Instructional Innovation Grants (IIGs)

The CLS offers financial support to language faculty wishing to pursue projects to enhance language learning in the classroom. The IIG allows a faculty member to develop new approaches to language teaching, while relying on a student worker to perform the research and technical support work. IIGs should represent approaches that have the potential to scale up, that is, to be useful beyond the individual faculty member’s classroom, either for other language instructors at Yale or for the language learning community beyond Yale. The CLS especially welcomes projects that propose innovative approaches to language learning and incorporate current theoretical and methodological insights.

Instructional Innovation Grants support curricular projects with well-articulated pedagogical objectives.  Examples include pilot projects that explore a modest curricular innovation; action research projects that focus on reflective teaching or rethinking pedagogical practices; course improvement projects (for example, redesigning a learning unit, creating a new assessment; proposing a new course); or expanding the scope of an established project.  Support generally includes student assistance, technology support, materials, or software.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with work beginning in the fall of and concluding either by mid-year or the end of the academic year. Faculty should submit a formal proposal, including:

  • A brief project description (abstract)
  • A project narrative, including
    • Project goals
    • Justification for the project, based on review of existing materials and views in the field
    • Plan of work that demonstrates feasibility of the project, including a detailed timeline
  • A summary of relevant prior experience by applicant(s) and brief bio
  • A detailed budget with justification, including costs for student work and technology

The CLS will approve proposals on a rolling basis. Once the proposal is accepted, the faculty member works with the CLS to hire a student worker who will do the technical work and research, allowing faculty to guide the project. The funding can only go towards purchasing materials and paying a student worker. Equipment may be purchased, but will remain the property of the CLS. The CLS can advise on technological needs and may assign a CLS liaison to the project. 

Funding may not be used for:

  • Purchase of personal equipment (e.g. a laptop computer)
  • Faculty salaries or summer stipends
  • Travel

Awards are modest in size and subject to availability of funds and limited by the scope of the project. For further information or questions about the IIGs, contact maryjo.lubrano@yale.edu.