<Mid-Level Grants>
2008-2009 IF Mid-Level Grant Recipients
The Quality Enhancement Plan Office of Information Fluency expresses gratitude to all who applied for Information Fluency grants. We are pleased to announce those who received Information Fluency mid-level grants for 2008-2009.
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Grant Recipient(s):
Dr. Ana C. Mack & Ms. Jennifer Wright
Title: Enhancing Information Fluency in a Freshman Pre-College Seminar
Contact Information:
Student Academic Resource Center (SARC)
Description of Grant:
Mastering College Level Coursework (MCLCW) Seminars are proactive pre-college seminars for first-time-in-college students. The seminars focus on the academic and life skills needed during the first two weeks of college to achieve success both inside and outside the classroom. The seminars have been utilized since the fall of 2002 and are now offered prior to the start of the summer B term. In the summer of 2007, SARC included the Academic Kit study organizer among the materials presented during the seminar. This module includes skills such as time management, note taking, textbook reading, test preparation, and organizational strategies necessary for college success in a more hands-on and efficient manner.
Students will gather and evaluate information taught in the seminar to develop a time management system, organize academic information, and set semester goals during the first two weeks of class. The information presented will assist students in making appropriate decisions regarding their fall schedule and to identify and use the resources associated with their coursework during the fall semester.
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Grant Recipient(s):
Dr. Kerstin Hamann, Dr. Hutch Pollock, & Dr. Bruce Wilson
Title: Information Fluency in the Online Environment: A Proposal to Enhance a Large Section of American National Government
Contact Information:
Political Science
Description of Grant:
Beginning in spring semester 2009, the Political Science Department will offer an online section of the GEP course, American National Government. It is anticipated that over 500 students will register for this online class. The course will use online content exclusively, including an online text, which will be created from the large menu of text, graphics, and reference resources available through Cengage Learning. The Information Fluency project allows the development of online modules to enhance student abilities in the following areas: accessing, evaluating, integrating (or interpreting) and communicating.
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Grant Recipient(s):
Dr. Ken Teter & Ms. Heather Engleking
Title: Undergraduate Research as a Means to Promote Information Fluency
Contact Information:
Molecular Biology & Microbiology, Dr. Teter
Career Services, Ms. Engleking
Description of the Grant:
In 2007-2008 the Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology initiated the Program of Undergraduate Research (PURE) funded, in part, by a $1,000 grant from the Office of Information Fluency. Nine students will complete the inaugural three-semester sequence of the program at the end of the spring 2008 term. For additional information on PURE go to www.biomed.ucf.edu/pure.
The midlevel IF grant will assist in providing the continuation of the Career Opportunities in the Biomedical Sciences seminar offered jointly by the Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology and UCF Career Services. This seminar is open to all students. Additionally, the grant enables PURE students to be involved with an immersive experience which encompasses all aspects of biomedical research. The goals are to: enhance student laboratory skills; augment student communication skills; improve student comprehension of the primary literature; increase student awareness of career opportunities; and ensure student success in applying to post-graduate job/programs.
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Grant Recipient(s):
Ms. DeLaine Priest
Title: Integrating Information Fluency in a Pre-Collegiate Program
Contact Information:
Student Success Center
UCF Upward Bound Program
Description of Grant:
The Upward Bound Program is a pre-collegiate program for low income, first generation students that prepares this targeted population for postsecondary education. The Department of Education awarded UCF a federally funded TRIO Upward Bound Program grant in December 2007 for four years. The goal of the UBP is to increase the rate at which participants complete a secondary education, and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.
The mid-level IF grant assists with the selection of tutors who will meet with the QEP staff for Information Fluency training. Upon completion of the training, tutors will provide academic support to the UBP students participating in a six week residential program at UCF. Tutors will work with the UBP students to emphasize the understanding, importance and implementation of information fluency as it applies to students’ academics and to their personal lives. Throughout the time of contact with the UBP students, the tutors will ensure the concepts of information fluency will be woven into the UBP curriculum.
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Grant Recipient(s):
Mr. Christopher Quintero & Ms. Chelsea Worthington
Title: Freshman Explorations: Living/Learning Community
Contact Information:
First Year Advising & Exploration
Description of Grant:
The purpose of the Freshman Explorations Living Learning Community is to connect undeclared students to various majors and career choices, develop a community of learners that are in similar classes in their first year and to connect them with other students via classroom experiences and out of classroom experiences. The goal is to intentionally engage undeclared students in the major/career exploration process in their freshman year to assist them to make a knowledgeable and well informed academic career choice while developing them as a well rounded student through educational and social experiences.
The midlevel IF grant will assist the First Year Advising & Exploration team to build partnerships among faculty, staff, and students to increase interaction, involvement and learning inside and outside of the classroom. These activities will support the students’ successful start of their general education requirements during their first year at UCF, while allowing the students to participate in career/major exploration activities/resources. The program will serve as a pilot program to track retention of this at-risk population.
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Grant Recipient(s):
Dr. Rick Kenny & Mr. Rick Brunson
Title: Project Access: Providing Students with Hands-On Experience with the Freedom of Information Act
Contact Information:
Nicholson School of Communication
Journalism Division
Description of Grant:
The midlevel IF grant will be used by the Journalism faculty to improve training for students in gathering and disseminating information found in public records that are the lifeblood of an informed citizenry. Joe Adams, renowned Florida newspaper editorial writer, who won the 2007 First Amendment Award, will be brought in to teach a seminar about the state Sunshine Law across the Journalism curriculum for all students. The department will also sponsor a forum with public record holders and local journalist to discuss access issues and guidelines. The grant will also assist in sponsoring real time reporting “field trips” and FOIA audits around Orlando and Orange County, partnering with local media and providing students guidance and transportation. This will greatly enhance students’ skills sets and ability to compete for internships and jobs—as well as to become responsible citizens.
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