Program Planning and
Proposal Writing:
Resource Development for
Technology Projects
Liberal Arts ITS - Session One
Emily Cicchini, Special Projects Manager - June 09
ICEBREAKER
Penny game
Why go for external funds?
 To gain resources for use by you and your
students that otherwise might not be available;
 To grow your own personal network of likeminded people, inside and outside of higher ed;
 To expand and evaluate your own ideas about
the possibilities and limitations of instructional
technology.
Is it worth it?
 Total assets of the nation's grant makers are estimated at
over $510 billion. They are required by law to give away at
least 5% each year - $25.5 billion annually.
 As a Primary Investigator (PI), you will have control over the
funds that you raise though grants (with the exception of
indirect costs, which support your Dept. and shine favorably
on you).
 Successful grant writing may contribute to tenure and
advancement cases.
 To change the world for the better.
Getting your Ducks in a Row
What is a project/program/plan?
 A project is a finite endeavor—having specific start and
completion dates—undertaken to create a material deliverable,
event, or activity which brings about beneficial change.
 A project plan is a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be
accomplished — "they drew up a six-step plan"; "they discussed
plans for a new bond issue"
 A program is a system of projects or services intended to meet a
public need—"he proposed an elaborate program of public
works"; "working mothers rely on the day care program"
 A program is an integrated course of academic studies—"he was
admitted to a new program at the university”
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_management; http://wordnet.princeton.edu;/
Exercise 1
Write down three programs/projects/plans
that you’ve been involved with that you
deem as particularly successful, and at
least one reason why for each.
What are the current activities that you are proudest of
actually doing?
Contributing to student’s self-actualization
(THE REAL PURPOSE OF HIGHER EDUCATION: DEVELOPING SELF-ACTUALIZING PERSONALITIES By Joseph
P. Cangemi)
Serving existing society and/or challenging it
(A LARGER SENSE OF PURPOSE: HIGHER EDUCATION AND SOCIETY by Harold T. Shapiro)
Preparing students for careers
(SHAKESPEARE, EINSTEIN, AND THE BOTTOM LINE: THE MARKETING OF HIGHER EDUCATION by David L.
Kirp)
Advancing collective, public knowledge
(COLLECTIVE COGNATIVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE by Marlene
Scardamalia)
Exercise 2
Write the highlights of your academic
career in ONE minute.
Mission, Purpose & Value Statements
Mission Statement
The mission of The University of Texas at Austin is to achieve
excellence in the interrelated areas of undergraduate education,
graduate education, research, and public service. The University
provides superior and comprehensive educational opportunities at
the baccalaureate through doctoral and special professional
educational levels. The University contributes to the advancement of
society through research, creative activity, scholarly inquiry, and the
development of new knowledge. The University preserves and
promotes the arts, benefits the state's economy, serves the citizens
through public programs, and provides other public service.
http://www.utexas.edu/welcome/compact/
Mission, Purpose & Value Statements
Core Purpose
To transform lives for the benefit of society.
http://www.utexas.edu/welcome/compact/
Mission, Purpose & Value Statements
Core Values
Learning - A caring community, all of us students, helping one
another grow.
Discovery - Expanding knowledge and human understanding.
Freedom - To seek the truth and express it.
Leadership - The will to excel with integrity and the spirit that nothing
is impossible.
Individual Opportunity - Many options, diverse people and ideas,
one University.
Responsibility - To serve as a catalyst for positive change in Texas
and beyond.
http://www.utexas.edu/welcome/compact/
Exercise 3
Write a personal mission statement.
Write a personal core purpose statement.
List at least 3 personal core values.
TED: IDEAS WORTH SPREADING
Daniel Goleman: Why aren’t we all Good
Samaritans?
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/200
Bill Strickland: Rebuilding America, one slide
show at a time
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/209
Dave Eggers: 2008 TED Prize wish
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/233
Envisioning a Dream Project
 What project would most
help your students?
 What project would most
help your area?
 What project would most
help your department?
 What project would most
help the University?
 What project would
most help your field?
 What project would
most help the world?
 What project, in your
gut, do you most want
to do, even if you
don’t yet know why?
Exercise 4
Write down the kernel of at least one project or
program idea. (you can use an existing project,
or use this time to flesh out a new one). What
would it look like, sound like? What would be
accomplished? Who would be involved?
10 minutes. Don’t have to share yet.
Some problems facing humanity
Energy, Oil
Environment, Global Warming, Pollution
Violence, Fear, Terrorism and War
Disease, Health Care, Mental Health
Over Population
Poverty and the Global Economy
Injustice, Corruption, Crime, Despair
Religious Fundamentalism
Access to and Quality of Education
Intolerance of Diversity
Matching Game…
Can you revise/expand/apply your idea to
include some way to address a possible
solution to a major problem facing
humanity???
What will make your Dream Project
happen?







Time
Talent
Knowledge
Support
Materials
Equipment and Supplies (digital, video, audio)
Software Licenses, Other Fees
 All can be expressed in terms of cash value
What do you need to get there?
What do you need first?
What do you need most?
What will be the hardest to obtain?
Program Planning Boilerplate
 Need or Impact Statement
(fundamental, universal,
compelling)
 Timelines with milestones linked to
objectives
 Budget (total project income/expense)
 Proposed Solution (innovative,
clearly addresses the need, the
big idea)
 Project Design (logical, sequential,
thoughtful)
 Overall Goal (long-range, large
impact, BHA - Big Hairy
Audacious)
 Objectives (tasks, ordered by
priority, specific, measurable)
 Qualifications/history of project team
 Evaluation plan (how will you measure
it?)
 Dissemination plan (how will you share
what you’ve learned?)
 Sustainability (internal, external,
portability, replicability)
Okay, so what about Technology?
Communication
Sharing
Multimedia
Data
Analysis
Information
Finding a metaphor for a website…
Textbook
Portfolio
Meeting Space
Catalogue
Brochure
Field Trip
Assignment
Bulletin Board
Sandbox
Tools
Museum
Classroom
Syllabus
Course Packet
Theatre
Journal
Slideshow
Archives
Group Project
Broadcast
What general roles does IT play best in
Higher Education?
 Textbooks
 Extension Activities
 Archives
 Audio/Visual Analysis Tools
 Custom Course Materials
 Learning “social networks”
LAITS Showcase Solutions
Textbooks
Texas Politics
Français Interactif
Extension Activities
Danteworlds
The Daily Intelligencer
Paradise Lost
Reading Between the Lines
Archives
Jesus in American Culture
Hebrew Language
Audio/Visual Analysis Tools
eLucy
Spanish Language
Proficiency Exercises
Custom Course Materials
Law and Democracy
ASLOnline 2
Learning “social networks”
Texas Theory Wiki
E-files (CWRL)
More at: http://www.laits.utexas.edu/its/courses.html
Other Solutions to Consider
 Google Docs & Spreadsheets
http://docs.google.com
 Ning http://www.ning.com
 Wikis http://www.wikipedia.org
 Pachyderm - (DIIA) http://pachyderm.nmc.org/
 Blackboard extended features (ITS)
http://www.blackboard.com/extend/b2/
 Hosted blogs: Blogger, Wordpress, Typepad, etc.
 Flicker, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube
 Ipods, phones, etc.
Exercise 6
“What would a useful IT
component for my project
LOOK LIKE?”
Got Ducks?