Innovative Pedagogy Grant

Spring 2023

Application Deadline: Friday, April 14, 2023

Purpose

The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), with support from the Office of the Provost, invites full-time faculty to submit proposals for the revision or development of exemplary courses. The goal of this grant is to invest in the improvement of courses taught by faculty who provide students with exemplary, highly engaging learning experiences, offered either in an online, blended, or traditional format. This goal will be accomplished by providing funding support, instructional design assistance, pedagogical resources, and technological support to faculty.

Acceptable proposals that integrate pedagogically sound and innovative strategies might include but are not limited to:

Converting a course from traditional delivery to blended or online instruction
Exposure to cross- cultural perspectives
Incorporation of flipped learning into a new or existing course
Integration of active learning pedagogy into a course offered through traditional lecture formats
Integration of diversity and inclusion within the context of the course
Incorporation of new technologies into an existing course to enhance student learning and engagement
Implementation of strategies that support first generation college students’ academic growth

Proposers may consult one or more of the following resources of pedagogical best practice strategies.

This list is not inclusive of all possibilities and avoids prescriptive guidelines that limit proposers’ creativity and innovations.

Eligible Faculty

Any full-time faculty member at USC Columbia or the Schools of Medicine (Columbia and Greenville) is eligible to apply.
A faculty member who submits a proposal is expected to serve as the instructor of record the first time the course is offered after receiving funding.
Faculty awardee may receive funding for only one course per grant cycle.
Prior recipients of a teaching pedagogy grant through CTE must have completed the prior project(s) and submitted final report(s) to be eligible to apply for this grant.

Up to eight proposals will be awarded based on the quality of applications received and approved. Successful proposal will be awarded $2,500.

CTE Instructional Designers will provide pedagogical and design support to faculty for the development of instructional content, supplementing the award. Funds are to be disbursed to awardees after the project kickoff session and should be expended by all parties by December 31, 2024).

When completing the Online Application, you will be required to enter information pertaining to your unit budget manager and PeopleSoft A-fund budget number. The proponent should speak with their unit’s budget manager and request the appropriate PeopleSoft A-fund budget number. If the course development proposal is accepted, the proponent(s) should communicate with the respective unit’s budget manager and make them aware of the financial award. This action will help to transfer awards in a timely manner.

To apply, complete the Online Application and submit Department Support Form [pdf], and a Current Resume/CV.

Department Support Form

Please include confirmation from your department chair, program director, or dean supporting efforts to offer your funded course within the next 2 years, either through online or face-to-face delivery. Submit a signed Department Support Form [pdf]. (Digital signatures are accepted.) If the proposed learning content is for a unit outside of your academic department, you must obtain endorsement from that unit’s program director.

Project Narrative

The proposal Project Narrative should include the following information and be concise (maximum 1,250 words).

The Course: Describe the course that you wish to revise or develop. Describe what it is you are currently doing and what you wish to revise or develop. Provide a general description of your student population.
Goals: Describe the goal(s) for developing or revising the course. What is the purpose? What new assessment styles, pedagogical theories/models, active learning strategies, instructional technologies, or innovative techniques will be incorporated to enhance student learning? What new instructional content will be integrated into your curriculum? What types of student learning will be achieved with the content or delivery changes? Why do you want to convert the course to an online/blended or hybrid format (if applicable)?
Pedagogical Methods: Discuss briefly what you are currently doing in your course and what proposed pedagogies you will incorporate into course development or revision.
Student Learning Experience: Describe how this project will enrich the student learning experience, resulting in increased/improved student learning outcomes.
Impact and Sustainability: How will this project improve student learning outcomes? How will the proposed deliverable(s) be developed to ensure usage and continuity past the initial implementation? How often is the class taught and how many students complete the course, on average?

Applications that are complete and responsive to this announcement will be evaluated for merit. Proposals should be written to be understood by committee members who are not necessarily experts in the proponent’s discipline. Applicants should limit or avoid the use of jargon and acronyms whenever possible.

Proposals will be evaluated by the following criteria:

Completeness of application
Quality of course proposal components: clarity, pedagogically sound, innovative approaches
Likely impact and sustainability of the proposed course or materials
Approval and support from cross-listed units (if applicable)
If applicable, evidence that the proposer completed prior project(s) and submitted final report(s)

Spring 2023: March- April 2023: Develop course proposal
Completed Applications should be submitted by Friday, April 14, 2023.
Awards will be announced by April 28, 2023.
Academic Year 2023- 2024: begin teaching or implementing new/revised course
Submit to present at a CTE workshop and/or Oktoberbest: A Teaching Symposium during the 2024-2025 academic year
Final report due January 10, 2024

This grant opportunity is sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Center for Teaching Excellence. For more information, contact Nate Carnes at ncarnes@mailbox.sc.edu.

Center for Teaching Excellence