University Times

The Executive Committee on Academic Computing (ECAC) has competitive grant funds available to support instructional computing and technology programs in three areas: advanced instructional technology, specialized computing laboratories and a new category, instructional software development.

All teaching faculty at Pitt's five campuses are eligible to apply. The deadline for submitting brief pre-proposals for the advanced instructional technology and instructional software development grants is Oct. 15, and for specialized computing laboratories grants Nov. 3.

"The basic rule that we (ECAC) have agreed upon is that if something very nearly good enough already exists, we're not going to reinvent it," said Lew Jacobson, chair of the ECAC about the programs.

Last year, the ECAC awarded capital fund grants totaling $300,000 to projects in the advanced instructional technology and specialized computing laboratories program, including the new calculus laboratory that has just opened in the Gardner Steel Conference Center. ECAC again has approximately $300,000 available for capital expenditures in the advanced instructional technology and specialized computing laboratories programs.

The amount of funds for non-capital expenditures available for the new instructional software development program is more difficult to determine, according to Jacobson.

"There is no way to put a dollar figure on it because what we are doing is allocating people's time," he said. "We're allocating assistance from programmers or graphic designers or video folks or whatever. There is no way to put a dollar figure on that. We'll see what is needed to get a project done and we'll allocate accordingly." The intent of the advanced instructional technology program is to promote the development and/or implementation of advanced instructional technologies such as computers, video and network communications. According to the Advanced Instructional Technology Working Group, the most important criteria in selecting proposals will be innovation in hardware and/or software and/or instruction, and the potential impact on teaching and learning, and as a model for other programs.

Proposals to expand the use of technologies already in operation at the University are not appropriate, according to the Advanced Instructional Technology Working Group. The program is intended to support capital equipment items. The budget may include essential software, but must not include salaries or stipends.

Requests for professional assistance with software development may be included in advance instructional technology proposals. Faculty requesting only programming or other non-equipment support for their ideas should apply to the instructional software development program. The Advanced Technology Working Group will not consider duplicate submissions to the advanced technology and software development programs.

Contact David Beratan at 624-8264 or by e-mail at beratan@vms.cis.pitt.edu or Ed McBride at 624-9360, e-mail at EGM@vms.cis.pitt.edu.

The intent of the instructional software development program is to promote the development and/or implementation of instructional software, defined as computer resources, video or other new technologies.

As with the advanced instructional technology program, the most important criteria for selecting proposals will be the potential impact on teaching and learning, and the potential of using the project as a model.

When appropriate, innovation in subject matter and/or instructional model also may be taken into account by the Instructional Technology Working Group. Proposals to replicate software technologies already available commercially or from other universities will not be considered.

According to the Instructional Technology Working Group, the instructional software development program is intended to allocate to faculty the help required to develop instructional software applications. Assistance generally will take the form of a project team in which faculty work with a coordinator and relevant instructional and software staff from the Center for Instructional Development.

Software development is the only assistance available under this program. Faculty members with ideas that require new equipment must apply to the advanced instructional technology program.

Contact Beratan by calling 624-8264 or via e-mail at beratan@vms.cis.pitt.edu or Joanne Claus at 624-7372, e-mail Claus+@pitt.edu.

Grants for specialized computing laboratories are designed both to assist in financing the hardware costs of new facilities and to enhance existing specialized instructional computing labs. Criteria for selecting proposals, according to the Specialized Instructional Laboratories Working Group, will include pedagogical significance, the number of students expected to benefit, provisions for cost-sharing, availability of funding from other sources, space requirements and possibilities for multiple use. According to the Specialized Instructional Laboratories Working Group, the program is intended to support capital equipment only. Requests for operating system software may be included if essential to the operation of the lab. Contact Arnie Katz at 648-1752 or via e-mail at akatz+@pitt.edu or McBride at 624-9360, e-mail at EGM@vms.cis.pitt.edu.

–Mike Sajna