The Vanderbilt Institute for Digital Learning (VIDL) announces a call for proposals to initiate a new series of experimental working groups in digital innovation. These small working groups are designed to provide faculty with the resources for open-ended experimentation with a novel digital tool, pedagogic approach or research avenue.
VIDL will provide funds of up to $4,000 for eligible workshops to be spent primarily at the group’s discretion, with likely expenses being for equipment, expertise, speakers, etc. Preference will be given to proposals that address one or more of the following criteria:
- Inclusion of a significant digital learning component
- Advance novel research approaches
- Potential to make an impact on campus
- Involvement of faculty from across disciplinary backgrounds
Proposals should include:
- A group organizer who is a member of the Vanderbilt faculty assembly (full-time, part-time, tenure, non-tenure)
- Name, position, department and email address of all members
- An overview of the group’s goals (up to one additional page)
All members of the group need not be working on the same project but may share an interest in applying the same technology or idea to a wide variety of individual projects.
The default expectation is that working groups will consist of five to 10 faculty members meeting at least monthly over the course of one year. Deviations from this model are welcome but should be explained in the proposal. Graduate students may be included but should not make up a majority of the working group.
Existing working groups on campus (for example, those sponsored by the library, the Center for Teaching or the Center for Second Language Studies) should feel free to apply for funding.
Groups receiving funding will be expected to:
- Provide a report on how the funds are spent
- Share outcomes of their projects
- Share their experiences at a later date
Groups are encouraged to build on their successes after the funding period’s end.
The deadline for submissions is April 22. Awards will be announced May 14. Applications should be sent to vidl-innovation@vanderbilt.edu with the subject heading “Working Group.” Inquiries may be addressed to Ole Molvig (ole.molvig@vanderbilt.edu).