by Keith Hautala & Jennifer Edwards

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 17, 2014) — The University of Kentucky has announced eight awards for the first round of its eLearning Innovation Initiative (eLII) Program, totaling more than $500,000 in internally funded grants.

The eLII program was launched in September 2013 to improve instructional delivery and learning outcomes, with a $3 million investment over three years. The program is administered through a collaborative effort by the Office of the Provost, UK Analytics and Technologies, and the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching.

“As new delivery models and teaching methods evolve across higher education, the University of Kentucky should be an active contributor and innovator,” said President Eli Capilouto. “The eLII program will give creative faculty the support to develop high-quality teaching techniques and programs to enhance the student learning experience.” 

The Round 1 competition officially closes Friday, March 21, with a call for faculty mini-grants. Many UK faculty are eligible to apply for the mini-grants to participate in Online Learning and Blended Learning Faculty Communities. The full Request for Application may be downloaded as a PDF fromhttp://www.uky.edu/elii/files/ELEARNING_RFA.pdf.  Round 2 requests for proposals will be posted in the spring.

A key goal of the award program is to support departments/colleges in the development of measurable and sustainable methods for improving instructional delivery and learning outcomes for UK degree programs and courses in all content areas.

“The eLII program helps support our faculty in the development of exceptional programs that use new learning techniques and technology,"  said UK Provost Christine Riordan. "This program helps continue our excellence in instruction. Our focus overall is to create the best outcomes for our students.”

The eLII program objectives are:  

• Improve student learning outcomes, student success, engagement and retention;
• Enhance UK curricular offerings and overall UK competitiveness in instruction;
• Support departments and faculty who wish to expand instructional methods and/or academic programs; and
• Implement quality assurance methodology for developing highly effective and efficient Instruction.

Online Degree Program grantees are:

• Matthew Zook, College of Arts and Sciences (Geography), $199,336
• Fazleena Badurdeen, College of Engineering (Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering), $75,000
• Arnold Stromberg, College of Arts and Sciences (Statistics), $75,000

Hybrid Course Redesign grantees are:

• Debby Keen, College of Engineering (Computer Sciences), $34,000
• Deanna Sellnow, School of Library and Information Sciences (Instructional Communication and Research), $35,000
• Magdalena Muchlinski and Samuel Franklin, College of Medicine (Anatomy and Neurobiology), $34,690
• Rebekah Ison, College of Design, (Interior Design), $25,000
• Sarah Wylie VanMeter, Robert Dickes, and Matt Page, College of Fine Arts (Art), $75,000

For more information about eLII, visit http://www.uky.edu/elii/.