A simulated dog teaches veterinary students whether their proposed treatments are effective or not. German studies students study German media online and negotiate their learning objective with their instructor.

These are the results of Faculty Innovation in Teaching (FIT) projects. FIT projects, support by the provost, have allowed almost 100 faculty members since 2002 to develop innovative instructional technology projects that have the potential to improve the educational process by leveraging the impact of contemporary information technologies in their teaching.

This year, FIT proposals are due by April 2.

For example, Richard E. Rawson, senior lecturer in the College of Veterinary Medicine, used his FIT award to develop a simulated dog with Cornell Information Technologies for his course, Management of Fluid and Electrolyte Disorders. By "breaking" his model, such as creating a dehydrated dog, Rawson simulates a specific problem, so that students can evaluate and treat the simulated dog as if it were a real animal.

Ute Maschke, senior lecturer in German studies, used her FIT project last year to create an online, network-based environment where her students could study and evaluate such German mainstream media materials as magazines, podcasts, newspapers and television broadcast logs.

"My students were engaged, sharing all of their materials with one another," Maschke said.

Details and application materials to apply for a FIT award are available at http://www.innovation.cornell.edu or from innovprojects@cornell.edu.