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Micro-Module Courseware Development Grant
Scheme 2: Studies in Foundation Courses
Call for Applications (2017-18)
(PROPOSAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 21 October 2017)

Introduction

As stated in CUHK’s Academic Development Proposal (ADP) for 2016-2019, institutional advancement in eLearning is one of the University’s major directions for development, and the construction of micro-modules to support flipped classroom will be widely promoted. Funding has been secured from UGC in three consecutive years starting from 2015-16 for three different schemes to support eLearning development. In particular, a total of $1.0m is allocated for the year 2017-18 to support eLearning studies in foundation courses in the context of micro-module production and flipped classroom implementation. We are now inviting applications from members of the teaching staff for projects funded under this allocation (Scheme 2: Studies in Foundation Courses). The deadline of this call for applications is 21 October 2017. Proposals will be reviewed and selected internally within CUHK by a Review Committee appointed by the Subcommittee on Education Technologies of the IT Governance Committee (ITGC-SET). The grants will be released by November 2017, with a start date of 15 November 2017 and an end date of 31 October 2018.

Applicants should also pay attention to the “eLearning Policy” (available at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/aqs/AQSHomepageIndex/e_learning.pdf), and in particular its Section 3 and its Section 5.

Aim

Introducing micro-modules for flipped classroom in foundation courses with large number of enrolment and multiple sessions is one of the University’s strategic development areas in its eLearning Strategic and Action Plan. The strategic aims are

  1. to promote the use of eLearning in foundation courses so as to better address the diverse learning needs of students with different backgrounds;
  2. to better prepare students in eLearning in their university studies; and
  3. to evaluate the effectiveness of eLearning by conducting studies in courses with large enrolment and multiple sessions.

The Micro-Module Courseware Development Grant (Scheme 2): Studies in Foundation Courses is established to support the aforementioned strategic aims in the context of using micro-modules for flipped-classroom implementation.

Project Scale and Application Procedure

An application form can be downloaded from the micro-module grant website: http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/eLearning/mmcd/mmcds2-apply17.doc.  Proposals should include the basic information, description, evaluation plan, how the project can support the University’s strategic aims, and proposed budget of the project. In general, applicants should devise proposed projects with a maximum budget of $100,000. The allocated fund can be used to support staff cost (e.g., student helpers, TA, RA) and service cost (e.g., external vendors and services provided by CUHK units) in developing micro-modules, purchase of software and hardware, implementation of studies, and/or teaching relief (maximum $60,000 out of $100,000). Also, applicants should indicate whether the project is funded by other sources.

Completed application forms in MS Word should be sent through email to mmcd@cuhk.edu.hk, no later than 21 October 2017. Please do not send hardcopy applications. Once we receive your application, we will send you an acknowledgment email within three working days.

Teaching Assessment and Department Consent

The University has clear policy to ensure efforts in teaching development will be recognized in the appraisal and reward systems. It is the responsibility of department chairs to interpret Course and Teaching Evaluation (CTE) results and evaluate innovative practices and teaching development effort in a proper manner, and to prudently assign teaching load so that new development will not impose undue pressure and create excess workload to participating teachers. Applicants should consult with department chairs for the corresponding arrangements on teaching assessment as well as teaching relief (including the hiring of relief teachers specified in the proposal).

Project requirements
  1. Successful applicants must complete their project by 31 October 2018. This is an absolute deadline. No extension will be granted.
  2. Interim Report: Participants should have introduced micro-modules for flipped classroom in at least one foundation course within 6 months after receiving the grant, and share their deliverables and pedagogical experience by producing a report including a short write-up (~300 words) and a short video (~2 minutes).
  3. Final Report: A final report including a written report and a short video is required. A standard template will be provided for the written report.
  4. A plan on self-evaluation is required for all projects, and evaluation results constitute part of the final report.
  5. The reports together with some of the micro-modules will be widely promoted across the University by various websites (e.g., the micro-module grant website, CLEAR’s website, and KEEP (https://keep.edu.hk)).
  6. Grant recipients will be invited to showcase the outcomes of their projects or course websites and take part in experience-sharing activities.
Support and Consultation

Advice in preparing the proposal and estimating the budget is available through a support and consultation service, jointly provided by The Centre for Learning Enhancement And Research (CLEAR) and the Information Technology Services Centre (ITSC), by making an appointment at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/eLearning/c_services/scs/clinic.html. Teachers with and without eLearning development experience are encouraged to work in a team. The review panel will take into consideration such collaboration in evaluating the project proposal. Teachers are also welcome to make use of the studios and the self-editing stations in the newly established Centre for eLearning Innovation and Technology (ELITE) located at the 6/F of Hui Yeung Shing Building to make micro-modules. Details of ELITE can be found in http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/eLearning/c_tnl/ELITE.html.

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