Academic Partnerships (AP) is accepting proposals for its 2018 Faculty Research Grant Program, which supports faculty research on the impact and effectiveness of online learning beginning January 5, 2018 with proposals due March 12, 2018. From April 15, 2018- April 28, 2018, AP Grant Review Committee will interview finalists and award notification will be sent with Memo of Understanding on April 30, 2018.
The program offers faculty or staff members of institutions working with AP-supported programs the opportunity to apply for a grant to fund research that could increase understanding about the efficiency or efficacy of different approaches in online learning. Grants are of varying monetary value from $1,000-12,000 with most $5000 or under. Preference is given to proposals that utilize a controlled study to generate quantitative results.
Funding for longitudinal research will be provided in recognition of proposals in the following areas (AP is open to other topics within each category):
Design of Course Content
- Re-design projects that utilize worked examples, interleaved examples, and/or scaffolding, as an alternative to expository content to access cognitive load in most difficult courses.
- Scenario-based objective assessments, as an alternative to written assignments
- Evaluate course design strategies and their impact on student retention.
- Use student input and evaluations to improve a course with a known issue.
Course Facilitation (Faculty- Student Interaction)
- Studying facilitation analytically using a rubric such as AP’s Facilitation Rubric or a tool like Instructor Insight from AspireEDU, (http://aspiredu.com/solutions/instructor-insight/), or Blue(https://explorance.com/bluepulse/)
- Measuring effectiveness and outcomes of faculty professional development in course facilitation and other topics.
Instructional Technology
- Adoption of a new instructional technology tool to promote either deeper learning or efficiency of learning (Virtual-reality/Google Cardboard are of interest).
- Use Voice-Thread or other technology with student input to work to improve a course with a known issue.
Competency-Based Education Course ware
- Mapping of course content to competencies or objectives and the effect on student outcomes or experience
- Use of diagnostic assessments (mapped to competencies or course objectives) to create adaptive or personalized course experiences for students and their effect on the student or faculty experience.
Note: Employees of Academic Partnerships are NOT eligible to participate in any way in AP Faculty Research Grants submitted by University Partners.
Academic Partnership’s Grant Program Faculty eCommons, is the vehicle through which AP administers its grant process. Since 2012, grants have been awarded annually to faculty partners in an effort to support online learning research.