Deadline for 2017 FITT Academy Is Approaching Fast

The 2017 FITT (Fostering Innovation in Teaching with Technology) Academy is looking for a few good faculty members. If you’re interested in using technology in innovative ways to enhance your instruction, apply for the 2017 FITT Academy to be held in June 2017.

The seven faculty members who participated last year gave the academy good reviews. “One participant said it was among the best, most productive experiences so far at Buffalo State,” said Melaine Kenyon, director of Technology Support Services and coordinator of FITT 2016. “Participants said they wanted more time for teamwork. One person even suggested we start earlier and stay later!”

The deadline for applications for FITT 2017 is January 5.

“The number we accept is flexible,” said Kenyon. “Last year, we had seven participants drawn from an original group of 24.”

To be eligible, participants must be full-time members of the faculty at any level. Applicants—who will receive a stipend of $1,500—must propose a project that is feasible, innovative, and transformative. It’s also imperative that participants can be available for the five-day academy, running June 5 to June 9, 2017.

The FITT advisory committee, which includes RITE staff and the 2016 FITT Scholars, will select the participants early in spring 2017. “Following the process we developed last year, we will then select the team members from RITE and the leader,” said Kenyon. “The team will collaborate with the faculty member to define the project’s goals during the spring semester. During the academy, each team will develop and present a comprehensive implementation plan.”

Last year, the academy began with an introduction by David Demers, chief information officer , and continued with a combination of teamwork and presentations. “Because the idea is to develop a community of practice, we had lunch together every day,” said Meghan Pereira, senior instructional designer with RITE. “The daily lunch sessions gave faculty members the chance to bounce ideas off each other. Faculty really enjoyed sharing insights with each other. It’s helpful because we want to work with faculty members to find the best ways to incorporate technology into teaching.”

President Conway-Turner is enthusiastic about the FITT program; she spoke of it in her Fall Forum address, saying “…it was widely successful and has created a new standard of excellence for the integration of technology into the classroom.”

Last year’s participants were David Abbott, instructional support specialist, Physics Department; Tim Bryant, assistant professor, English Department; Eric Dolph, assistant professor, Interior Design Department; Amy McMillan, associate professor, Biology Department; Maria Pacheco, associate professor, Chemistry Department; Kathleen O’Brien, director, Campus House; lecturer, Hospitality and Tourism Department; and Seth Oyer, assistant professor, Communication Department.

Their projects included transforming a written assignment into a project incorporating digital multimedia; developing material for a flipped classroom; and using Blackboard to create digital badges.

Kenyon said, “We look forward to working with faculty members to flesh out their ideas about using technology to enhance their teaching and their students’ learning.”