The President's Initiative for Faculty Innovation in Teaching with Technology

Statement of purpose

Faculty Innovations in Teaching with Technology (FITT) is a selective program for faculty seeking to improve teaching and learning by developing innovative approaches to teaching that include the use of technology.  FITT aims to cultivate a community of faculty interested in exploring these new approaches, providing a forum for faculty to share their ideas and experiences with colleagues.  By fostering a culture of reflection on teaching, FITT endeavors to improve the student experience at Hunter and encourages faculty to contribute to the scholarship of teaching and learning.

The FITT program supports innovative thinking about teaching and learning with technology -- creative pedagogical approaches to familiar technologies (such as Blackboard) and the exploration of less familiar technologies that enable students to learn in new ways.  All FITT proposals are expected to have an element of assessment built in, to allow some ability to determine the effectiveness of the project.

FITT 2013

The FITT program supports project development that is conducted primarily during the summer months.  In 2013, FITT will focus on these areas of interest:

• Designing or enhancing hybrid and online courses
• Reflective/integrative learning with ePortfolios
• Engaging students in large classes
• Use of mobile devices and/or eBooks for teaching and learning

Proposals for innovative projects not falling into one of these areas are also encouraged.

What is offered?

• A $2,000 stipend, paid upon successful completion of the project.
• Assistance from members of ICIT's Technology Teaching and Learning Group (TTLG) and Hunter's Academic Center for Excellence in Research and Teaching (ACERT), who will help you conceptualize, develop, and assess your project.
• Mentoring from faculty members who have done similar things.
• Help from ICIT technical staff, who will assist with software training and other technical issues, as needed.

What is expected in return?

• The development of an innovation to increase student engagement in your course or program, with all significant planning and design completed by the end of summer 2013.
• The implementation and assessment of that innovation during the 2013-2014 academic year.
• A willingness to share your innovation with faculty colleagues by:
• Participating in a pre-summer meeting on May 17, 2013 and an end-of-summer meeting on August 26, 2013.
• Collaborating with other faculty who are working on similar projects.
• Presenting your work at a Tech Thursday or Teaching Tuesday session in 2013-2014.
• Sharing your course or program web site and other materials with your colleagues at Hunter.
• For projects related to hybrid/online courses or ePortfolios, we encourage participation in a "Guided Exploration" series of 3-4 workshops to help you begin preparing.

Who is eligible?

Full-time faculty from all schools and adjunct faculty with at least three years of service at Hunter are eligible to receive FITT grants. Please note the following:

• We encourage joint proposals by two or more faculty; grant amounts may be adjusted for larger-scale projects.
• Part-time faculty with at least three years of service at Hunter must submit with their applications a written endorsement from their department chair or program head.
• Previous FITT awardees may apply if they did not receive an award in the last FITT cycle (FITT 2012).

How will the award recipients be selected?

Proposals will be reviewed by a screening committee consisting of members of the ACERT steering committee, Hunter's CIO, former FITT awardees, and faculty members with expertise in our areas of focus. Proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria:

• Innovation in teaching and learning.
• The likelihood that your innovation will lead to increased student engagement.
• Potential to impact a large number of students, or to serve as a model for other projects.
• Feasibility of the project within the time frame and with available resources.

How do I submit a proposal?

Your proposal should address the following questions, with a maximum of 100 words for each response:

1. What are your pedagogical goals for the project?
2. What are some concrete things you plan to accomplish this summer?
3. How will your innovation increase student learning and engagement?
4. What help will you need to complete your project?

Proposals must be submitted online through this form no later than 5:00 pm on February 19, 2013.

Whom should I contact if I have questions?

For questions about the FITT program or help developing your proposal, please contact the Technology Teaching and Learning Group at edtech@hunter.cuny.edu. Alternatively, you may directly contact Gina Cherry, Nancy Guerrero, or Shiao-Chuan Kung. You might also consult the FITT web site to get a sense of what kind of projects have been funded in previous years.