need to know to satisfy the objective of the module. Therefore, a module states its purpose and contains an introduction, the instructional content necessary to achieve the objective and at least one self-assessment or practice activity. Please note, a module is NOT a collection of web links or supplemental information about a topic...it needs to provide instruction, practice, and feedback.

The proposed module's content must be general enough for it to be used in other courses. The module can be used as an initial exposure to the content, as a homework assignment, or as review material. The modules can:

• sequentially build upon each other,


• target basic discipline content skills and knowledge, or


• focus on generic skills such as computer literacy, information literacy or study habits.

Each module will undergo two reviews: (1) with ITC staff when development is first underway, and (2) a peer-review PRIOR to using it with students. It is also recommended that the module be piloted with a few students before using it in class.

Preference will be given to departments whose module ideas focus on the undergraduate curriculum. We are especially interested in proposals that address the University's Intercultural and International Initiative (QEP). For further information about the QEP, please see:
https://san4.dii.utk.edu/pls/portal30/docs/FOLDER/SACS/ SACSQEP/index.html

Eligibility

Full-time faculty at the Knoxville campus with instructor rank or above are eligible to participate by representing their department. Experts, novices, and non-users of technology are all encouraged to participate. Previous ITC technology grant recipients are eligible to apply.

The faculty participants will own the intellectual property and copyright of his or her module and are free to use the content and replicate it as he or she sees fit. However, the modules that are developed must be maintained for a period of three years. (Faculty participants will receive an account on an ITC server to host their module(s).)

Faculty participants are responsible for acquiring permission for use of copyrighted materials and resources that are incorporated into the modules.

Terms of Award

Selected departments will receive $15,000 that can be used to purchase computing hardware and software to support module development and delivery and/or hire students for development tasks. All equipment shall be purchased by the ITC for participatory departments. Funds to hire students will be transferred to departmental accounts. $7,500 of the award may be used after January 15, 2006. The remaining funds will be available after the ITC review of each faculty member's first module (after July 1, 2006). The ITC review will occur face-to-face when the module's interface design is completed and at least one part of a module has been developed. The ITC review is to provide feedback about the look and feel and the instructional design of the module. A budget that details how the department intends to use this funding must be submitted as part of the application process.

Faculty members representing selected departments will receive training and one-on-one consultation from ITC staff. Faculty participants will be required to attend TWO workshops regarding instructional module development. These workshops will be conducted on December 7 from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon or 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm (pick one session) AND December 8 from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon or 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm (pick one session). Inability to attend this workshop will result in forfeiture of award.

Recipients will also meet in small groups to share their ideas and strategies throughout the development process at mutually agreed-upon times. Recipients will also need to demonstrate and discuss their completed module at a group meeting of 2006 Teaching with Technology grant recipients.

Each module will also need to be peer reviewed by at least one individual and a final report will need to be submitted that describes the lessons learned and includes student feedback for each module.

Important Deadlines

Proposals Due	October 17, 2005 at 8:00 am
Grants Announced	On or about November 18, 2005
Receive $7,500 of Award	After January 15, 2006
Mandatory Workshops	December 7 (9:00 am-12:00 noon or 1:00-4:00 pm) AND December 8 (9:00 am-12:00 noon or 1:00-4:00 pm)
Deadline for Equipment Ordering	By February 1, 2006
ITC Review	TBA
Receive $7,500 of Award	After each participating faculty team completes ITC Review. (After July 1, 2006)

Submitting Your Proposal

Please submit your proposal as either a Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF file attached to an email to twt2006@itc.utk.edu. Deadline for submission is Monday, October 17, 2005 at 8:00 AM.

Your proposal should contain the following information:

1. Cover page
To include the following information:

Department

List of each participating faculty member with:
   - Name & Title
   - UT Campus & Mail Address
   - Your College and Department
   - Phone Number
   - Email

2. List of Modules

Provide a list of modules to be developed including the title, description of the intended students (including level and number), the course each module will be used for, and any other courses that each module could be used for, if applicable. NOTE: If you intend to develop a series of modules that sequentially build upon each other, please indicate how they relate to one another.

3. FOR EACH MODULE, provide the following information:

A. Abstract
Provide a one-paragraph summary for each module to be developed and the specific student learning needs it will meet.

B. Narrative
A narrative (no more than one page) that describes why it is needed, the student population it will serve, the learning objectives, the specific content to be included in the module, a detailed outline of that content, anticipated benefits to the students, and possible tools to be used for creating the module.

C. Implementation
Please state whether the module will be implemented during the Fall 2006 or Spring 2007 semester.

4. Key Personnel

Please list each faculty member who will be involved in this project with a brief paragraph about each person that describes his/her contribution to the project.

5. Budget

Provide a list of how the department plans to use the funding. Funds may be used to purchase computing equipment to support module development and delivery (include the type of equipment, price and vendor), hire student help or a combination of both. Keep in mind that half of the funds will be available in January and the remainder after July 1, 2006.

6. Statement of Institutional Support

A brief statement of support from the department head will need to be submitted as part of the proposal. This may be emailed to twt2006@itc.utk.edu or faxed to (865) 974-8655, to the attention of Jerry Riehl.

7. Let us know how you found out about this grant opportunity

Selection Criteria

Selection of proposals for funding will be made based on the score that each proposal receives from selection committee members. Four criteria will be used for a total of 50 possible points. Points assessed for each criterion are indicated below.

1. Significant Need (15 points)

Evidence of significant need for the module topic.
Proposal discusses why the proposed module is needed, including a description of the students who will be using the module.

2. Audience Anticipated Learning Outcomes (10 points)

Describe the audience and anticipated benefits for students.
The proposal describes the students who will be using the module and explains how the module should benefit student learning.

3. Instructional Design (25 points)

Quality of instructional design. Proposal identifies the specific content to be included in the module. The proposal contains the learning objectives and a detailed outline of the content to be included. Proposals must also include a detailed assessment plan.

Accountability Requirements

Grant recipients will be required to attend TWO workshops at the ITC. Workshop dates are December 7 from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon or 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm AND December 8 from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon or 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm.

Recipients will also need to submit their module for a peer review, submit a summary of that review to ITC, and submit a final report to ITC.

This grant is funded by the Office of Information Technology, Innovative Technology Center.

The University of Tennessee does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status in provision of educational programs and services or employment opportunities and benefits. This policy extends to both employment by and admission to the University. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in the education programs and activities pursuant to the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.