MRU Institute for SoTL

application details for upcoming Nexen Scholars Program and TransCanada Collaborative SoTL grants

Our redesigned home website will launch soon (can’t wait!) but in the meantime I wanted to get these RFPs posted as soon as possible:

2016 Nexen Scholars Program

The Nexen Scholars Program brings together faculty from a range of academic disciplines committed to investigating and documenting significant issues and challenges in teaching and learning in higher education. The central work of the Nexen Scholars is to develop course-based inquiry projects, conduct research that sheds new light on a significant aspect of student learning, and share evidence and findings publicly in an effort to influence practice in the field.

Nexen Scholars are selected for a 16-month term, participate in an off‐site residency in February, and engage in monthly collaborative activities during the time that they develop and conduct their inquiries. The Nexen donation also supports Going Public Awards for scholars to present their work at conferences, as well as an optional data analysis residencies to assist scholars in furthering their work.

2016 Nexen Program Call for Proposals (due Dec 1 2015)2016nexenscholarsrfp

Nexen Scholars Going Public Awards2015-16GoingPublic

Faculty who are considering applying are encouraged, but not required, to attend the following November presentation and to browse the Institute website for resources and information about previous projects:

Nexen Program Scholars’ Showcase
Fri Nov 6 2015, 12:30-1:30 in T107

Presented by 2015 Nexen Scholars: Collette Lemieux (Bissett), Brad Quiring (Bissett), Sheri Rhodes (International Education), Joanna Szabo (Nursing), Priscilla Wamucii (General Education), and Janice Miller-Young (Institute)

TransCanada Collaborative SoTL Inquiry Grants

TransCanada Collaborative SoTL Inquiry Grants are designated for collaborative teaching and learning inquiry projects which go beyond an inquiry about teaching and learning in a single class. Note that while the Nexen Scholars Program is designed to support scholars in developing a project, the TransCanada grants require a complete research proposal including literature review, research question, methodology, data collection, and dissemination plans. (If your proposed work does not align well with this structure, please include a clear statement of theory and methods that are aligned with the proposed project.) Eligible projects must propose systematic, evidence-based study of teaching and learning and meet principles of good practice in SoTL (Felten, 2013).

Collaborative SoTL projects are expected to be in the range of $5,000-$10,000 (i.e. bigger than what an internal research grant would reasonably support) and may be conducted over one or two years.

TransCanada grant application guidelines (due October 31): Collaborative-Research-Grant-guidelines-updated Sept2015

To apply for TransCanada Collaborative SoTL Inquiry Grant, Principal Investigators must use the Office of Research Services web-based application, which requires the completion of a Research Tracking Form, description of the project, co-investigator team and dissemination plan, and the uploading of a complete research proposal.

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I-SoTL updates and upcoming opportunities

2015 annual report cover_Page_01I just finished the Institute’s annual report (MRU ISTL ANNUAL 2015-for web) and am feeling fortunate to know and work with so many colleagues doing excellent work related to understanding and improving teaching and learning at Mount Royal and beyond! I think that Mount Royal has built a strong community and quite a bit of momentum for SoTL work and I’m looking forward to what the future will bring. The full report is attached, and here are some highlights:

  • 5th annual Symposium on SoTL included over 50 presentations and 115 participants from across North America
  • 10 students hired as research assistants for Nexen and TransCanada-sponsored SoTL projects
  • 4 MRU students presented with MRU faculty at the 2014 Symposium on SoTL
  • 6 workshops and methodology-related presentations at 2014 Symposium on SoTL
  • 5 scholars completed the 2014 Nexen Scholars Program and are in the dissemination phase of their research
  • 5 scholars accepted into the 2015 Nexen Scholars program and will conduct their research in 2015-16
  • 4 new TransCanada Collaborative SoTL projects funded
  • 48 scholarly presentations at conferences, postsecondary institutions, and disciplinary organizations supported
  • 7 papers published from Nexen and TransCanada-sponsored projects
  • 2 individual papers and 3 collaborative papers in press
  • 1 Nexen Scholar’s article featured in the December 2014 issue of the National Teaching and Learning Forum (MacMillan, 2014)

Looking ahead:

2015 Symposium registration is open and program will be posted soon!!

Lots of interesting sessions plus 2 keynotes and 4 pre-conference workshops.

Nov 12-14, 2015 in Banff

isotlsymposium.mtroyal.ca

 

Upcoming deadlines for different sources of SoTL research support:

Internal Research grants:    September 25

TransCanada Collaborative SoTL grants: October 31

Nexen Scholars program: December 1

 

Follow Institute news here:

 

blogs.mtroyal.ca/isotl

@I_SoTL

or find us on Facebook!

 

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