Curriculum Development Grants

Application Deadline: Friday, May 13, 2011

Go directly to the Application Form

Carleton faculty are invited to submit a proposal for curriculum development to be carried out in the summer of 2011, leading to new curricular experiences for students in 2011-2012. This work will be funded from the curriculum development fund in our HHMI grant. Faculty working full-time on curricular development can receive stipends of $1,000/week up to a maximum of $5,000. You may also request other items like software, small amounts of equipment, etc... if these things are essential to your success. Proposals involving multiple faculty are also welcome.

We would like to particularly encourage applications for work that focuses on some of the key areas highlighted in the HHMI grant proposal:

1. Broadening access to science, especially for introductory courses (more below)
   
2. Complexity
3. Computation/modeling
4. Neuroscience
5. Visualization
6. Environmental sciences
7. Other interdisciplinary areas.

The proposed work could be targeted to include experiences that modify labs, add case studies, modules, projects, problem-based learning experiences, etc. Similarly, although CISMI seeks to advance interdisciplinary science, equal consideration will be given to disciplinary proposals, as in the past.

We also strongly encourage proposals that seek to broaden access to science for students from underrepresented minority groups (URMs) in science and math fields. This kind of proposal might, for example, include revision of an introductory course to include strategies and pedagogies that have been shown by classroom research to help all students learn better while encouraging and providing enhanced support for URMs. For example, learning in the context of a real-world problem or teaching with case studies or team-based learning would be included here. If you would like to consider other approaches, please check out these SERC web sites:

• PKAL Pedagogies of Engagement Project
  
• Pedagogy in Action
  

Criteria for evaluating proposals

Preference will be given to projects that:

• Will be deployed in the classroom/lab in the next academic year (2011-201).
• Result in concrete products that can be shared with faculty within your department/program, across Carleton, and with others through the CISMI web site.
• Involve work related to the key areas identified in the HHMI proposal (see list above).
• Include a carefully considered plan for assessment in response to HHMI's current emphasis. The plan may include use of the HHMI-funded RISC Survey (Research on the Integrated Science Curriculum) survey for students and faculty.

If you have questions about anything, including assessment, please contact Joe Chihade or Trish Ferrett.