Vice-Chancellor’s LearningandTeachingGrants2015:Guidelinesforsmallgrants

Individualsandteamsareinvitedtoapplyforamountsofbetween$2,000and$10,000 which must be expended in 2015.

Learning2014 – learning.futures

As akeyTeachingandLearningpriority, the Grants support staff in re-engineering their approaches to teaching and learning in line with the learning.futures strategy, incorporating the UTS Model of Learning, the Learning2014 initiative and the Graduate Attributes Project.They encourageengagementwiththefollowingdevelopmentsinhighereducation:

-‘Flippededucation’wherestudentsaccessdigitalresourcesandundertakepreliminarytaskspriortocomingtoclasseswheretheyengageincollaborative,mentoredactivities.

-Theincreasingdevelopmentofopen,digitallibrariesthatenablestudentstoengagewithextensiveeducationalresourcesandtutorialsindifferentfields,andtothenhavetheirunderstandingsofkeyconceptsorideasautomaticallyassessed.

-Initiatives relating to innovative uses of learning spaces such aslarge collaborative theatres and collaborative pod classrooms.

-Collaboration technologies (including social media) to support formal and informal peer learning.

-Initiativesinvolvingopportunitiesforcreative,transdisciplinaryand inquiry-based learning.

-Learning analytics, specifically using data to personalise students' learning experiences or to provide feedback to students on their learning.

NOTE: Evaluation projects will not be funded in this grants round; a separate round of funding for evaluation projects will occur later in 2015.

Overview

Projectsfundedfor2015willenableacademicandprofessionalstaff(asindividualsorteams)toengageininnovation,totestandmodifyexistinginnovations,toreconfiguresubjectsandlearningactivities(includingassessment)soastomakepowerfuluseofnewcollaborativespacesandemergingdigitaltechnologies.Projectsmustgobeyondtheroutineupdatingofcurriculum,resourcesorsupportservices.Projectsmayincluderesearchorinvestigativecomponents,butrequireadevelopmentcomponenthavingdirectbenefitsorimplicationsforstudents,enablingthemtodevelopdesiredgraduateattributes.

Projectsmaybedesignedasstand-aloneinitiativesoraspilotsforfutureapplicationsinnationalgrantschemes,suchasthoseadministeredbytheOfficeforLearningandTeaching(OLT).Applicationsmaybemadeforprojectsthatprogressworkdoneinpreviousprojectsfundedunderthisscheme,providedtheapplicantshavesubmittedprojectreportsthatshowappropriateevidenceofthatearlierproject’ssuccess.ProjectsshoulddemonstratetheyareconsistentwiththeUTSStrategicPlan2009-2018,theUTSModelofLearningandtheUTSGraduate AttributesProject.

There are also opportunities to partner with the Connected Intelligence Centre on academic writing and dispositional learning analytics.

Successfulgrantapplicantsshould expect tocontributetotheLearning2014 website and present outcomes of their work to colleaguesSocialmediaandotheronlinestrategieswillbe an integral aspect of how successful grant holders engageacademics,professionalstaffandstudentsaswellasenable networks andcollaborationacrossUTS.Afinalprojectreport(dueFebruary2016)shouldoutlineprojectactivities,developments,outcomesandalsoastatementofexpenditureagainsttheprojectbudget.

Application requirements and guide

Anyapplicationmustbesubmittedontheprojectapplicationform,benolongerthan4pagesandinclude4components:

1.ProjectSummary

Projecttitle:
AgoodtitlewillaccuratelycommunicatetheProject’soverallintention,suggestingitssignificance.
SummaryofProject
Innomorethan100wordsofplainlanguage,summariseaims,significanceandanticipatedoutcomesoftheproposedProject. Thesummaryshouldbewrittenforageneralaudience,as(ifsuccessful)thesummarywillappearontheUTS’swebsite. Use“Theprojectwill…“ratherthan“Iwill”“Wewill”etcinthesummary.
Keywords
Provide5-8keywordsthatindicatethisProject’sfocus.
Projectapplicant/teamleader:
Name:
Position:
Contactphoneno:
Contactemail:
Faculty/Unit:
School/Department(ifapplicable):

2.ProjectDescription

AimsandBackground:
WhatdoesthisProjectsetouttoachieve?
WhatistheparticularUTScontextofthisProject’saspirations?Forexample,studentdemographics,relationshipswithindustry,socialjusticeaspirations,engagementwithcontemporarychallengesandresearchdevelopmentsinthisdiscipline.
HowdoesitrelatetootherdisciplinarydevelopmentsinthisProject’seducationalfield?Doesthis
Projectbuildonearlierworkandifso,how?

Significanceandrationale:

WhyisitimportanttoundertakethisProject?
ArethereunderlyingquestionsthatthisProjectcouldshedlighton,enablingnewinsights?Pleasestatethequestionsandelaboratewhererelevant.
How does this Project meet UTS strategic aims and enact the UTS Model of Learning?
How does it relate tothe intended graduate attributes?
What are the anticipated outcomes of this Project?
How will this Project result in benefits for UTS students?

Approaches to conducting the Project:

HowwillthisProjectbeconducted?Whatactivitiesandinitiativeswillbeundertaken?
HowdoesthisProjectengagewithLearning2014/learning.futures?
WhyweretheseparticularapproachestoconductingtheProjectchosen?
WhatmethodswillbeusedtogaugetheProject’ssuccess?
Ifunderlyingquestionswereidentified(intheprevious‘Significanceandrationale’section),whatareinitialideasforhowtheycouldbeinvestigated?
AProjectplanandproposedtimelinesmustbeincluded.

Communicating progress and findings:

WhomightbeinterestedandbenefitfromtheProjectbeyondtheimmediatestakeholders?
Whattypesofmediaandmediaplatformscouldbeusedtoinform,communicateanddisseminatetheProjectdevelopmentsandoutcomes?Whattypesofcommunicationanddisseminationstrategieswillopenupopportunitiesforwiderfeedbackfrominterestedstaff?
What approaches will be used to enable UTS staff to consider the potential relevance of Project outcomes in their educational contexts?WhattypesofcommunicationwillenablestakeholderstoengagewiththeeducationalideasofthisProjectsoastotestandpotentiallyupscaleanyoutcomes,duringandpostProject
.

Sustainability of Project outcomes:

HowcouldtheanticipatedProjectoutcomesbesustainableovertime?
ArethereanyfuturedevelopmentsthatmaypotentiallyariseoutofthisProject?Ifso,pleasedescribe.

3.Team members and consultation

Applicant/teamleaderexperienceandcapabilitystatement
Applicantsarerequiredtoincludeashortstatementonpreviousexperienceand/orskillsinintroducinglearningandteachinginnovationsand/orcarryingoutprojectswithintimeandbudgetconstraints.
Applicants should list all previous learning and teaching grants received.If a grant was received in 2014, an interim report should be provided with the application.
StaffwhointendtobeonPEPduring2015willnormallynotbeeligibletobesoleapplicantsorteamleaders.AnexceptionmaybemadeinthecaseofapplicantswhosePEPplansfocusoncurriculumorteachingandlearninginnovationsthatareconsistentwiththeproposedproject.AnyapplicantwhowillbeonPEPneedstoprovideevidencethattheproposedprojectisconsistentwiththeaimsoftheirPEPandcanbecompletedduring2015.
Providealistofnamesofothermembersofstaffinvolvedintheprojectandtheiraffiliation.
Providealistofnamesofstaffmembersinuniversityunits(e.g.AVS,ITD,IML,UTSWebteam,StudentServices)whohavebeenconsultedinrelationtothisproject. There are staff available to advise on the development of web-based resources.(Consultation list necessaryifservices/supportfromotherunitswillberequiredtodeveloporimplementtheproject.)

EndorsementbyDeanorDirector

AstatementofsupportbytheDeanoftheapplicant’sfacultyisrequiredthatconfirmsthatanyteachingreleaseandfacultyresourcesspecifiedintheapplicationwillbeavailable.ApplicantsareadvisedtocontacttheAssociateDean(TeachingandLearning)andDeputyDean(ifapplicable)intheirFacultytoascertainanyfacultyrequirementsforsupportingapplicationsandconsulttheiracademicsupervisorandHeadofSchool/Programorequivalenttoabouttheavailabilityofanyteachingrelease.

4.Projecttimelines and budgets

Budgetsforprojectsfundedunderthisinitiativemustbeexpendedduring2015.$10,000isthemaximumfundingavailable,butapplicantsshouldconsiderthepossibilityofapplyingforsmall-scaleprojectstopilotideasordevelopsmall-scaleinitiatives.PleaseseeAppendixAforadviceoncostingvariousbudgetitems.Eligiblebudgetitemsinclude:

-Teachingormarkingreleaseoradminsupportforstaffworkingdirectlyontheproject.Ifrequestingteachingrelease,pleaseconsiderthepracticalityofreleaseandseekapprovalinadvance.

-Salariesforprojectassistance;

-Productionofnewsubjectmaterialsorresourcesthatgobeyondroutineupdating;

-Purchaseofsoftwareorresourceswhichareadirectpartoftheproject.Applicationsthatinvolveanyequipmentpurchaseorsoftwaredevelopmentneedtoincludeevidencethatthisdoesnotreplicatematerialalreadyavailable(forexample,provideinformationaboutwhereyouhavesearchedforsimilarmaterialandhowyourprojectdiffersfromexistingmaterial);

-Costsofworkshopsorsimilaractivitiesaimedatsharingpractice;

-Incidental costs of project evaluation, for example small incentives or catering for student focus groups

-Localtravelcostsnecessarytoproduceprojectoutcomes–forexamplecostsrelatedtointerviewingindustrypractitionersorvisitingindustrysitesaspartofaproject;

-Supportforparticipationinlearningandteachingconferenceswheretheworkwillbepresented(upto$1000).

Itemswhicharenoteligibleinclude:

-Personalcomputers,mobiledevicesandsimilarequipment,exceptwherethesewillbedirectlyusedbystudentsfortheirlearningaspartoftheprojectandtheusewillbesustainable;

-Conferencetravelotherthanasabove;

-Anyrecurrentcostsincurredthroughembeddingtheprojectoutcomes.Ifrecurrentcostswillariseandtheprojectisseenasofsufficientvaluetowarrantongoingsupport,theDean/DirectorneedstoconfirmthatthesecostswillbesupportedbytheFaculty/Unit.

Applicationprocessanddeadline

ApplicationswillbesubmittedtotheofficeofProfessorShirleyAlexander,DVCandVice-President(Education and Students),byemailandaccompaniedbyfivelandhardcopiesofapplicationsmustbereceivedby5 pm,Tuesday 20 January 2015.

Youmaydiscussyourprojectideaorapplicationpriortosubmissionwith staff from the InstituteforInteractiveMediaandLearning (IML) (call IML on ext. 1669). IMLwillalsoruninformationsessions.TimesandlocationswillbeannouncedinStaffNotices and on the Teach-Learnnet listserv.

Appendix A: Budget advice for projects

Budgetsshouldreflecttheminimumleveloffundingrequiredtocompletetheproject.Theymustbeadequatelycostedandjustified.

Teachingreleasecosts

Teachingreleaseistobecostedonthebasisofcasualreplacement.Thereneedstobeajustificationofhowtheamountoftimerequestedwillbeusedtocompletetheproject,andarealisticassessmentofwhetherreleaseisfeasible.Projectsupport,adminassistance,studentassistanceormarkingreplacementmightbemoreviableoptions. Allowablecasualreplacementcostsshouldnormallybebasedonreleasefromteachingforasemesteratcasualreplacementrates.See Casual Academic Staff rates. Theseratesincludecasualloadings,butdonotincludeoncosts, which must be added. See Thenumberofhoursneedstobejustifiedonthebasisofstudentnumbersorsimilar.

Projectstaffcosts

Fundingforresearchoradministrativeassistanceshouldreflectthelevelofworkrequired,andtheleveland amountofassistancerequiredshouldbedescribedinthebudgetjustification.Casualresearchorprojectassistance,suchassupportforliteratureandresourcesearching,collectingandanalysingevaluationdataetcthatiscarriedoutwithguidancefromtheprojectleaderwouldusuallybecostedatResearchassistantHEW5+oncosts.See thescheduleofratesforCasual Professional Staff.

ApplicantsareencouragedtoconsideremployingUTSstudentsundertheStudentJobs@UTSscheme.

Costsrelatedtoevaluationdatacollection,studentfocusgroups,interviewsetc:

Fundingmayberequestedforsmall(under$20)incentivessuchasmovieticketstoencouragestudentstoparticipateinfocusgroupsorinterviewsaspartofaprojectevaluation.PleasenotethatmovievoucherscanbeobtainedfromtheUTSunionatreducedrates.Cateringforfocusgroupscanbeincluded.

Questionnaires:Whereverpossible,questionnairesshouldbeadministeredonline,usingafreelyavailableoptionsuchasUTSOnlineorUTSSurveymanager(contactIMLfordetails).

ResourcesandcostsforservicesfromUTSunitsoroutsideproviders

Costsfordevelopmentofweb,podcastandotheraudio-visualandotherresourcesshouldbebasedonactualquotesfromproviders.ApplicantsforprojectsthatmayinvolvestafforservicesfromUTSunitssuchasAVS,IMLortheUTSWebTeamneedtoconsultwiththeseunitsinadvanceofsubmittingtheprojectapplicationtodiscussoptions,ensurethatresources(includingstafftime)areavailablefortheprojectandobtainquotesifapplicable.