Contract instructor Teaching Innovation Grant

1. Purpose

2. Eligibility

3. Application Process

4. What to Include in Your Application

5. Selection Process

6. Sample Ideas for Using Grant Funds

7. More Information

8. Submission

Purpose

Two grants of $6,000 are available.

The purpose of this grant is to provide support to Contract Instructors for investigating student learning and alternative approaches to teaching and assessing student learning at the individual, departmental, Faculty or institutional levels. The overall aims are to foster deep student learning at Carleton and promote curiosity, reflection, and exploration in the areas of teaching and learning. The intent of these grants is to support small-scale investigations and instructional development (teaching enhancement) activities. Proposals may focus on one or a combination of the following themes:

Assessing new approaches to teaching and learning (what is possible and does it work?);
Critically examining student learning with existing instructional approaches (what is happening and what could be improved?); and
Pursuing instructional development opportunities (how could I teach differently to better facilitate deep student learning?).

Eligibility

Contract instructors who hold seniority are eligible to apply. A principal applicant may hold only one active CITI grant at a time. Collaborations with external colleagues are encouraged; however, grant funds must remain within Carleton.

Depending on the nature of the project, Teaching and Learning Services (TLS) may be able to provide development support. Applicants are encouraged to consult TLS before applying to discuss project needs and timelines and to determine if the work can be accommodated within available resources and/or completed within the time allotted by the grant. If so, a development plan created in collaboration with TLS and receiving TLS’s assent should be included in the application.

Grant funding cannot be used for the development of standard course materials, conference registration and travel expenses exceeding $2,000 (combined), journal subscriptions and professional memberships or services already funded at Carleton.

Application Process

Candidates must submit an application form and a proposal online portal by November 20 at midnight. Applications cannot exceed 10 pages (excluding the online application form).

What to Include in Your Application

A brief description of your project and interests, which will be used in promotional material if you receive the grant (75 words limit).

Teaching Innovation Proposal

Title of teaching development project.
Detailed description of teaching development project, its innovation, and its general contribution to teaching in your discipline. Include a rationale for this project with appropriate reference to the published literature related to the scholarship of teaching, and include an explanation of the innovative aspects of the proposed project, the plans for development, the expected results, the nature of the contribution to the scholarship of teaching, and your plans for the dissemination of the results.
Timeline for completion of the project.
Project budget (include salary payments if applicable).
Letter of support for the project from the chair/director or designate of the department/academic unit. This letter should outline both the instructor’s ability and the need for such a project.
Letter of support for the project from any other units/colleagues collaborating and/or past students (but not current students). You may include up to three letters of support.

Selection Process

A committee composed of two CUPE 4600, Unit 2 appointees and two university employees will review the applications and select a recipient.

Sample Ideas for Using Grant Funds

Conduct a research-informed pilot investigation into the impact on student learning of a new or existing instructional method. Investigations of current practices would be done to establish baselines on current learning impact before investigating the impact of a new method.
Develop innovative courses, materials, or activities that promote the internationalization of curriculum, pedagogies, and student learning (for example, integrating study/co-op experience abroad into the curriculum; curricular initiatives that promote greater interaction among home and international students; transcultural programs and courses; teaching, assessing, and supervising international students).
Conduct a research-informed pilot investigation into the impact on student learning of pedagogical activities that support reflection on and integration of co-operative education and work-integrated learning experiences.
Present pedagogical scholarship at a disciplinary or higher education teaching conference outside of the Carleton University.
Invite a guest speaker or facilitator to work with a department, school, or faculty to implement a different instructional approach and provide examples of methods for assessing learning (for example, peer instruction, case-based learning, problem-based learning).
Attend a formal, recognized training session to learn how to use a new teaching method (for example, Problem-based Learning experience at McMaster, Facilitator Development Workshop for Instructional Skills Workshops, Harvard Case Method) – individuals or teams may apply.
Coordinate an inaugural departmental, school-wide, or faculty-wide retreat focused on exchanging instructional innovations and best practices.

Create innovative course designs or activities in which digital course materials, tools, or learning objects are part of the innovation.