Instructional Development Grants

ETSU’s instructional development grants support innovative teaching projects. Explore this website and learn more about the exciting work IDG grant recipients are doing. We hope their projects spark new ideas about your own teaching.

IDG eligibility and selection criteria Instructional Development Grants
IDG application form Application Form
Submission deadline March 15th
Questions? Email Dr. Laraine Powers, Chair, IDG committee powersl@etsu.edu

FY 2020/21 GRANT SUMMARIES

William Hemphill

Engineering, Engineering Technology, & Surveying
Acoustic Guitar Building

This IDC grant’s $5K funding has allowed the ETSU departments of Engineering,
Engineering Technology, and Surveying (EETS) and Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country
Music Studies (BOTCMS)—surely one of the University’s longest-named, two department
collaborations—to substantially increase the capabilities of a proposed new, lower division
undergraduate class to introduce the building of acoustic stringed instruments into the
curricula of the two departments’ programs.
FY 2019/20 GRANT SUMMARIES

Shara Lange
Media & Communications
Living Langston: Integrating Community-based, Interactive Documentary Production into Foundational Video Production Courses

Living Langston is a collection of classes, media project assignments, and network of relationships that
draws from various diverse praxis and methodologies.
In the fall 2019 and spring 2020 semesters, 28 students learned video production while creating media about Johnson City’s first African American high school, Langston High School. Langston High School was created for black students in the segregated south pre-1954, but after de-segregation, the facility sank into disrepair. A board of community members and Langston alumni worked for years to raise money to renovate what remains of the school. The renovated former gymnasium became a community arts center in fall 2019. This course was a way to honor the significance of the school and mark this next
FY 2018/19 GRANT SUMMARIES

Andrew Joyner & William Tollefson
Geosciences
Teaching in a Sandbox: Using Augmented Realty to Promote Geospatial Education and Careers

Students in GIS Projects (GEOS 5320) were tasked with building the AR Sandbox and developing instructional materials for multiple advanced AR Sandbox modules. After building was complete, they took the AR Sandbox to several schools and events within our area to teach a range of students about physical geosciences and GIS via the hands-on AR Sandbox functions. This type of project has obvious instructional innovations and benefits, including those to graduate students who were given the responsibility to start and finish a project with clearly defined deliverables to multiple stakeholders (i.e., the K-12 teachers, university lab instructors, etc.). The AR Sandbox also provided the Department of Geosciences with an incredible K-12 outreach tool, providing insight into an exciting career path and opportunities at ETSU that are less well-known. Between the prototype AR Sandbox and this final, mobile AR Sandbox, over 2,000 children, students, and teachers have used the AR Sandbox so far!

Kelly B. Reath
Social Work Department
Talking Head Avatar

The Instructional Development Grant was used for software to create an animated avatar resembling the instructor’s physical appearance. The avatar, Talking Head, was embedded in a new asynchronous online graduate social work course - Human Behavior in the Macro Social Environment. Students were surveyed with the purpose of understanding the impact of avatar design animation on establishing social presence of an instructor in a virtual eLearning environment. While responses indicated a lack of consensus regarding avatar design establishing instructor social presence, the use of humor associated with avatar behavior received positive feedback. Additional software was purchased to create animated Whiteboard lectures. The Talking Head Avatar and Whiteboard Animation Short Lecture have been incorporated into this instructor’s other online courses as a means for delivering course content.
FY 2017/18 GRANT SUMMARIES

Matthew Potterton
Music
Women in Song: Guest Conductor and Lecturer, Eliza Eubenstein

We brought in world renowned composer / conductor Joan Symko to be our guest conductor. We had over 125 women from ETSU and community members performing in the festival choir. The choir had the opportunity to sing music written by Ms. Szymko under her direction.

In addition, Ms. Szymko spoke to our music history classes and invited guest about her composition method. She also spoke about why women's composers have been ignored until recently. She also worked with two of our female music education majors in a masterclass. Although the numbers are growing, there are not as many women in prominent conducting positions and having Ms. Symko guide them was life changing for some of our majors.
FY 2016/17 GRANT SUMMARIES

C. Wesley Buerkle
Communication & Performance
Innovating the Oral Presentation Classroom

The goal for the grant was to provide an opportunity to improve oral communication instruction in both the general education classroom as well as across campus for faculty teaching courses that included oral communication elements. Using IDC funds, Dr. Steven Vrooman of Texas Lutheran Univeristy was brought to ETSU to 1) conduct an all-day workshop for the general-education faculty in the Department of Communication & Performance, focusing on the needs of courses taught by the department, and 2) provide a presentation open to all university faculty on ways to incorporate oral communication instruction into their courses. Bringing in a speaker to discuss innovation in general education and oral communication has the obvious effect of providing faculty with more skills, tools, and knowledge, but it also underscores the university’s commitment to oral-communication education and highlights oral communication as a priority in ETSU’s educational agenda.

Anna Hiatt & Cerrone Foster
Biology
Academic Coaching and Supplemental Instruction in Biology

The aim of this project was to continue to assess the effects of supplemental instruction and academic coaching on student success in Introductory Biology I and II. The supplemental instruction (SI) program trains undergraduate students to aid as peer mentors assisting with in-class active learning instruction and multiple weekly sessions to reinforce lecture skills and concepts. While the pilot SI program showed that students attending SI earned higher grades in the course, there remained a significant number of students not consistently attending sessions to benefit from the impact of the program. Therefore the funds from this grant supported the hiring of SI’s to offer a greater variety of session times and expansion of the program to include academic coaching in order to 1) strengthen skills of at-risk students in the course, and 2) directly impact students that may not attend supplemental instruction.

The results from the project showed that students who attended supplemental instruction earned higher grades in the course with students consistently attending 5 or more SI session over a 14 week semester. There was also a 12% decrease in the D/F grade rate in BIO 1110 with the addition of the academic coaching to SI in the course compared to the previous semesters (Fall 2015). Having both success in student learning gains in summative assessments and increases in overall course achievement among at-risk students demonstrates that course-embedded supplemental instruction and academic coaching fill a need for at-risk students and that gains are not just a result of primarily higher achieving students utilizing these resources.

Dean Isham
Digital Media
Building Communication Skills through Iteration Analysis

This grant looked at how to increase collaboration between two different majors, interior architecture (IA) and manufacturing (MANF), using 3D printing technology as the common focus of the project. Teams of students were assigned a design build project where the IA students designed a luminaire and MANF student were to build the design. Students worked collaboratively with the 3D printer to model a small part in the luminaire. Both groups learned to work with the strengths and overcome differing communication methods. Projects increased in complexity with students enjoying the learning environment as compared to past years.

Michelle Johnson & Kara Boynewicz
Allied Health Services
Utilizing a Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Approach to Enhance Learning and Clinical Reasoning Skills in an Interprofessional Group of Graduate Students Within the College of Clinical Rehabilitation and Health Sciences

The primary objective of this project was to improve graduate students' stress levels and increase learning in and out of the classroom to improve future clinical practice. This was done by exploring methods for mindful practice, with the goal of decreasing clinical internship stress, and improved patient care in physical therapy and nutrition students. More specifically, to give students an opportunity to experience inter-professional group strategies and techniques in controlling stress and increasing self-awareness for critical thinking skills through a mindful-based stress reduction approach.

Tom Lee
History
Digital History: Preserving, Probing & Portraying the Tri-Cities' Tobacco Heritage

This grant funding was used to help improve students’ ability to seek, use, and communicate information through the collections of artifacts and the curation and creation of a digital site where community members and students can learn about the tobacco history of the region. The project had three stages – (1) offering a digital history course in fall 2016, (2) holding a history harvest in spring 2017, and (3) developing a digital and/or physical exhibit thereafter using materials gleaned from the Harvest and employing, where possible, skills developed by students. Follow the link to watch Dr. Tom Lee's interview on WJHL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOF4a34dvfs
FY2015/16 GRANT SUMMARIES
Mike Belleme, Photojournalist
Mary Alice Basconi
Mass Communication

Mike Belleme is a young professional who is sought out by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other major outlets. He lunched with students, shared stories informally, and then presented a slide show of his work. He also led a hands-on session to set up a portrait of a student on campus.

The Which Stage Project
Robert D. Funk
Communication & Performance

Professional quality lectures on video were created through this grant, which have already proven to be a great benefit to students as well as those teaching classes. Various individual lectures have been used by students taking Introduction to Dance, Dramatic Structure and Acting I. Students found these videos helpful when studying for exams to go over missed material or to see a lecture again when material was not completely clear from a "live" class. Following is a compilation of some of the videos created:

https://youtu.be/KUn_0gf-2cs

Green Workforce for Tennessee
Kristi Julian and Mohammad Uddin
Engineering, Technology, Surveying & Digital Media

Workshops and video clips were funded with this grant, which were used to prepare students and faculty for the LEED GA exam; reinforce students' knowledge of sustainable principles in the classroom, community and personally; and assist with homework and exams. The tutorials were also used to aid in "flipped classrooms" or blended experiences ongoing as the LEED credits are modified. The modules can be seen here:

https://www.etsu.edu/cbat/greenworkforce/learnlead.php.

Expanding Outreach in Literacy in Eastern Tennessee
Renee Moran
Curriculum & Instruction

The objective of this project was to aid in the establishment of a new K-6 cohort. With the support of this grant, leveled texts, children's literature, and text sets were purchased to enable students to practice their craft with the most up-to-date and appropriate materials.

Morphometrics
Rebecca Pyles
Biology

A new series of projects were piloted in the upper division Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy course, which introduced students to morphometric analysis of size and shape of vertebrate anatomical structures. The first project emphasized analysis of shape associated with feeding structures, primarily the cranium and jaws; and the second project focused on analysis of shape associated with different locomotory modes (e.g. running, walking, hopping). Grant funding provided for the acquisition of the skeletal specimens needed to provide comparisons among four species.

Public Health ESSENTIALS
Dr. Megan Quinn
Biostatistics and Epidemiology

Public Health ESSENTIALS (Essential Skills, Strategies, and Expertise Necessary to Improve and Advance Low-Resource Settings; COBH 2000) was integrated as a required course for the new Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) curriculum in 2015 to provide an innovative learning environment that promotes self-efficacy, leadership, problem solving, and teamwork. The aim of this project was to assess the impact of the course on these skills through three main objectives.
1. Validate scales for self-reporting of self-efficacy, leadership, problem solving, and teamwork.
2. Determine whether the ESSENTIALS course changes students’ perceived skills of self-efficacy, leadership, problem solving, and teamwork.
3. Propose specific strategic curricular enhancements based on areas of reported skill attainment from course assessment.
Land Surveying Academy
Marian M. Young
Surveying and Mapping Science

Short video clips were created, which are currently being used in various surveying courses. One video was shared with other surveying professors in draft format at the SaGES (Surveying and Geomatics Educators Seminar) at the University of Maine in summer 2015. Several other clips are in various stages of progress; one related to designing roads, one showing the steps used to process field angles and distances to adjust a traverse loop and determine the area within the polygon the traverse represents, and one for the Basic Construction Surveys course. The following link will take you to one clip with ADA required text added:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXr26ibsh0g&feature=youtu.be.
FY2014/15 GRANT SUMMARIES
Preparing Future Health Professionals to Work with ALDs
Saravanan Elangovan
Audiology

The aim of this grant was to improve Audiology doctoral students' knowledge and clinical skills with Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) by developing a central location where these future audiology and allied health professionals, along with hearing impaired people and their families, could examine and learn about assistive technology that is designed to enhance receptive communication. Although present day hearing aids and cochlear implants have dramatically improved communication, many individuals with hearing loss continue to have difficulty in particular listening environments such as in noisy outdoor environments, telephone conversations, group discussions, etc. ALDs increase the effectiveness of hearing aids, but many individuals are not fully informed or educated about their existence.

The grant funds were used to acquire an array of equipment that broadly fall under the category of ALDs and aural rehabilitation. Through this grant it was possible to build an infrastructure to provide Audiology clinical doctoral students hands-on experience learning and working with ALDs and improve clinical experiences of introducing hearing impaired patients to the various kinds of hearing assistive technologies by demonstrating the equipment and making appropriate and tailored recommendations.

Foundations in Health Science
Sean Fox
Health Sciences

The primary aim of this project was to develop a new hands-on learning course, Foundations in Health Sciences (FHS), for undergraduate students in the Department of Health Sciences. More specifically, to give students an opportunity to obtain experience using techniques and technology that are currently found in scientific research settings in both academia and industry. There were four areas in which this grant hoped to contribute to the FHS class:
1. offer individual and group opportunities for hands-on research and instruction
2. complement theoretical classroom instruction with active learning using the Bio-Rad C1000 as an instructional tool
3. aid students in becoming proficient in using modern scientific technology
4. apply new teaching concepts to the FHS class as well as stimulate development of other departmental classes
With this grant we were able to purchase numerous items that helped students gain useful experience in current technologies, including the C10000 thermocycler, microcentrigues, and gel electrophoresis units. The FHS class has helped to reshape the department's idea of what a contemporary laboratory should consist of.

Interior Design Program
Dean Isham
Interior Architecture

Visualization software (Podium for the Interior Design Program) was purchased with this grant. The software was installed in the interior design studio where upper level students use it to great success in their four required studio classes. The addition of this visualization tool helps students understand proposed designs in a very efficient manner. Students gain a better understanding of lighting, color selections, massing, and daylight. Below is an example of a student's work before and after the use of the software. Note the added complexity of the design details that the student addressed after the software was installed in the studio.

Contemporary Commercial Vocal Pedagogy Institute
Karen Smith
Music

Dr. Smith attended this Institute at the Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia to receive training to incorporate vocal pedagogy for contemporary singing into the classroom, as well as her individual applied instruction. There is a very clear distinction between this style of singing and the Operatic/Classical style that is typically focused on in the Opera Workshop class, and the student must establish stamina in their respective style. This training was invaluable, as the student cast members of Oklahoma were taking this course to receive additional vocal coaching. With half of the class being Theatre majors and the other half being Music majors, attending this Institute helped Dr. Smith bridge the gap between the two departments.

Alice Parker Residency
Alan Stevens
Music

Alice Parker was brought to campus for five days in February. Over 250 students and 500 community members participated in lectures, master classes, rehearsals, concerts, one-on-one teaching sessions, and question-and-answer sessions. The students learned rehearsal techniques, compositional process, and the history of American choral performance. In addition, they performed pieces composed by Ms. Parker for the community and participated in a "Community Sing" that had over 400 people in attendance.

PREVIOUS GRANT RECIPIENTS

FY2022/23

Michael Bourassa

Rehab Science

Inclusion of pulmonary function assessment and intervention as part of physical therapy education

Sage Perrott
Art & Design

Provisional Press Bringing Letterpress Printing to ETSU students

Ashana Puri

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Demo Dose Simulated Medications

Mickey White
Counseling and Human Services

Sandtray Supervision for Counselors in Training
FY2021/22

Meredith Ginley

Psychology

Improving Trainingin Psychological Assessment for Clinical Psychology Doctoral Students

Shara Lange

Media and Communication

Reality Television Production in the Classroom

James Sheffy

Biomedical Sciences

Enhanced Anatomy Laboratory Experience through Technology

Shuling Yang
Curriculum & Instruction

Preparing the Teacher Candidates at ETSU to Build Inclusove Classrooms through the Intermational Peer Partnership
FY 2020/21

Travis Clamon
Sherrod Library

Addressing Textbooks Affordability with Institutional Licensed Electronic Textbooks

William Hemphill
Engineering, Engineering Technology, & Surveying

Acoustic Guitar Building

Phyllis Thompson
Literature & Language/Women's Studies

Trauma-Informed Strategies for Teaching and Learning Conference

Mohammad Moin Uddin
Engineering, Engineering Technology and Surveying

Closing Learning Gaps in Statics Using Peer Assisted Learning and Hands-on-Learning Experiences
FY 2019/20

Julia Bernard, Lisa Dunkley, & Deidra Rogers
Counseling and Human Services

Developing a Minor in Trama

Allison Bourassa
Physical Therapy

Utilization of infrared video goggles for teaching the assessment and management of vestibular disorders to student physical therapists

Aruna Kilaru & Cerrone Foster
Biological Sciences

Enhancing research experiences in freshman biology labs by incorporating project-based modern biology modules

Shara Lange
Media & Communication

LIVING LANGSTON: Integrating Community-based, Interactive Documentary Production into Foundational Video Production Courses
FY 2018/19

Michael Bourassa
Physical Therapy

Enhancement of Student Physical Therapy Clinical Skill Development through Ultrasound Imaging

Rachel Walden
Department of Learning Resources

Virtual Reality Anatomy Education

Andrew Joyner & William Tollefson
Geosciences

Teaching in a Sandbox: Using Augmented Realty to Promote Geospatial Education and Careers

Kelly Reath
Social Work

Developing "Fast Draw" Whiteboard Animation Shorts for Online Instruction
FY 2017/18

Joseph Florence

Family Medicine and Academic Affairs

Implementing Advanced Cardiac Life Support training into College of Medicine Curriculum

Mary Ann Littleton

Community and Behavioral Health

Innovative Skill-Based Course Materials for Undergraduate and Graduate Community Health Programs

Josh Reid, Colin Chesley, Alison Barton, Patrick Brown, Susan Epps, & Amy Johnson
Literature & Language

Teaching from the Edge: Innovative Practices for Learning

Melissa Shafer
Communication & Performance/Theatre & Dance

The 1-to-6 Scale Model Theatre Lab
FY 2016/17

Wesley Buerkle
Communication & Performance

Innovating the Oral Presentation Classroom

Anna Hiatt &
Cerrone Foster
Biology

Academic Coaching & Supplemental Instruction in Biology

Dean Isham
Digital Media

Building Communication Skills Through Iteration Analysis

Michelle Johnson &
Kara Boynewicz
Allied Health Services

Utilizing a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Approach to Enhance Learning and Clinical Reasoning Skills

Scott Kirkby
Chemistry

Adding Math and Q-Chem Tools to Physical Chemistry

Tom Lee
History

Digital History: Preserving, Probing and Portraying the Tri-Cities' Tobacco Heritage
FY 2015/16

Mary Alice Basconi
Mass Communication

Mike Belleme, Photojournalist

Robert D. Funk
Communication & Performance

The Which Stage Project

Kristi Julian & Mohammad Uddin
Engineering, Technology, Surveying & Digital Media

Green Workforce for Tennessee

Renee Rice Moran
Curriculum & Instruction

Expanding Outreach Literacy in Eastern Tennessee

Rebecca Pyles
Biology

Expanding Outreach Literacy in Eastern Tennessee

Megan Quinn
Biostatistics & Epidemiology

Public Health ESSENTIALS

Marian M. Young
Engineering, Technology, Surveying & Digital Media

Land Surveying Academy
FY 2014/15

Saravanan Elangovan
Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology

Preparing Future Health Professionals to Work With ALDs

Sean Fox
Health Sciences

Bringing Novel Molecular Biology Concepts and Opportunities to the Undergraduate Classroom

Dean Isham
Engineering, Technology, Surveying & Digital Media

Enhancing Students' Evaluation and Communication Skills

Karen Smith
Music

Contemporary Commercial Vocal Pedagogy Training

Alan Stevens
Music

Alice Parker Residency in Musical Composition/Arranging