Curricular Initiatives in Educational Technology

Approved by CET on April 8, 2014  

What is the purpose of the Curricular Initiatives in Educational Technology program?  

This fund is available to faculty interested in exploring how technology can be used to enhance teaching and learning. The funds can also be used to support the exploration of technology for research that informs teaching and learning. The grants are not intended to fund technology that should otherwise come from departmental budgets. The funds are for experimental uses of technology. Inter-departmental projects are encouraged, but not necessary.

What can the funds from the grant buy?

• Computer hardware and software
• Audio-visual equipment,
• Stipends for undergraduate student aides working with faculty on a project
• Access to special hardware (e.g. scanner or audio digitizer), 
• Special services (e.g. video production), 
• Copyright clearances related to supported initiatives

What are other sources of funding?  

• College Libraries - digital content resources to enhance teaching, learning, and research.
• Committee on Compensation and Faculty Development
• Departments
• Smith College Moneybook
  

What cannot be purchased with grant money?

• Computers, printers, and other hardware that will be located in a faculty office, unless the hardware will be generally available to students
• Upgrades to computers, printers, and other hardware in labs
• Software upgrades
• Stipends to the sponsor of the project or other faculty or staff
• Upgrades to purchases made from a previous CET grant, unless the new purchase will significantly change the impact of the original project

Departments are responsible for ongoing costs, including maintenance, upgrade, and replacement and ongoing software licensing. The department chair must approve a CET request if there will be ongoing costs.

When are grant applications accepted? 

Applications are accepted anytime. The proposal will be discussed at the CET meeting following the grant submission, presuming that the proposal is received at least one week prior to the meeting.

What happens after the grant is submitted?  

Depending on the nature of the proposal, a member of the ETS staff may contact you for a formal needs assessment. The purpose of the needs assessment is to better understand the project, the technology needs, the support required, and the assessment plan.

• The proposal will be discussed at the CET meeting following the grant submission, presuming that the proposal is received at least one week prior to the meeting.
• An e-mail from the chair of the CET will be sent informing the project sponsor whether or not the project has been approved.
• Funds must be used within one year of the grant's approval.

What will be asked of the grant recipient?  

The grant submitter may be asked to do one or more of the following:

• Make a presentation to other Smith faculty about the project and its impact on teaching and learning
• Be interviewed by ETS staff for articles/columns related to teaching and learning
• Provide data, or agree to allow data to be collected, to assess the impact of the project