We specifically welcome proposals that address the following issues, although proposals are not constrained to these. The examples demonstrate viable projects for each issue and are not meant to limit your thinking. Although these are large areas of focus, small groups of faculty and departments can make huge impacts on them.

• 3D printing and maker spaces. Challenge educators to integrate creative responses to student learning and assessment with regard to 3D printing and makerspaces curricula. The newly opened Blue Print 3D Studio provides opportunities for faculty members to develop innovative student projects and assessments designed in sound pedagogical strategies. Considerations regarding: three dimensional thinking, modeling, rapid prototyping, design strategies, software integration, 3D printer capabilities/functionality, etc. may be helpful components of a successful proposal.
• Integrate inclusive teaching practices that account for cultural and/or learning differences.
• General education. Implement or advance the new General Education purposes and objectives with a particular preference given to proposals that include the development of a new sustainable interdisciplinary capstone experience. Possibilities include creating new courses or approaches where students demonstrate their technological competencies while fulfilling general education goals. General education at the University of Delaware prepares students who are able to:
  • Read critically, analyze arguments and information, and engage in constructive ideation.
  • Communicate effectively in writing, orally, and through creative expression.
  • Work collaboratively and independently within and across a variety of cultural contexts and a spectrum of differences.
  • Critically evaluate the ethical implications of what they say and do.
  • Reason quantitatively, computationally, and scientifically.
• Other issues and themes. Faculty are welcome to submit proposals that advance teaching in other ways. Topics of interest on campus include active learning in all forms (problem-based, project-based, design-based, studio-based, team-based).

Evaluation criteria

• Proposes a great idea that addresses important problems that are significant to UD
• Present a coherent narrative that integrates each component of the project, including assessment and evaluation
• Supported by theory and evidence-based research. Staff in Academic Technology Services and the Center for Teaching and Assessment of Learning are available to assist in making connections to contemporary research in pedagogy and learning in your discipline
• Emphasize realistic outcomes and a plan to collect evidence that they have been met
• Contain a plan of work with a calendar that details (a) who is doing what and when and (b) anticipates potential roadblocks and proposes solutions
• Are sustainable beyond the life of the grant
• Have a credible budget that ties activities and time spent to cost

Any questions? Contact Faculty Commons.

Documents

• Proposal template: use this file to develop your proposal [Microsoft Word file]
• The 2016 deadline has passed and the proposal form has been closed.
• Sample proposal: an example of a successful application from 2015 [PDF file]

Requirements

• Applicants must be University of Delaware faculty.
  • Alternatively, graduate students and staff who are the instructor of record for a course may apply for a CTAL instructional grant to enhance their instruction.
• Faculty stipend limits are: individual faculty up to $5,000 or teams of faculty up to $15,000, which will be awarded during the summer. Funding does not include fringe benefits for stipends.
• Proposals are limited to 3 pages. Appendices are acceptable.
• Applications must use the proposal template.

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, 2017, present their project results at a Faculty Institute or make a digital poster presentation online (platform TBD).
• Any awarded funds which are not spent by May 31, 2017, will revert to the grant sponsors.