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Office of Open Learning Digital, Open, and Online Learning Grants

Call for proposals 

Deadline: Friday May 5th, 2023 

Proposals are invited for projects that critically infuse technology-enhanced and open pedagogies in online and hybrid learning environments, including adapting or updating existing courses, developing new courses and programs, non-credit/continuing education courses, Microcredentials and resources to support learning. Proposals for projects exploring the scholarship of online, digital and open learning are also welcome. 

As we emerge from the largest disruption in higher education’s history caused by the COVID pandemic, and run directly into the disruption of generative artificial intelligence, it is important to take a step back and consider what we value as educators, and how we can best help our students build the critical digital literacies they need in order to thrive and impact their increasingly complex and uncertain world.   

Themes for the 2023 funding round include (but are not limited to): 

  • Supporting the priorities of the Aspire Strategic Plan 

  • Supporting and exploring flexible, hybrid teaching and learning 

  • Exploring the potential impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education 

  • Indigenization and decolonization of digital learning 

  • Equitable and ethical assessment practices 

  • Microcredentials 

 

Potential projects may include (but are not limited to): 

  • Developing a new course/program, or modifying an existing course/program for hybrid, online, hyflex, or open modalities 

  • Developing new microcredentials or digital badges 

  • Creating an open textbook or other OER 

  • Projects that include Students as Partners 

  • Piloting a new digital tool to enhance learning 

  • Developing or adapting learning resources - e.g. scenarios, cases, videos, interactive digital learning tools, simulations, question banks, etc. (must be openly licenced wherever possible) 

  • Scholarship of online and open teaching and learning projects 

  • Projects that support digital approaches to Indigenization of curriculum 

  • Projects that address decolonization and anti-racism in digital learning environments 

  • Other innovations in digital pedagogy 

Note: Projects that support Indigenization or decolonization of the curriculum, address issues of reconciliation, diversity, equity, internationalization, or which are targeted to support and improve outcomes (including access to education) for underserved or diverse groups are particularly encouraged to apply. Interdisciplinary or collaborative proposals are also encouraged.   

 

Purpose of the Digital, Open, and Online Grants 

This funding supports UWindsor faculty, staff, and graduate students to explore, design, and implement hybrid, online, open, and digital curricular innovations, and to undertake scholarly projects contributing to our understanding of any aspect of these learning environments and innovations.   

Eligibility  

We encourage applications from: 

  • all disciplines and departments 

  • individuals, teams, programs, departments, and faculties 

  • full-time instructors including tenured/permanent, tenure/permanence track, and Limited Term faculty, ancillary academic staff (AAS), sessional lecturers, and librarians whose appointment extends for the term of the project 

  • graduate students and sessional instructors may be co-applicants, provided the primary applicant is a member of one of the above categories 

  • professional staff may also apply if their project meets the requirements 

  • continuing education projects are also welcome 

Criteria 

Preference will be given to projects that:   

  • Are aligned with the University’s strategic priorities; 

  • Are related to the themes of the call; 

  • Are innovative and future-focussed; 

  • Support or enhance access to education, accessibility, inclusive pedagogies, equity, diversity, Indigenization, and decolonization; 

  • Include students as partners in the project; 

  • Involve collaboration, interdisciplinarity, or partnerships that have impact within and beyond the University; and 

  • Show a clear commitment to openness, wherever possible and appropriate.  

Funding  

  • Individual proposals: up to $4,000 

  • Program, department, inter-program/departmental proposals: up to $8,500 

 

Project expectations 

All projects will be expected to: 

  • Be completed, including expending all funds, by April 30, 2024;   

  • Submit a final report by June 30, 2024;  

  • Have their title and description of the project posted to the OOL website; 

  • Adhere to all research and animal ethics requirements;  

  • Consider openly licencing any outputs from the project wherever possible and sharing in a manner similar to that of Tri-Council grant requirements 

 

How to apply and further information 

Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest including a title, preliminary concept for the project and budget using the online submission form.  

Proposals are due by Friday, May 5th, 2023. 

All applicants will be contacted by an OOL team member and may be invited to discuss their idea further with the committee.  

An information session on the grants will be provided during OOL's 10TH Anniversary Celebration during Open Education Week, Tuesday, March 7th, 12:30pm in CEI 1232.  

If you have any questions about the grants, please contact Nick Baker on Teams or by email nbaker@uwindsor.ca