Jump Start Grant
Program is for exploratory uses of a technology, or creation of a proof-off-concept to seek further funding later.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Application form begins here.
Questions? Contact CIT.
Purpose:
To allow implementation of an innovative teaching or learning activity/ies in a course or program, development of an “proof-of-concept,” or exploration of new tools, specialized hardware devices, or software to determine usefulness in teaching. CIT looks for project proposals that will extend our understanding of the effectiveness of new tools for teaching, specifically projects which have potential to be useful for other Duke faculty as well. Jump Start Grants are intended to provide "seed money" for projects which have potential to expand in future (with other funding sources), if successful.
- Readers in the Field - Cary A. Moskovitz, Senior Lecturing Fellow and director, Writing in the Disciplines, University Writing Program. Moskovitz, in cooperation with the Duke Alumni Association and faculty in Economics, History and Chemistry, created a program where alumni in various fields were able to partner with students to critique their work with "think aloud" responses.
- Micro Computing for Musicology - Brenda S. Neece, Adjunct Assistant Professor and Curator of the Duke University Musical Instrument Collection Department of Music - Neece's Musicology students tested small form factor Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPCs) in field research.
- Back to the future: Using former students to help develop new curricula - Robert Duvall, Lecturer, Computer Science. Duvall redesigned his course to include real world examples with help from alumni working in the computer industry and sought participation from alumni in the course to critique student projects.
- The Virtual Duke Oil Field: Using GPS to Teach Introductory Earth Science Students about Oil Exploration - Alex Glass, Instructor, Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences. Glass's students used GPS devices to carry out a hands-on mapping exercise around campus to reconstruct a virtual local structural geology and stratigraphy.
- Interactive Nursing Education Using Second Life as the 3-D Environment - Constance Johnson, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing. Johnson used CIT Jump Start grant funding to build a prototype virtual classroom environment in Second Life for use by distance students in the School of Nursing.
Available to:
Full time Duke faculty
Grant resources (what can the grant provide?):
- Planning/consulting from a CIT consultant
- Monetary award deposited in a Duke account, to cover project expenses
- 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 project with 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 six 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 $2,500 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, 2009 – June 30, 2010). Receipt of a grant award over $500 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.
