Request for Proposals for the Provost's Online and Hybrid Learning Grants

Dear fellow members of the Columbia Community:

I am pleased to share a set of funding opportunities for faculty who are looking to integrate new educational technologies into their classroom and online teaching.

The Hybrid Learning Course Redesign and Delivery grant program provides support for faculty who are developing innovative and technology-rich pedagogy and learning strategies in the classroom. Instructors of courses selected will have access to the resources and support of the Columbia Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) for content development, instructional design, media production, systems integration, assessment, and project management. Courses selected will receive in-kind support from the CTL and will also be funded from $5,000 up to $20,000 for a one-semester period. A key goal of this initiative, begun in 2014, is to measure the effectiveness of these efforts, and to improve instructional delivery and learning outcomes of Columbia University students from all disciplines.  Faculty can apply for support for courses held during the 2016-17 academic year. The deadline for submission of applications is April 4, 2016.  The Request for Proposals is available here. 

The Office of the Provost will also support open online courses taught by Columbia faculty via a Request for Proposals forMassive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).  Courses offered through MOOC platforms have the potential to reach large audiences across the globe, to stimulate curiosity and intellectual exploration, to make more visible the teaching and research activities of the University, and to promote public engagement. While the experience of developing these courses can be rewarding, MOOCs require substantial time to prepare. Accepted courses will receive extensive consultation services and support for instructional design and media production from the CTL.  A limited number of grants of up to $25,000 each will be awarded.  The deadline for submission of applications is April 18, 2016.  To learn more, access the link to Request for Proposals for MOOCs. 

Our new Center for Teaching and Learning has already developed a broad range of workshops and events.  In March, the CTL will hold a hands-on institute on transforming a course into an environment for participatory, engaged learning. This intensive workshop will introduce the key components of flipped course design and prepares instructors to flip their own courses. Participation in this workshop is via application; the deadline to apply is February 1, 2016.  For more information, access the description of this institute. 

Two new websites, online.columbia.edu and ctl.columbia.edu, provide an overview of Columbia’s resources in online education and in teaching and learning.

We look forward to continuing to support Columbia faculty as they develop new and exciting ways to enhance teaching and learning at the University.  

John Coatsworth 
Provost