This is the second call for proposals issued by the Centre for Learning Innovation and Professional Practice (CLIPP). The scheme is designed to be flexible and to encourage staff from the Schools and Student Support Services to bid for project funding with the aim of building capacity in learning and teaching research, innovation and practice. This call for applications for project funding has been issued on 8th May 2009 and all bids must be received in CLIPP (clipp@aston.ac.uk) by 5pm on 3rd July 2009. It is anticipated that all projects funded from this call will run to April 2010.
There are 4 distinct project categories identified in this document and respondents should make clear which category they wish their proposal to be considered in. These categories are as follows:
In the case of MLT, the bid may well be combined with LTR or CLD. If so, this should be made clear on the submission.
It has been decided that the process for applications should be as straight forward as possible, so all 4 categories will use the same submission document. The completed bid document should use the template and be no more than 3 pages of A4 maximum.
All respondents are advised to consider carefully the guidelines given below for the category in which they intend to apply. In particular, the bid review team will be paying particular attention to the planned outputs of every submission. This is the first stage of the capacity building that is targeting a learning and teaching submission to the next REF. The review team will be looking for well thought out proposals that are innovative and have the potential to impact student learning in a positive and valuable way.
All bids for LTR, CLD and MLT funds should also submit a completed interim ethical approval form and a timeline for the proposed work. These two documents are in addition to the 3 pages maximum. A copy of the ethical approval form is attached at the end of this document.
If you have any questions about your proposal and would like to discuss it with a member of the CLIPP team, please contact Robin Clark for LTR and Networking, Anne Wheeler for CLD and Steve Ellis for MLT.
For the purpose of CLIPP, ‘research’ is any original investigation undertaken in order to gain knowledge and understanding in the field of learning and teaching. It involves work of direct relevance to the needs of higher education and includes research undertaken in collaboration with external or internal partners.
Learning and Teaching research encapsulates the generation of new ideas and knowledge in the field of higher education. It also incorporates the use of existing knowledge to produce new or substantially improved learning and teaching materials, tools, approaches and processes. All knowledge produced within the CLIPP remit should make a distinctive and unique contribution to learning and teaching knowledge, practice or policy.
The aims and expected outcomes for LTR project funding
The aim of the LTR project funding is to support staff engaged in improving their understanding of learning , teaching and assessment practice, or the wider student experience. The key features of a research proposal should be as follows:
- A clear research question and rationale for the work.
- Evidence of preliminary reading to demonstrate an engagement with the relevant literature.
- A clear statement of the research methodology to be employed.
- A statement discussing the proposed approach to data evaluation.
- Identification of the project outputs and the ways in which they are to be disseminated.
The final deliverable required for the project is a paper for presentation at a conference and / or submitted to an appropriate learning and teaching publication. Project investigators will be encouraged to identify appropriate dissemination strategies, but the CLIPP Research Team will make appropriate recommendations during the course of the work. The work should be rigorous so as to present the best opportunity for publication.
Critical readers
A critical reader is recommended and should give written and verbal feedback on all aspects of the paper produced. S/he may not be an expert in the particular area of study but should be able to give constructive feedback on writing style, coherence, argument, referencing and grammar. This time should be built into the request for funding.
Required outputs
- An Interim Presentation of 10 – 15 minutes at a seminar day in January 2010 (date to be confirmed).
- A paper for submission to a conference and / or journal to be submitted by 30th April 2010. Please note: Failure to submit a paper will result in the funds being reclaimed from your School or Support Service department.
The aims and expected outcomes for CLD project funding
The aim of the CLD project funding is to support staff engaged in developments in learning and teaching or assessment practice, or in developments in support systems for students. It will provide time to:
- Read and review the relevant literature and identify theoretical frameworks or models that help make sense of the issue being investigated.
- Develop a learning and teaching innovation (e.g. a change to methods, materials, modules, systems, etc. that it is believed will improve student learning. Note that this innovation must be justified with reference to the relevant literature and evaluated empirically).
- Run a pilot study to enable a new or better understanding of the learning and teaching issue that has affected you and/or your students.
- Collect and analyse data for the initial evaluation of the change / innovation.
- Draw conclusions, implications for the School, Support Service or University as a whole, and make recommendations.
- Disseminate the preliminary findings internally and, preferably, externally.
The final deliverable is a report that should be no more than 3,000 words. It should provide the background to the pilot study, describe the innovation or change, outline the methods for collecting and analysing data and discuss the effect of the innovation in the context of the situation (e.g. difficulties, barriers, success factors etc). It should be written in a style that other staff can use to help them benefit from the innovation. The outcome will be a professionally underpinned and evaluated change in your teaching or student support practice.
Critical readers
A critical reader is recommended and should give written and verbal feedback on all aspects of the report produced. S/he may not be an expert in the particular area of study but should be able to give constructive feedback on writing style, coherence, argument, referencing and grammar. This time should be built into the request for funding.
Required outputs
- An Interim Presentation of 10 – 15 minutes at a seminar day in January 2010 (date to be confirmed).
- A written report of no more than 3,000 words to be submitted by 30th April 2010.
Please note: Failure to submit a report will result in the funds being reclaimed from your School or Support Service department.
The aims and expected outcomes for MLT project funding
The aim of the MLT project funding is to support staff engaged in the evaluation, introduction and development of multimedia resources and learning technologies as part of their learning and teaching practice. Unlike other project categories, no direct funding will be provided but the cost of services provided by the Media and Learning Technologies Department (Aston Media) will be covered to deliver the project objectives. There is therefore no need for respondents to attach a cost to their application. This category will provide opportunities to;
- Learn about the available media and technology opportunities for use with students.
- Receive training and advice in the use of a particular technology.
- Pilot the technologies identified in the Learning Technologies User Group workplan.
- Produce multimedia resources (video, animation, podcasts etc) for use within teaching and learning.
- Develop and perform an appropriate evaluation.
- Collect and analyse data relating to the use of the resource or technology.
- Draw conclusions and identify implications for the School, Support Service or University as a whole, and make recommendations.
- Disseminate the preliminary findings internally and, preferably, externally.
The final deliverable will be dependent on the scale of the project and will be agreed if the project is approved. A presentation will certainly be required in January 2010. The form of the written output will be negotiated.
It is anticipated that in some cases a linked bid will be submitted for LRT or CLD funding to support the activity associated with achieving the deliverables for the MLT project.
Required outputs (subject to agreement at project approval)
- An Interim Presentation of 10 – 15 minutes at a seminar day in January 2010 (date to be confirmed).
- A written report / paper (to be agreed).
This will be submitted when the resource or technology has been utilised within a teaching context, i.e 30th September 2010 for 09/10 projects.
Please note: Failure to submit a report will result in the funds being reclaimed from your School or Support Service department.
A small amount of funding is available for staff who believe it would be valuable to have the opportunity to visit colleagues engaged in innovative learning and teaching research / practice or to attend a learning and teaching conference / workshop.
It is expected that these networking opportunities will encourage staff to develop ideas that will result in the submission of a bid for learning and teaching funds (either internally or externally) or the preparation of a scholarly paper, both within 6 months of the networking event.
These funds are intended to stimulate ideas and aid the creation of contacts that will lead to innovation in learning and teaching at Aston and the development of a culture that values learning and teaching enquiry.
Required outputs
- A one page report on the networking opportunity to be submitted within 4 weeks of attending the event.
- Submission of a bid for learning and teaching funds and / or a scholarly paper for submission to an appropriate learning and teaching publication to be completed within 6 months of attending the event.
Please note: Failure to deliver the outputs will result in the funds being reclaimed from your School or Support Service department.
NB. All applicants should ensure they are aware of the emphasis placed on the outputs for individual projects. These outputs will be monitored and linked to the payment of the funds awarded.
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