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from the issue of October 28, 2004
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Grants refine teaching
The projects focus on topics ranging from developing a new science course to building a database of significant buildings and the works of art that feature them.
But all are expected to reach one goal in the end: enhance teaching and learning at UNL.
Those are two of the 10 areas that received funding in the first round of seed grants to develop teaching and learning UNL. The Academy of Distinguished Teachers and the Teaching Council sought proposals last spring for these grants, which are funded by the Office of Undergraduate Studies, the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, and the Center for Science, Mathematics and Computer Education. Work is being funded through this academic year, and the same sponsors have announced a call for proposals for a second year.
The proposals were to focus on some aspect of improving teaching or classes at UNL, such as by developing a new course or improving an existing course; enhancing learning through technology or experiential learning; creating teaching development materials for department use; promoting research on teaching or learning; or promoting faculty dialogue and leadership around a current teaching concern.
Another goal of the seed grants is to boost the prospects of obtaining outside, competitive support for the proposals.
James Potter, professor of architecture, received seed-grant funding last spring for a project called "The Spirit of Design: Multimedia Database, Website, and Teaching Modules on Architecture, Literature, Film, Theatre, and Painting." He plans to build a multimedia database and Web site that list buildings, real or imagined, that have played important roles in literature, film, theatre or paintings. The database will improve an existing course by attracting a broader range of students and offering an opportunity for a pilot study. Potter also said he expects it to be the first of its kind.
"Fresh in our memory is the Christ Church College at Oxford University, which turned into the enchanted Great Hall of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series," he said. "The building's design features enhanced a particular mood or atmosphere the film needed to convey. In literary pieces such as Thomas Mann's Death in Venice or Victor Hugo's Notre Dame de Paris, we can even argue that the work would not have existed without certain architecture, which was there in the beginning to entice the author's imagination."
Robert Fuller of physics and astronomy received more than $3,000 to explore hosting a conference to discuss how activities and engagement can boost enrollment in introductory science courses, reduce the gender gap, increase student retention in these courses and encourage students to take more physical science and math courses at UNL. T. Adrian George in chemistry is working on a similar project, which would test experiments submitted by UNL faculty for use in first-year honors chemistry classes with the goal of promoting undergraduate research and recruiting and retaining chemistry majors.
Another funded proposal focuses on improving the teaching of first-year writing at UNL. Work by Deborah Minter, English, will review current research on first-year writing and other writing courses and the transition to a university, then will research in classrooms to understand teacher and student needs in these courses. Leon Higley, entomology, also addresses a writing-based need. His work involves creating a series of online interactive tutorials to train students in proper citation of sources and how to synthesize their thoughts into their writing.
The findings from this year's 10 proposals are greatly anticipated, said David Wilson, special assistant for faculty instructional development in the Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
"I look forward to seeing the work of these grant recipients at our research fair next spring - and to the proposals we'll receive in response to this fall's call for round two of our Enhancing Teaching and Learning at UNL Seed Grant program," he said.
The other proposals funded this fall:
• William Glider, School of Biological Sciences, is developing a series of learning tools to increase student learning of lab concepts with special emphasis on learning by students with disabilities and international students with poor English language skills.
• Leen-Kiat Soh, computer science and engineering, is developing and researching a prototype for improving course content in two computer science and engineering courses.
• Deborah Carlson, educational psychology, is leading review of a new science course that tries to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and field-based learning.
• Kevin Lee, physics and astronomy, is developing Flash interactive animations for use in the EDU assessment system by instructors in astronomy, history, psychology and math.
• Joy Ritchie, women's studies, is developing a feasibility plan, scholarly resources and a faculty support network to establish a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender minor within the women's studies program.
Next round of proposals
Proposals for seed grants designed to enhance teaching and learning initiatives at UNL are now being sought. Awards can be made in any discipline for proposals that promote teaching and learning and that enhance the prospects of obtaining outside, competitive support. This is the second round of proposals for Enhancing Teaching and Learning at UNL.
Application deadline is Nov. 22. Application forms and guidelines are available at http://scimath.unl.edu/seedgrant/. Funds are available from the Office of Undergraduate Studies, the Office of Research and the Center for Science, Mathematics and Computer Education.
Abstracts for successful spring 2004 proposals can be found at http://scimath.unl.edu/seedgrant/Abstracts.pdf.
GO TO: ISSUE OF OCTOBER 28
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Grants refine teaching
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