The ITS-Innovation in Teaching with Technology grant program supports experimentation with new tools and technologies, the exploration of recent trends for using technology within a field of study or course delivery format, and for development of new approaches to teaching that improves student learning. For example, grant funds launched a music technology program, improved learning outcomes for students enrolled in a documentary film-making course, expanded the adoption of mobile (iPad) technology, impacted Chinese teaching through a Technology-Integrated Linguistic Landscape Project, funded a Drone data research project, and most recently supported a Virtual Reality project for Chemistry. All members of the FSU community are eligible to apply for the grant through a competitive process. The Teaching with Technology Grant has supported 21 FSU faculty members in 14 departments.
What types of projects does the grant fund?
For this application cycle, priority will be given to projects that align with the university's strategic initiatives, faculty wishing to integrate technology into High Impact Practices, or faculty interested in leveraging existing technologies such as the Adobe Creative Suite. The budget for the project should fall between $10,000 and $30,000 and should have no other means of support at this level. Smaller undertakings that require substantially less money ($500 to $5,000 as an example) and anything beyond $30,000 might be better handled through external grant applications.
What is the application process?
Faculty and Staff are invited to submit a Teaching with Technology Grant application to support experimentation with new tools and technologies, the exploration of recent trends for using technology within a field of study or course delivery format, and the development of new approaches to teaching to improve student learning. Applications are due at the start of the spring semester and submitted using a Qualtrics Survey.
Please review the following documents for complete information on the Grant Application Process:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can an applicant apply for grant funds more than once?
There is no restriction on the number of times an applicant may apply for grant funds, but preference is given to new projects. Each proposal is reviewed according to the criteria listed below and should be for no more than one academic year.
Who reviews the proposals?
A cross-functional team of administrators and faculty l collectively administer the program from the Academic Affairs office. The group reviews proposals in spring for projects in the following academic year for use toward "designing innovative approaches to teaching and learning through technology." The program administrators also determine overall feasibility based on required support and available resources. Awards provide limited funding for direct costs and do not cover indirect or ongoing annual expenses.
How Are Proposals Evaluated?
The SMART framework is used to evaluate proposals. Proposals should consist of no more than three pages based on how well the questions are answered and documented. For this grant cycle, priority will be given to projects that align with the university's strategic initiatives, faculty wishing to integrate technology into High Impact Practices, or faculty interested in leveraging existing technologies such as the Adobe Creative Suite. Exploration of new possibilities through pilot projects and trial and error initiatives on a small scale to test innovative ideas and gain insights that can be used to inform prospective implementation and support on a larger scale are always encouraged.
Who do I contact if I have questions?
The Education Technology Office manages the overall process. Address questions to eto@framingham.edu.