Fellowship in Teaching Innovation

Deadline for applications: March 1, 2013

The purpose of the Fellowship in Teaching Innovation is to encourage Western faculty members (full-time and part-time) to pursue teaching innovations at The University of Western Ontario.  Teaching innovation projects may take many forms, such as developing new strategies for student engagement or initiatives involving the novel incorporation of educational technology into classroom settings.  The Fellowship exists primarily, but not exclusively, to support undergraduate and professional school teaching at the University, matching Western's commitment to the highest standards and quality of undergraduate education.

The Fellowship in Teaching Innovation will be awarded through an annual competition adjudicated by a review committee comprised of three or four faculty members selected by the Provost (or designate).

Fellowship Value

Up to $10,000 will be awarded annually
Recipients may use the funds awarded to develop teaching innovation projects through the purchase of release-time, support for graduate students, acquisition of technology, or to attend national or international teaching conferences.

Eligibility

  • The Fellowship is open to current faculty members (full-time and part-time) from any Western faculty (members of the Affiliated University Colleges are not eligible) at any stage in their teaching careers.
  • Fellowships may be awarded to support the development of a new innovation or in recognition of an existing innovation already in use at Western that would be enhanced by further development.

Requirements of Recipients

  • Fellowship recipients must be willing to share their advances in teaching with the rest of the University, through promotion or distribution by the Teaching Support Centre, the Instructional Technology Resource Centre or other appropriate mechanism.
  • Recipients must be willing to give a talk at the University about their innovation during the academic year in which the Fellowship is awarded.
  • Recipients must submit a final report outlining the success of the project and how the funds were used by September 1 following the academic year in which the Fellowship is awarded.

Evaluation Criteria

  • Impact or proposed impact on the quality of instruction at Western
  • Transferability to other courses/instructors
  • Sustainability of, and differentiation created for Western by, the innovation
  • Novelty of the innovation

All applications must be accompanied by an explanation of how the four criteria have been or will be met. The application must include a time line and benchmarks for delivery of the innovation.

Evaluation Committee

A committee of three or four faculty members selected by the Provost (or designate) will review the applications and recommend the recipients for the Fellowship to the Provost.

Timing

Applications are due by March 1st. Decisions will be made by May 1, allowing the Teaching Innovation Fellowship recipient use of the funds for the following academic year.

Submission Guidelines

Application should consist of one printed copy, plus one electronic copy ( as a single file in Word or PDF format).  The electronic copy should be submitted by e-mail to jpurves@uwo.ca. The printed copy of the application should be forwarded to the Teaching Support Centre, Room 122, The D.B. Weldon Library. For further information/consultation or to review proposals, please contact Debra Dawson, Director, Teaching Support Centre by telephone at 519-661-2111 ext. 84621 or by email at dldawson@uwo.ca

There are five parts to the proposal submission:

  1. Summary Description of the Project (1 page Maximum)
  2. The Proposal (5 pages maximum)
  3. Short Curriculum Vitae (4 pages maximum)
  4. Teaching Philosophy Statement (1 page maximum)
  5. Cover Sheet with endorsements by the Chair/Director and Dean

Proposal submissions should include a rationale for the project; project objectives; time lines; the number of students affected by the project; a budget outline that indicates whether or not funds are available and/or requested from other sources; a plan for the dissemination of the project outcome(s) within the University; a plan for the sustainability of, or differentiation created for Western by, the innovation. The teaching philosophy statement should discuss how the applicant's teaching philosophy relates to teaching innovation.

Successful Applicants

Recipients of the award must agree to participate in either the Spring or Fall Perspectives on Teaching conference sponsored by the Teaching Support Centre or another appropriate venue within the University during the academic year in which the Fellowship is awarded. If the project proposed for the Fellowship involves research with human subjects, the researchers must complete the Ethics Review protocol

Project Evaluation Criteria

  • strengthens or enhances students' learning
  • promotes teaching method(s) that is/are new/innovative
  • includes a plan for relevant evaluation of learning/impact of learning
  • includes a conceptual framework/rationale and objectives for the project
  • develops teaching modules or innovations that have application to other courses/instructors
  • includes a budget outline
  • denotes a plan to sustain the project or innovation beyond the funding year
  • includes a plan for the dissemination of the project/innovation within The University of Western Ontario

Application Cover Sheet

Application Form PDF

Past Fellowship Recipients PDF

Faculty Information Session

To be announced.


Guidelines Revised: January 2011