2013 Active Learning Grants Program

To commemorate the addition of LectureTools into Echo360’s technology offerings and to study the impact of both solutions in an active learning environment, we have added several new categories to the 2013 program. When submitting your research proposal, please indicate which grant(s) you are applying for. You may choose more than one category.

1. Adopter's Grants – Two grants will be awarded to institutions looking to study the combined impact of both Echo360 and LectureTools technologies. Institutions applying for the Adopter's Grant can request up to ten licenses of LectureTools to fulfill the requirements applicable to this specific grant category. The licenses will be distributed only to the research team, instructors and other institutional representatives directly involved with the research project.
2. LectureTools Grant – This grant will be awarded to an applicant currently using LectureTools. It is not a requirement to use EchoSystem to be considered for this grant.
3. Newcomer's Grant – This grant is designed to encourage institutions new to EchoSystem to study its impacts on teaching and learning. The Newcomer’s Grant is awarded to an institution using the Echo360 active learning solution for two years or less. It is not a requirement to study LectureTools to be considered for this grant.
4. Active Learning Merit Grants – Two grants will go to institutions using EchoSystem and/or LectureTools with the best proposals selected on merit, regardless of the solution(s) being studied. These grants are open-ended and not restricted to a category.

Grant Criteria

In general terms, applications for the Echo360 Active Learning Grants Program should:

• Demonstrate a significant, original contribution to the field of active learning, student engagement, and/or lecture capture research
• Engage with, and build on, previous research conducted into active learning, student engagement and/or lecture capture technologies
• Consider the institution-wide impacts of active learning, student engagement and/or lecture capture solutions
• Show evidence of an understanding of active learning, student engagement and/or lecture capture within the broader learning technology field
• Seek to promote collaboration within and outside the individual institution

This year, special consideration will be given to applications that provide insight into the use of active learning solutions to address strategic teaching and learning concerns and/or major university initiatives. These topics may include:

• Studies of the quantitative impact of active learning and/or lecture capture on student engagement, learning outcomes and student performance
• Studies that address the impact of the growing popularity of course delivery through a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) model
• Studies that provide a more thorough understanding of the use of active learning, student engagement and/or lecture capture solutions on alternative course delivery models including hybrid, flipped classroom and distance models
• Quantitative research on the use of active learning, student engagement and/or lecture capture solutions to recruit new students or meet enrollment mandates

In addition, judges will look favorably upon proposals in which Echo360 and/or LectureTools analytics are used to substantiate research findings.

Applications outside of the above criteria will still be considered for the Echo360 Active Learning Grants Program.

Grant recipients are expected to perform their proposed research between September 3, 2013 and October 31, 2014.

Disclosure:

Please note that by submitting an application for an Echo360 Research Grant, applicants are authorizing Echo360, on behalf of all members of the proposed research team and the institutions with which they are affiliated, the right to use the applicants’ names and the names of their respective institution, should the application be successful. In addition, the submission of an application authorizes Echo360 to make the applications and all subsequent reports, publications and presentations regarding the proposed research publicly available.

Notes:

• The grant funds cannot be used for hardware or software purchasing (including Echo360 hardware and software). However, institutions applying for an Adopter's Grant can receive ten LectureTools licenses upon request and proposal acceptance to use for research purposes only.
• The budget proposal does not need to include travel and accommodation costs for one project member to attend their nearest 2014 or 2015 Echo360 User Conference or Regional User Meeting as this will be paid for by Echo360, should it be requested.

All applications will be reviewed by the Echo360 Active Learning Grants Program judging panel, which will consist of up to five individuals representing the education community and Echo360. The judging panel will have the discretion to award a maximum of six grants, in the amount of $10,000 (US) [for applicants located outside the U.S., an amount in local currency equivalent to $10,000 (US) on August 1, 2013].

The Echo360 Research Grants will be awarded by the panel based on the fit of the application against program criteria and the panel may award less than six grants if, in its assessment, less than six applications appropriately fit the program criteria. If grants are deemed outstanding yet do not meet criteria specific to a particular Grants Category, the judges have the option to award additional grants based solely on merit.

From a dissemination perspective, the successful recipients of the Echo360 Research Grants are expected to engage in the following activities either during or at the completion of their projects:

• Presentation of the project and its findings to take place at a 2014 or 2015 Echo360 User Conference, either mid-project or upon its completion
• Paper or article for peer-reviewed conference or journal to be submitted by January 31, 2015
• Interview of grant recipient discussing project and findings to be filmed by January 31, 2015
• Public relations efforts surrounding research findings
• Participation in an Echo360 sponsored Webinar

By submitting an application, applicants are agreeing to abide by the terms of the grant program described above. Additionally all applicants represent that they have the right and authority to submit the application, to perform the proposed research, to perform all other obligations required by the program, if the application is successful, and to comply with the requirements of this paragraph. Applicants may not include in any application, report, research, publications or presentations, without first obtaining all necessary permissions, licenses, releases and third-party consents, any materials that are subject to the proprietary rights of others, or that violate privacy rights, rights of publicity, or trademark rights of any third party, or that misappropriate another’s trade secrets or wrongfully disclose another’s confidential or proprietary information. Grant recipients agree to perform all research in compliance with applicable laws. By submitting an application, applicants grant to Echo360 and its affiliates a non-exclusive, royalty-free irrevocable license (i) to post materials submitted to Echo360, such as applications, reports and presentations, within the websites of Echo360 and its affiliates, and (ii) to include within the marketing and related materials of Echo360 and its affiliates references to applicants and their respective institutions in connection with the grant program, which rights will include rights to display the applicants’ institutions’ trademarks and logos, without modification, provided that Echo360 agrees not to display those trademarks or logos in any manner implying an institution’s endorsement, affiliation with, or sponsorship of either Echo360 or the grant program. Applicants agree to hold Echo360 and its affiliates harmless in connection with the grant program, and to indemnify Echo360, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents against any breach of the applicant’s representations or warranties in accordance with these terms, and against any damages suffered by Echo360 and its affiliates arising from the applicant’s breach of its duties if awarded a grant under this program. IN NO EVENT WILL ECHO360 AND/OR ITS AFFILIATES HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY APPLICANT, INCLUDING ANY GRANT RECIPIENT, IN CONNECTION WITH THE GRANT PROGRAM OR ECHO360′S AND/OR ITS AFFILIATES’ EXERCISE OF THE RIGHT GRANTED TO IT BY THE APPLICANT AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR FOR MONETARY DAMAGES EXCEEDING, IN AGGREGATE, ONE DOLLAR. Echo360 makes no guarantee that any particular applicant will receive a grant, or that any number of grants will be granted. Echo360 reserves the right to cancel the grant program at anytime. Each applicant understands that agreement to these terms is a condition of Echo360′s acceptance of applications and is an essential basis of Echo360′s willingness to offer the grant program. By submitting an application, and in consideration for the opportunity to submit an application, each applicant agrees to the terms and conditions of this paragraph. Each applicant agrees that, if awarded a grant, that, as a condition to receiving a grant, it will enter into a Sponsored Research Agreement with Echo360.