Excellence in Teaching Innovation Grant

I. INNOVATIVE TEACHING METHODS - Funds may be used for course-related materials, or for stipends for the instructor for their time spent focusing on innovative teaching methods. Release time may also be requested, but must meet the criteria listed below, and is granted on a case-by-case basis by the Provost. Projects may fit within one or more of the following areas: 

II. EDUCATION RESEARCH - to encourage faculty to pursue scholarship of teaching and learning (SOTL) and/or discipline-based education research (DBER) projects. Educational research projects with relevance for Oregon Tech students and faculty are particularly encouraged. Funds may be used for research materials or for stipends for the instructor for their time spent conducting research and analyzing results. Funding for release time or research assistance may also be requested, but must meet the criteria listed below, and is granted on a case-by-case basis by the Provost. Projects may include, but are not limited to, topics such as: a. The impact of particular pedagogies, assignments, resources, projects, or other interventions on students/faculty b. Changes in student cognition (attitudes, self-confidence, metacognition, learning gains, career goals, etc) or behaviors (engagement, retention, attendance, etc) c. Student/faculty understanding of particular concepts or topics d. Investigations into particular subgroups of students/faculty (e.g., veterans, minorities, first generation college students, etc).

 

III. ON-CAMPUS WORKSHOPS/SEMINARS - to encourage faculty to organize and lead seminars and workshops on campus. Presentations could include a variety of subjects such as the philosophy of teaching, the use of instructional technology, techniques of teaching, or more specific subjects within academic disciplines. 

 

IV. TEACHING WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES - for attendance at a workshop/conference or teleconference for the purpose of broadening instructional techniques and improvement of teaching. Workshops/Conferences that primarily expand the instructor’s knowledge of subject matter are not funded by CCT, but workshops/conferences whose main focus is on teaching in a particular discipline may well be appropriate. In evaluating workshop/conference proposals, CCT will look particularly for the potential of a workshop/conference to have transformative impacts on the attendee’s teaching. Including specific plans for course improvements and/or dissemination of teaching-related knowledge gained at the workshop/conference will greatly strengthen a conference funding proposal.