Immersive Learning Program: January 30

Immersive learning, the heart of a Ball State education, melds content, skills, societal need, and your interests into an intense, transformative experience. Immersive learning pulls together interdisciplinary student teams that solve problems for community partners. The result is a final product that enhances the community with a lasting impact. Students have created business plans, Web sites, documentaries, content and applications for emerging media, publications, and much more.

In order to enhance your unit’s immersive learning opportunities, the Immersive Learning Advisory Committee has created new procedures that they hope will allow for increased funding.

1. Grants for New Projects: The application procedure remains the same as other calls. Proposals are due to the Office of the Provost by 5:00 p.m. January 30, 2012.
   
2. Grants for Previously Funded or Continuing Projects: Focuses on the success of a previously funded immersive learning project and how it has evolved. The client and/or the product may be different, but the applicant(s), nature of the project, and learning objectives are the same as a previously funded project. Proposals are due to the Provost's office by 5:00 p.m. January 30, 2012.
   
3. Travel Grants: Travel that is a part of the project (either Item 1 or 2 above) should be included in the application. Faculty members who are presenting immersive learning research or projects at professional meetings may seek travel funding directly from the Office of the Provost. Requests for travel funding and the application procedure should be directed to Jackie Buckrop. Proof of invitation will be required. These funds are not limited to faculty members who have been previously funded by this initiative. All faculty members who are presenting immersive learning research or immersive projects are welcome to apply. 

If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact Jackie Buckrop.

More information about Immersive Learning at Ball State University can be found on the Provost website.

Invitation to submit proposals: Provost Immersive Learning Initiative 2012-2013

The Provost Immersive Learning Grant can be used to fund an entire immersive learning project, equipment, some travel, as well as buyouts to ensure you have time to commit to the project.

Please click here for guidelines.

All copies are due to the Provost's Office by 5:00p.m., Monday, October 3, 2011.

The proposals are judged on your expertise, time commitment, budget requests, etc., as well as the seven criteria of immersive learning:

• carry academic credit
• engage participants in an active learning process that is student-driven but guided by a faculty mentor
• produce a tangible outcome or product
• involve at least one team of students, often working on a project that is interdisciplinary in nature
• include community partners and create an impact on the larger community as well as on the student participants
• focus on student learning outcomes
• help students define a career path or make connections to a profession or industry

Open Information Sessions
Two open Forums have been scheduled:

1. Tuesday, September 13, 4:00p.m. Student Center Rm. 305
2. Wednesday, September 21, 4:00p.m. Student Center Rm. 305

See some of the projects that have been funded.

Provost Immersive Learning Grants: March 1

Provost Immersive Learning Grant applications are due to the Provost's Office by 5:00 p.m. March 1st. Guidelines are available from the Provost's Office, Innovation in Teaching, Assessment, and Scholarship (ITAS), and individual department chairs. Please contact Jacquelyn Buckrop for a copy or see the ITAS homepage.

Additionally, two Open Forums are scheduled for anyone with questions regarding immersive learning and/or the grant application process. Forums are scheduled for:

• February 8th at 4:00 p.m. in the Student Center, Pineshelf Room, and 
• February 16th at 4:00 in the Student Center, Pineshelf Room

Provost's Immersive Learning Grants: November 1

Provost's Immersive Learning Grant guidelines are below. Please note that the procedures and the funding periods have changed from past calls. Proposals for any and all of Spring, Summer, and Fall 2011 will be reviewed in November, proposals for AY 2011-2012 will be reviewed in March 2011. Complete application information is available from the provost's office.

Preference will be given to projects that meet all or most of the characteristics of immersive learning.

While preference will be given to new proposals and activities, successful projects previously funded by the Provost’s Immersive Learning Grant may apply for funds where need exists and unduplicated students will be served. Faculty members are encouraged to consider how their existing courses may be made more immersive.

Preference will be given to projects that can become self-sustaining. If the project is requesting equipment, please address why new equipment is needed and how it will be maintained. Equipment purchased specifically for immersive learning projects will be turned back to the Provost’s Office if the project is not sustained.

Interdisciplinary proposals involving multiple departments and colleges are encouraged. Proposals should address how students will be recruited and how credit will be assigned.

Preference will be given to projects that work with one or more community partners. Letters of support from said partners should be attached to the proposal. Projects involving international travel should provide a signature of support from Dr. Kenneth Holland, Dean Rinker Center for International Programs.

Projects should involve primarily undergraduate students.

All full-time faculty (tenured, tenure-track, and contract) are eligible to apply. Professional Personnel in collaboration with faculty are also eligible.

Proposals must be signed by appropriate chairs and deans and sent to the Office of the Provost by 5:00 p.m., November 1, 2010.

The proposal is limited to 6 pages, not including the cover memo, letters of community support, or letter of chair support.

Faculty receiving funds are expected to provide a mid-grant report and provide a public presentation of the project upon its completion. Faculty will be asked to provide assessment data at the conclusion of the project. Faculty members who are funded will be asked to use an experimental evaluation form for assessment purposes.