Using Automated Short Courses to Bolster Professional Development in Pursuing Grant Funding

Abstract

A common strategy in higher education post-pandemic is to “braid” funding sources to keep the institutions of higher education (IHE) afloat. One of the additional funding sources is acquired through grant writing. Any additional program at an IHE affects all parts of the organization, and administrators, faculty, and staff are encouraged to be aware of grant funding and to pursue such funding as opportunities arise. At one community college, a monthly newsletter shares knowledge about pursuing grants; an online course on a learning management system (LMS) shares knowledge about grant writing; and then some automated short courses have been designed to enable opt-in self-learning through a professional development LMS. This short work describes the instructional design strategies behind these short courses to be complementary to new face-to-face training that will be offered beginning in the next term.