Funding

Jump Start Grants

Purpose

To allow implementation of an innovative teaching or learning activity/ies in a course or program, development of a “proof-of-concept,” or exploration of new tools, specialized hardware devices, or software to determine usefulness in teaching. CIT looks for proposals that will extend our understanding of the effectiveness of innovative teaching strategies, specifically projects which have potential to be useful for other Duke faculty as well. Jump Start Grants ideally provide “seed money” for projects which have potential to expand in future (with other funding sources), if successful.

Examples

Hypothetical examples are below, or see our recently-supported Jump Start Grants.

  • Gathering feedback and checking knowledge during class with web-based polling software and students’ cell phones.
  • Providing students with quick access to rich multimedia in class, to enhance class discussion, via iPads.
  • Helping students understand the significance of important historical sites by developing a movie combining geographical information with images and texts, using Google Earth Pro.
  • Incorporating more active learning activities in a lecture class, by moving some of the content review outside of class in the form of recorded mini-lectures, online simulations, and e-text materials.

Available to:
Full time Duke faculty

Grant resources (what can the grant provide?):

  • Planning/consulting/project management from a CIT consultant, as necessary,
  • Monetary award deposited in a Duke account, to cover project expenses (may not be applied as a faculty stipend or honorarium, but may be used for student worker salaries),
  • CIT student assistant time (20 hrs. maximum).

Grant requirements:

  • Faculty member is expected to do any development work or manage it (exact details would be outlined in the grant acceptance letter),
  • Access to a Duke account to which the grant funding can be deposited,
  • Access to a method to pay grant expenses from that Duke account (i.e., procurement card or other method),
  • Participation in grant project evaluation and communication activities,
  • Before applying, faculty member is expected to discuss the project idea with their local IT support staff to ensure that plans are compatible with departmental technical infrastructure and do not duplicate services or items available through departmental budgetary processes.

Application deadlines:
Applications can be submitted anytime, but application reviews can take up to four weeks. CIT can not guarantee a particular start time for grant work, but in general, the longer the lead-time on an applications, the better.

Award:

  • Typical monetary award is $5,000 or less
  • CIT consulting is typically 2 hrs/week or less
  • CIT student time is 20 hrs or less total

Other notes:
Faculty may receive only one CIT Jump Start Grant or Invited Speaker Grant, per academic year (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011). Receipt of a grant award over $1,000 will preclude receipt of other major CIT awards in that academic year (Fellows programs, Strategic Initiative grants), and vice versa.

Evaluation of applications:
Grant applications will be judged based on feasibility, potential pedagogical impact, level of innovation, fit with department and university goals, scalability, and other factors.

Application:

Please fill out the application form to complete the application process. Applications will not be reviewed until all required portions (including signatures) have been received. Please contact CIT if you have questions.

 

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