Check Back Spring 2025 to Apply for Grant.
Purpose
The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), with support from the Office of the Provost, invites Graduate Teaching and Instructional Assistants (GTA/IAs) to submit proposals for the development of instructional materials, modules, cross-curriculum assessments, online learning innovations, or other resources that will enhance the quality and depth of undergraduate student learning at the University of South Carolina. The purpose of the Teaching Resource Development Grant is to invest in GTA/IAs to develop exemplary and highly-engaging student learning experiences in courses offered in a variety of delivery formats. This will be accomplished by providing funding support, instructional design assistance, pedagogical resources, and technological support to the GTA/IA to develop instructional materials that will be used by the grant recipient and shared with the CTE for broad distribution to other USC educators for use in their courses.
Expectations for the Proposed Teaching Resource
The proposal’s objective may serve a particular program, department, or college, or a particular course or curriculum learning outcome. The final deliverable or product is expected to be broadly applicable, cross-curricula, and be added to CTE’s repository of pedagogically sound resources for distribution to and implementation in multiple university units to enhane student learning.
Examples of instructional materials or assessments that integrate pedagogically sound and innovative resources applicable to a broad array of disciplines might include but are not limited to:
- Development of individual assessments, units, or modules that help students learn broader applications of discipline content or skill development
- Development of online modules for student learning and application of critical thinking skills, metacognitive development, etc.
- An assessment series or framework that provides instructor guidance and resources in assessing student cognitive development or other cross-curriculum learning outcomes.
- Experiential learning project/assessment design that can be used in other disciplines
- Diversity / inclusivity learning unit applicable to a broad array of disciplines
- Effective use of interactive online peer-to-peer activities or cross-section discussion tools for multi-section courses
- Lesson plans, online modules, resource packets, or other deliverables of broad usage and application
For a list of past GTA/IA Teaching Resource Development grantees and their developed resources, visit Past Recipients.
To be eligible to receive the Teaching Resource Development Grant, applicants must:
- Be a graduate student in good standing with the university.
- Have successfully completed the university’s TA Training Program through CTE and/or departmental pedagogy courses.
- Have taught at least one semester as a Graduate Teaching or Instructional Assistant
- Be scheduled to teach or assist with the associated course.
- Have support from the Department Chair, Graduate Director, and/or Instructor of Record for associated course (if applicable), to develop and implement proposed project/resources into curriculum.
Awards of up to $1,000 stipend supplement disbursed by the end of June 2024 for use in Summer and Fall 2024/Spring 2025 for project development. In addition to funding, grantees will receive instructional design and pedagogical support from CTE staff and Instructional Design team. If a proposal includes more than one author, disbursement of grant funds will be divided equally.
Grant recipients will:
- Participate with fellow grant recipients and CTE staff in a virtual kickoff meeting to share ideas, resources, and discuss best practices for implementation.
- Meet with a CTE Instructional Designer or Staff to discuss and outline proposed project development and implementation.
- Consult with a CTE instructional designer throughout the project development process to ensure that materials developed meet university guidelines for design quality and ADA accessibility.
- Develop original instructional materials, modules, cross-curriculum assessments, or other resources that comply with proper copyright and citation processes.
- Teach the proposed course or implement the funded project.
- Share grant-related deliverables and resources with the CTE either by providing materials to be used on the CTE website or distributable by CTE to other units.
- Submit a brief final report to include copies of materials developed with the funding and information regarding project implementation.
Applicants must ccomplete an Online Application, submit a Department Support Form, a Proposal/Project Description, a Résumé or current CV, and a Draft Syllabus of the Course (if available).
Proposal/Project Description (maximum 1,000 words which translates to approximately 2 single-spaced pages in 12pt font with 1" margins):
Proposal should include the following sections:
- The Course or Program: Describe in which course, curriculum series, or over-arching program the new instructional resources will initially be used. Describe the current assessment / instructional materials and resources and how the new assessments / materials will differ.
- Goals: Describe the goal(s) for developing the new resources. What is the purpose for developing these resources? What types of student learning will be achieved with the new materials?
- Pedagogical Methods: What new assessment styles, pedagogical theories / models, or innovative techniques will be incorporated to enhance student learning?
- Proposed Deliverable: Describe the final envisioned product. How will it be applicable
/ usable by a broad audience and capable of being incorporated into cross-disciplinary
content?
- Products or resources that have already been developed and used, and which fit these guidelines, may also be submitted for consideration. Please include proper citations and adhere to copyright requirements of all work, as appropriate.
- Sustainability: How will the proposed deliverable be developed to ensure usage and continuity past the initial implementation?
- Rationale: The applicant’s general philosophy or approach to innovative teaching pedagogy, theory, or methodology and how this project exemplifies that philosophy and will be of value – why are you interested in applying for this grant?
Proposals will be evaluated by the following criteria:
- Completeness of application and conformity to guidelines.
- Clear and pedagogically coherent rationale and goals for the proposed resource development, need, and usage.
- Clear articulation of the potential for the final proposed deliverable and usage to enrich the student learning experience.
- Feasibility of completing the project in the time proposed and with the funds available.
- Likely impact and sustainability of the proposed course or materials.
Optional criteria:
- Products or resources that have already been developed and used will be assessed with the same criteria and will be given consideration.
This grant opportunity is sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Center for Teaching Excellence. For more information, contact the CTE at 803-777-8322 or cte@sc.edu.