6/19/97

ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University has been awarded a $922,358 grant from the Ohio Board of Regents to develop technology to enhance and change the learning environment and prepare students for life in the 21st century.

The grant, part of a new Technology Initiative Grant Awards program aimed at assisting public colleges and universities to invest in technology, will support Ohio University's three-pronged approach to integrating technology into the curriculum, according to Paul Gandel, associate provost for information and instructional technology, who chaired the grant proposal team.

"I am very proud of all the people at Ohio University who developed this proposal," said President Robert Glidden. "They have outlined a program that will move the university to the forefront in the application of technology to teaching and learning, and obviously the reviewers were impressed with our plan. I think we are all excited about the progress we can make with the assistance of these funds."

The university will use the funds to enhance its technology network, provide an incentive program to encourage faculty to use technology to improve learning, and create a Center for Innovation in Technology for Learning (CITL) to help faculty pursue curriculum innovation using technology.

"We call it a blueprint for innovative change," Gandel said. "Faculty development lies at the heart of this project. Coupled with an improved infrastructure and instructional resources, enhanced faculty development will significantly enhance the quality and effectiveness of the learning environment at Ohio University."

One of the highlights of the grant was its creation by a university-wide team working under Gandel's leadership, according to Provost Sharon Stephens Brehm.

"This sort of collegial effort is essential for successful technological innovation and will be the foundation of the grant implementation," Brehm said.

Network enhancements supported by the grant include increased access to library reserve materials on-line, expanded computer networking to residence halls and increased use of two-way, interactive video classrooms at each campus.

A university-wide committee will review proposals from faculty for Technology Initiative Packages, which provide resources such as technical support, graduate assistants and workload adjustments to encourage and support curriculum innovation.

The CITL will coordinate university-wide innovation in technology and learning, develop faculty workshops on technology and create teaching studios for faculty and students.

"We want to be sure we have the network to support interactive learning, make sure we have faculty using it and make sure the innovations as are institutionalized so they can be used statewide," Gandel said.

Twenty of the Ohio's public colleges and universities were selected to share $10 million in grant funds distributed to 22 projects.

Only the University of Cincinnati, which received a $924,050 grant to develop computer infrastructure, received a larger grant.