Innovation Incubator Call to Participate

How might we radically transform the undergraduate experience by engaging Arts & Sciences students in active learning with technology?

Do you want to participate in a collaborative process to tackle the above question? Here’s how!

The ASSETT Innovation Incubator engages collaborative teams of faculty, students, and staff in cycles of design thinking to develop innovative ideas for teaching and learning with technology. Anyone who teaches, learns, or works in the College of Arts & Sciences at CU Boulder can participate in the . A total of $200,000 is available to award to up to four interdisciplinary teams over the three-year funding period.

The ASSETT Innovation Incubator supports the design process for new projects in the early stages of growth, providing key resources to participating teams. Join us as we center design in self-reflection and empathy.**

Graphic with the cycles of ideate, iterate, and activate on the outside in a circle with reflection and empathy in the center
  • Self-reflection: Practice self-awareness by investigating how identity, values, emotions, biases, assumptions, and situatedness might impact the design process.
  • Empathy: Understand the experience, emotions, and motivations of those being designed for or, better yet, designed with.
  • Ideation: Generate as many inclusive solutions to the challenge as possible in a safe, collaborative, and multifaceted design environment.
  • Iteration: Develop artifacts or experiences that test concepts and elicit meaningful feedback from users.
  • Activation: Continuously improve the project through deep engagement in the design cycle while integrating inputs from users and the community.

The Timeline

The idea submission timeline charts an open and collaborative submission process. As a participant, or team of participants, in the ASSETT Innovation Incubator community, you are invited to share your idea on a visible platform. Here other community members may read and add generative comments to your idea draft before you make your final submission. This is an exciting opportunity to engage in a process that breaks us out of the traditional research grant model, allows us to garner input from peers and gain new perspectives you may not typically encounter in your teaching and learning practice. 

January 31

New Innovation Incubator cycle is announced

On this date, the Arts & Sciences community is welcome to start exploring the idea submission web pages and our submission platform. Prior to a February, in-person mixer, community members have two weeks to generate their initial ideas, to begin to assemble a working team of at least 3 members, and to surface questions that they may have about the submission process and the three-year Innovation Incubator. Draft idea submissions can be entered starting on January 31, 2023 with final submissions due on April 11, 2023.

Community Mixer

At the community mixer luncheon, curious and prospective participants will get the opportunity to meet the ASSETT staff who support the Innovation Incubator, to ask questions about the idea submission process and the incubator, to mix and mingle with others while sharing their ideas, and, maybe even meet a potential new team member!

Lunch will be provided at the mixer. So, registration is required.

Develop and Submit an Idea

Between January 31- March 9, 2023, individuals and teams can develop their innovative idea and are encouraged to submit an approximately 1,000 word idea draft on the Innovation Incubator submission platform by March 9th in order to benefit from a two-week generative comment period by the incubator community. Additionally, we will continue to accept new idea submissions through the final due date on April 11th.

Idea Comment Period

During this two-week time period, early idea submission drafts will benefit from input from the community. Any registered member of the community may add generative comments to any idea draft submitted on the platform. At this time, community members may also indicate their interest in joining a team. Additionally, we will continue to accept new idea drafts through the final due date on April 11th. 

Final Idea Iteration + Add to Team

During this two and a half week time period, idea submission drafts may be edited and finalized based on any new discoveries or generative comments surfaced during the idea comment period. At this time, new team members may also be added before the idea submission period closes at midnight on April 11, 2023.

Idea Review

During this two-week time period, a committee composed of students, staff, and faculty from the College of Arts & Sciences will review and evaluate all ideas submitted on the Innovation Incubator idea submission platform.

Funding Awards Announced

On this date, all individuals and teams that submitted an idea on the Innovation Incubator idea submission platform will be notified as to whether or not their idea will be funded and supported during the 2023-26 ASSETT Innovation Incubator cycle. The cycle officially kicks-off in fall 2023. 

Mentors

Meet the past ASSETT Innovation Incubator participants who will serve as mentors during the 2023-26 cycle! These superstars are here to provide you with insights on how to make the most of your experience in this “experience”.

Alexis Block

ASSETT

Teaching, Learning, and Technology Initiatives Coordinator (GA)

David Glimp

English

Associate Professor

Nicole Jobin

Stories and Societies RAP

Teaching Associate Professor

Jacie Moriyama

ASSETT

Student Services Portfolio Manager

Our Campus Partners

We are proud and grateful to partner with units across our campus that lend their resources, expertise, and people to make the ASSETT Innovation Incubator a robust and successful program! 

Center for Teaching & Learning
Research & Innovation Office
A&S People, Engagement, and Culture

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