The Foreign Language Technology Center’s Mini-Grants program has been instituted to foster the meaningful use of technology in the teaching of language, literature and culture.

FLTC Mini-Grants are awarded to instructional initiatives that involve innovative uses of technology to enhance student learning. Projects should involve the development of instructional materials and incorporate the use of emerging technologies into existing language, literature and culture courses to achieve specific learning objectives. Recipients of the awards are expected to begin and complete working on their project during the Spring/Summer semester, and implement the initiative in the Fall (or Winter) semester. Proposals will be awarded up to a maximum of $2000. Grant applicants are strongly encouraged to set up a pre-proposal meeting with Sangeetha Gopalakrishnan.

Grant applicants may envision the use of current technologies to enhance one aspect of their course such as presentation of content, providing enrichment material, providing practice opportunities, or assessment of learning. Alternately they could plan to incorporate one technology-based unit into a course. Examples of projects include development of podcasts, online content components, online testing components, and creation of digital media such as video vignettes, interviews or audio recordings. To learn about the projects of previous FLTC Mini-Grant recipients go to:

http://www.langlab.wayne.edu/new-fltc/html-files/minigrants2009.htm

Eligibility

Full-time and part-time faculty and graduate students scheduled to teach a course in Fall 2011 or Winter 2012 are eligible to submit a proposal. Graduate students may work alone or in teams.

Guidelines

• Mini-Grant funds awarded are to be used to hire student workers to help with the development of the project.
• Mini-Grant funding is not to be used for providing summer salary or course release.
• Mini-Grants may not be used for personal or departmental equipment purchase.
• Each applicant may submit only one proposal.
• Proposals should be for new projects and not for continuation of work on already funded projects.
• Once awarded a Mini-Grant, grant recipients must contact the administrative personnel in the FLTC to complete necessary paperwork to hire and pay student workers before they may begin to work.
• To increase the likelihood of funded projects being implemented, applicants teaching in coordinated courses should get the approval of course coordinators before they submit a proposal.
• If unable to complete the project as proposed, grant recipients should make arrangements to return award monies to the FLTC.

Grant Requirements

Grant recipients are expected to

1. Sign an agreement when accepting the grant.
2. Participate in an initial planning meeting with Sangeetha Gopalakrishnan.
3. Contact administrative personnel in their department to complete necessary paperwork to hire and pay student workers.
4. Get consent for any copyrighted material they may be using in their project.
5. Start and complete work on their project during the Spring/Summer semesters.
6. Spend award monies before September 1, 2011.
7. Implement their project in the Fall semester (or Winter semester).
8. Share information about their project at a FLTC Brown Bag presentation.
9. Provide a time and an expense report on the use of funds by October 3, 2011. (Please keep a log of the time - yours, and your student workers - spent on the various tasks involved, and the costs involved. This would also be helpful for future projects and help estimate time and costs involved in such undertakings).
10. Provide a final report on the implementation of your project by the end of the Fall (or Winter). This report should contain information about how the project was implemented, feedback from the students, the impact that it had on their learning, and your evaluation about the merits, and demerits of your project.

Application Process

To apply for a Mini-Grant please submit a proposal by completing a Mini-Grant application form.

Submit 4 copies of your proposal to: Sangeetha Gopalakrishnan, Director, Foreign Language Technology Center, 385 Alex Manoogian Hall, Email: sangeetha@wayne.edu, Tel: 313-577-6391

Proposals are due by Friday, April 22, 2011.