This grant is offered in partnership between the Centre for Learning & Teaching and Dalhousie Libraries through the support of Dalhousie’s Strategic Initiative Funding.

Focus of Grant

This grant will provide support for Dalhousie educators who are interested in adapting or creating an Open Educational Resource (OER).

The objectives of this grant program include:

• Enhancing the learning experience of students at Dalhousie University through the adaptation or creation of OER
• Supporting Dalhousie teaching and learning strategic priorities and the eLearning strategy (https://www.dal.ca/dept/clt/e-learning/elearning_strategy.html)
• Alleviating student financial burden from the cost of textbooks and other educational resources that can be offered free of charge to students, thereby increasing access

Eligibility

Each project must be led by a full-time faculty member or a limited-term faculty member with at least one year remaining in their contract term at the start of the grant period. This is in order to ensure the feasibility and long-term sustainability of the project.  Non-academic staff and part-time faculty members may be co-applicants.  In addition, preference will be given to grant applicants who engage students in the planning, development, and/or creation of their OER and to projects that impact a substantive number of students.

Amount of Award

Grants up to $5,000 may be awarded.  Projects must be completed, and funds expended in their entirety by March 31, 2022.

Requirements

1. Project Plan (See form and checklist below).
2. A detailed budget is required with justification for each item (where salaries are submitted, 4% vacation pay should be added). Please include a list of any additional resources (e.g., funding, release time, equipment, etc.) that will be provided to the project from other sources.
3. If you are planning to seek assistance and/or consultations from educational developers at CLT or digital librarians with the Dalhousie Libraries as part of your project, please seek confirmation in writing that assistance will be available with key staff member(s) during the time frame required, prior to submitting your proposal. (NB: The Dalhousie Libraries currently host an instance of Pressbooks, an Open Book creation platform. The Libraries also have expertise with this platform as demonstrated by recent initiatives.)
4. Statement of support from the head of the relevant teaching unit (department, school, faculty) that includes description of any additional resources (e.g. funding, release time, equipment, etc.) to be provided to the project and a description of the value of the project, in particular the pedagogical impact on students. If a department head is an applicant for the grant, please provide a letter of support from your Associate Dean or Dean of your Faculty.
5. Willingness to share the results of the project with the Dalhousie community at events arranged by the Dal Libraries and/or CLT (as a panel member or presenter). In addition, a brief, written, final report must be submitted to CLT within 18 months of receiving the grant, outlining the outcomes of the project and the approximate savings for the students accessing the OER (1,500–2000 words). Please note that a description of the project and also this report may appear on the OER grant website.
6. Any OER made possible by this grant must be openly licensed (using a  Creative Commons license that is considered OER-compatible and openly accessible online (e.g., including using Dalhousie Libraries Pressbook installation, and any other OER platform) and adhere to the 5 Rs of OER: Retain, Reuse, Revise, Remix, Redistribute.

Funding will NOT be provided for the following items:

• Conferences: registration travel, accommodations, etc.
• Technology already available elsewhere, or where alternatives are available
• Office supplies
• Phone charges
• Publishing fees
• Faculty and staff salaries

NB: Projects that submit budgets that are largely requesting funds to purchase technology will only be considered in special circumstances where research has been conducted to ensure that the tool is the only possible solution, that the tool can be demonstrated to contribute substantially to the project, that there are no institutional plans to consider a Dalhousie-wide site licence for such a tool, and if the department or faculty is able to commit to maintaining the tool to ensure continued use and impact.

Submission Checklist

Applicants are encouraged to submit well-defined proposals that will demonstrably enhance teaching and learning.

To be submitted as part of the grant application, using the OER Grant Application Form:

Names of project lead and co-applicant(s), employment status of project lead, Faculty/Department, contact information, and brief bio (as it relates to the nature of the project)

1. Project Title
2. Brief Abstract (150 words) to be used for promotion purposes if the applicant is successful
3. Project Plan (Not to exceed 2,000 words) including:

• Brief description of the proposed project.
• Rationale and goals for the project: Within the context of the program/course, outline the pedagogical impact on students and the contribution the project will make to the course or program.
• Outline how the project will enhance student learning.
• Outline any recommended technical or hosting requirements, or pedagogical assistance required (if seeking assistance from CLT and/or Dalhousie Libraries) and provide a brief email confirmation that the support can be provided as needed.
• A detailed description of the OER.
• Student population impacted and estimated cost savings for students.
• Sustainability of project.

The following must be appended to your OER grant application form:

• Detailed project timeline
• List of additional resources
• Teaching Unit Support – Letter from Head of Department
• Detailed Budget

Submission process

Grant application requirements must be submitted as one full package, on Monday, March 8, 2020 at 11:59 p.m., as an electronic submission emailed to CLT@dal.ca

Selection Criteria

• The project will significantly contribute to the enhancement of teaching and learning in the stated context.
• The project notes and outlines adherence to the 5 Rs of OER (Retain, Reuse, Revise, Remix and Redistribute)
• The project has clear and achievable aims (i.e., the proposal identifies an important teaching/learning challenge or issue that the project will address, clearly states the purpose of the project, and defines realistic and achievable outcomes).
• The project engages students in the planning, development, and/or creation of their OER.
• The project will result in feasible, impactful, and sustainable benefits to students resulting in deep learning.
• The proposed budget is fully justified and in line with the aims and timeline of the project.
• The project has the support of the applicant’s Dean or Department Head.
  

  OER2021 GRANT APPLICATION

Questions or requests for feedback on proposals in development may be directed to:

Suzanne Le-May Sheffield, Ph.D.
Director
Centre for Learning and Teaching
Tel: (902) 494-1894 | Suzanne.Le-May.Sheffield@dal.ca

Or:

Anne Matthewman
Associate Dean Learning & Teaching and Chief Law Librarian
Dalhousie Libraries
Tel: (902) 494-2640 | anne.matthewman@dal.ca