2009 Call for Proposals
Project RITE (Research of Instructional Technology in Education)
Final Deliverable
A completed, scholarly research pilot/project, presentable at a scholarly conference and/or publishable in an educational or disciplinary journal that answers a specific question about the effect of instructional technology on student learning.
Proposal Deadline
October 6, 2008. Awardees will be notified on or about October 20, 2008.
Award
$3000
Submit Proposal
Proposals should be submitted via email as either a Microsoft
Word or Adobe PDF file attachment to gphipps@utk.edu
Eligibility
University of Tennessee Knoxville Faculty
Overview
Project RITE is an opportunity for University of Tennessee Knoxville faculty to design and conduct their own research regarding the question of how instructional technology affects student learning. Participants will design research pilots/projects to measure the use and effectiveness of technologies intended to enhance both the teaching and learning process. Some examples of such technologies include multimedia presentations during class lectures, class "blogging," and incorporation of such varied technologies as Course Management Systems (such as BlackBoard), "clicker" technology, eJournals, software used to enhance learning / feedback, digital libraries, course websites, online tutorials, web-based collaboration tools (such as wikis), etc.
When designing research projects, it is recommended that
participants consider questions such as the following:
- What successes or failures have you experienced with incorporating technology in your classes?
- What kinds of learning does technology promote?
- Is technology helping students learn better? If so, how? If not, why?
- What learning activities will improve because of the use of technology?
- What learning abilities, attitudes, and skills are best enhanced by the use of technology?
- Which technologies are most effective in enhancing the learning process?
- How is technology best used in the classroom?
- What learning activities do not appear to be enhanced by technology?
If you use technology as a means for connecting and collaborating with students as part of the Ready for the World Initiative you may want to consider this as a topic for research.
Proposal Format
Proposals should be limited to two single-spaced pages and should
include discussion of each of the following five areas:
- The Research Problem
State the problem as clearly and concisely as possible so reviewers can easily identify the proposal focus.
- The Project Significance
The problem investigated by your research should be directly related to the larger question of how instructional technology impacts the learning process for students of higher education. Be sure to describe any significance your research may have for University of Tennessee specifically, or for higher education as a whole.
- The Methodology
Clearly describe how the research will be carried out, the data that will be collected, and the plan for analyzing data.
- The Timeline
Provide an estimated timeline for the research pilot/project, with a June 15, 2009 completion date.
- The Budget
Provide a detailed budget. Funds may be used for extra service pay, to hire research assistants, for conference attendance, to purchase equipment, and so on.
NOTE: If you are using this opportunity to enhance funding you have already secured, please state your other funding source and indicate how Project RITE funding will augment your other project(s).
NOTE: If your project requires funding over the $3000 award, you may ask for additional funds. Append the requested amount to your budget and justify the significance of additional funding for your project.
Statement of Institutional Support
Submit a brief statement of support from your department head as part of the proposal. This may be emailed to gphipps@utk.edu or faxed to (865) 974-2842.
Requirements
- Proof of IRB approval must be submitted to ITC before grant funds will be transferred to participants.
- Participants will be required to blog their research experience regularly (blog tool will be provided).
- Research project reports must be submitted for online publication by July 1, 2009.
- Participants will conduct a brief presentation on their research results at a faculty brown bag/workshop in fall 2009.
- Participants may be asked to serve on the selection committee for future Project RITE grants.
If you have any questions regarding this grant opportunity, please contact
Dr. Gina Phipps at (865) 974-7912 or gphipps@utk.edu.
This grant is funded by the Office of Information Technology, Educational
Technology.
The University of Tennessee does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status in provision of educational programs and services or employment opportunities and benefits. This policy extends to both employment by and admission to the University. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in the education programs and activities pursuant to the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.