Rivier University

Canvas Converts Grant Proposal

Submitted by: Frances Keefe, Instructional Designer Dr. Monika Bissell, Assoc. VP for Distance Education and Professional Studies Rivier University 420 South Main Street Nashua, New Hampshire 03060 (603) 897-8741

Rivier University Canvas Grant

Project Abstract
Rivier University is seeking a grant to expand our faculty development program with the objective of increasing the skill level of a group of faculty who, after completing the training described below, would be designated as Canvas Converts. The project would employ the TPaCK model (Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge) of faculty development, which is a framework for teacher knowledge and effective teaching and learning. We see this grant application as fitting into the blending online and face to face courses submission category. While it is not a perfect fit, we will be working primarily with online tools to enhance both online and face to face classes. The vision of the process is as follows: After applying to and being selected for the program, representative faculty (at least one from each of Riviers five academic divisions: Education, Business, Arts and Sciences, Nursing, and Psychology) will be notified of their acceptance in early spring 2014. The first phase of the program is a week-long summer 2014 intensive in which the chosen faculty members will be immersed in new methods of facilitation, using Canvas as the delivery mechanism. Canvas Converts will spend time working with the advanced features of Canvas and learning new techniques for creating and editing multimedia learning objects. The group will continue to collaborate throughout the academic year (2014-2015) using a Canvas course designed specifically for their needs, thereby providing a place for collaboration, sharing of ideas, and continued growth. Canvas Converts will also meet face-to-face two times during the academic year: once at the mid-point and once at the end. Additionally, Canvas Converts will participate in at least one Canvas Blue Balloon Lunch during the year. (The Blue Balloon lunch program is a series of informal Canvas question-and-answer sessions, facilitated in the universitys dining hall.) Canvas Converts will then showcase their work during Riviers 2015 fall faculty orientation. This project, including the intense 5 day training and peer to peer development is the wave of the future in faculty development. All too often traditional half day or full day workshops are offered, and before the instructor has collected the evaluation sheets, the participants have forgotten the content lessons. By building a program that involves participation across the academic year, and ensuring the faculty use what they are taught, we have a strong feeling that this type of program will see much better results in learning and application of best practices to improve overall the quality of courses both online, face to face and hybrid. Funding in the amount of $10,000 is requested for staff training and the purchase of required software and hardware for a small resource lab. The initiative will be overseen by the Office of Distance Education and Professional Studies, which is staffed by the Associate Vice President for Distance Education and Professional Studies and the Instructional Designer.

Rivier University Canvas Grant

Statement of Need
Rivier University is a small, Catholic University located in Nashua, New Hampshire. Rivier purchased Canvas in December of 2012. Our full and very successful migration from Blackboard was finalized on July 1, 2013. We have approximately 70 full-time faculty members who, along with our adjunct cadre, teach spring, fall and summer semesters. We have made enormous strides in implementing Canvas and raising the quality standards of our online and hybrid courses in every department. As a small school, our academic technology support system is very limited. We have one Manager of Instructional Technology, who also serves as LMS Coordinator. We have one Instructional Designer, who supports all online, hybrid and face-to-face courses. As we move forward, the demand for expertise is growing at a much faster rate than two people can support. The Canvas Convert program would allow us to grow a team of subject-specific Canvas experts who would help us to sustain our goals of increasing quality and enhancing relevant uses of technology in all classes and all modalities at Rivier.

Faculty Development and Technology Concerns

Each fall, just before students return to Rivier University, we hold a 3-day faculty development workshop. The recent focus of these workshops has been providing faculty opportunities to become more familiar with technology implementation; specifically, using Canvas. The desired outcome of this grant is to grow our capacity to support faculty, and we have found that the best presentations at these events are almost always made by faculty themselves. A recent development on our campus is a virtual desktop implementation, which would provide the needed stability of a high availability system. It does not, however, provide faculty members the access they need to experiment with new tools and ideas. The Canvas Convert grant will fund a small lab where faculty can come and work with new tools and technology outside the virtual environment, as well as provide intensive training to make good use of that equipment.

Rivier University Canvas Grant

Project Budget
This budget is designed to provide both a small equipment lab for faculty use and a stipend for each Canvas Convert to encourage participation in the summer intensive. Rivier University has an on-site cafeteria to provide food services. The University will provide facilitation space at no additional cost.

Item 4 Computer systems (2 MAC / 2 PC) + Supplies E-Learning Software Licenses (2) Articulate (Storyline) / (2) Adobe captivate (4) Adobe Premiere Elements Stipend for Faculty Participants (8 @ $500) Coffee/ Lunch 5 days Summer Institute (8 participants + staff approx. $200 / day Total

Dollar Amount 4,000.00 1000.00 4,000.00 1000.00 10,000.00