ATLAS FAQ

Background:​ ​Apereo,​ ​ATLAS,​ ​TWSIA

• ●  What​ ​is​ ​the​ ​Apereo​ ​Foundation​ ​and​ ​what​ ​is​ ​ATLAS?
  Apereo​ ​is​ ​a​ ​global​ ​network​ ​of​ ​educational​ ​institutions​ ​working​ ​together​ ​to​ ​address common​ ​issues​ ​and​ ​solve​ ​common​ ​problems​ ​-​ ​with​ ​many​ ​opportunities​ ​to​ ​participate. We​ ​seek​ ​to​ ​actively​ ​develop​ ​partnerships​ ​to​ ​further​ ​our​ ​mission​ ​of​ ​creating​ ​and sustaining​ ​software​ ​supporting​ ​learning,​ ​teaching​ ​and​ ​research.​ ​Also​ ​we​ ​support software​ ​used​ ​in​ ​thousands​ ​of​ ​educational​ ​institutions​ ​worldwide. https://www.apereo.org/content/about
   

• Apereo​ ​Teaching​ ​and​ ​Learning​ ​Awards​ ​(ATLAS)​​ ​has​ ​been​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Sakai/Apereo community​ ​since​ ​2008.​ ​We​ ​welcome​ ​submissions​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Apereo​ ​open​ ​source education​ ​community​ ​that​ ​demonstrate​ ​innovative​ ​teaching​ ​and​ ​learning​ ​using​ ​not​ ​only Sakai,​ ​OAE​ ​and​ ​Karuta,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​Xerte​ ​and​ ​Opencast. https://www.apereo.org/communities/atlas
   

• ●  Who​ ​funds​ ​the​ ​award?

• Sponsors​ ​and​ ​commercial​ ​affiliates​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Apereo​ ​community.
   

• ●  What​ ​kinds​ ​of​ ​Apereo​ ​technologies​ ​are​ ​considered​ ​for​ ​teaching​ ​and​ ​learning innovations?

• Sakai​ ​Project,​ ​Karuta,​ ​Xerte,​ ​OAE,​ ​Opencast,​ ​and​ ​more.
   

• ●  If​ ​I​ ​use​ ​technology ​that​ ​is​ ​not​ ​from​ ​Apereo​ ​with​ ​Sakai​ ​(such as Google Hangouts or website building software) can​ ​I​ ​still apply for the award?​​

• As​ ​long​ ​as​ ​Apereo​ ​software​ ​is​ ​the​ ​major​ ​platform​ ​for​ ​or​ ​delivery​ ​component​ ​of​ ​your project,​ ​you​ ​are​ ​welcome​ ​to​ ​apply.

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Goals

• ●  What​ ​are​ ​the​ ​major​ ​goals​ ​of​ ​the​ ​award?

  • Promote​ ​excellent​ ​pedagogy​ ​and​ ​innovation​ ​in​ ​teaching​ ​and​ ​learning
  • Create​ ​a​ ​community​ ​of​ ​educators​ ​who​ ​want​ ​to​ ​share​ ​teaching​ ​and​ ​learning practices
  • Encourage​ ​greater​ ​faculty​ ​involvement​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Apereo​ ​community
     

• ●  What​ ​does​ ​“innovative​ ​practice”​ ​mean?​ ​How​ ​do​ ​I​ ​know​ ​my​ ​submission​ ​qualifies for​ ​consideration?

• An​ ​innovative​ ​course​ ​or​ ​educational​ ​experience​ ​is​ ​one​ ​that,​ ​by​ ​design,​ ​engages​ ​and challenges​ ​students,​ ​resulting​ ​in​ ​greater​ ​student​ ​interest,​ ​a​ ​deeper​ ​level​ ​of understanding​ ​and/or​ ​a​ ​lasting​ ​change​ ​in​ ​the​ ​students'​ ​perception​ ​of​ ​an​ ​issue​ ​or​ ​topic. The​ ​innovative​ ​method,​ ​practice​ ​or​ ​strategy​ ​used​ ​may​ ​not​ ​be​ ​new​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world,​ ​but​ ​its implementation​ ​may​ ​be​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​ordinary​ ​in​ ​your​ ​field​ ​of​ ​practice​ ​or​ ​new​ ​to​ ​you.​ ​It​ ​is more​ ​than​ ​simply​ ​using​ ​new​ ​technologies;​ ​rather​ ​it​ ​is​ ​an​ ​approach​ ​to​ ​teaching​ ​and learning​ ​that​ ​results​ ​in​ ​a​ ​much-enhanced,​ ​even​ ​transformative,​ ​educational​ ​experience for​ ​students.
  
   

Benefits

• ●  What​ ​are​ ​the​ ​benefits​ ​of​ ​winning​ ​an​ ​ATLAS​ ​award?

• Winning​ ​projects​ ​or​ ​courses​ ​will​ ​receive​ ​international​ ​recognition​ ​in​ ​an​ ​award​ ​ceremony at​ ​the​ ​annual​ ​Open​ ​Apereo​ ​Conference.​ ​Winners​ ​will​ ​receive​ ​a​ ​signed​ ​certificate​ ​by Apereo​ ​Foundation​ ​along​ ​with​ ​funding​ ​to​ ​participate​ ​and​ ​present​ ​at​ ​the​ ​conference.
   

• ●  What​ ​expenses​ ​are​ ​covered​ ​for​ ​conference​ ​participation​ ​by​ ​the​ ​winners?

• Registration​ ​and​ ​travel​ ​expenses.
   

Process

• ●  Who​ ​can​ ​apply?

• Anyone​ ​who​ ​uses​ ​Apereo​ ​software​ ​can​ ​apply.​ ​This​ ​includes​ ​faculty,​ ​instructional designers,​ ​commercial​ ​partners,​ ​administrators,​ ​and​ ​students.
   

• ●  What​ ​types​ ​of​ ​teaching​ ​and​ ​learning​ ​contexts​ ​will​ ​be​ ​considered?

• We​ ​welcome​ ​submissions​ ​from​ ​all​ ​educational​ ​environments​ ​at​ ​any​ ​educational​ ​level. This​ ​includes​ ​face-to-face,​ ​hybrid,​ ​and​ ​fully​ ​online​ ​courses,​ ​training​ ​seminars,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as ePortfolio​ ​projects.
   

• ●  Can​ ​a​ ​team​ ​of​ ​people​ ​working​ ​on​ ​the​ ​same​ ​project​ ​co-submit​ ​an​ ​application​ ​for the​ ​award?​​ ​If​ ​the​ ​team​ ​wins,​ ​how​ ​many​ ​team​ ​members​ ​could​ ​receive​ ​travel​ ​funding?

• Teams​ ​of​ ​collaborators​ ​on​ ​a​ ​project​ ​or​ ​a​ ​course​ ​are​ ​encouraged​ ​to​ ​apply​ ​together. Award​ ​winners​ ​may​ ​send​ ​one​ ​or​ ​two​ ​team​ ​members​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Open​ ​Apereo​ ​conference using​ ​funding​ ​from​ ​the​ ​award​ ​sponsor.
   

• ●  How​ ​long​ ​does​ ​it​ ​take​ ​to​ ​fill​ ​out​ ​the​ ​application​ ​for​ ​the​ ​award?

• The​ ​application​ ​process​ ​may​ ​take​ ​between​ ​5​ ​and​ ​20​ ​hours​ ​of​ ​your​ ​time,​ ​especially​ ​if​ ​you are​ ​collaborating​ ​with​ ​others.​ ​Make​ ​sure​ ​you​ ​allot​ ​enough​ ​time​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​the application​ ​before​ ​the​ ​deadline.
   

• ●  Is​ ​there​ ​a​ ​deadline​ ​for​ ​applying?

• Yes,​ ​the​ ​deadline​ ​is​ ​posted​ ​each​ ​year​ ​at​ ​​https://www.apereo.org/communities/atlas (usually around early March each year)
   

• ●  Can​ ​I​ ​apply​ ​for​ ​the​ ​award​ ​if​ ​I​ ​am​ ​a​ ​previous​ ​winner?

• No,​ ​unfortunately​ ​not.​ ​You​ ​cannot​ ​win​ ​two​ ​consecutive​ ​years.

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• ●  Will​ ​I​ ​receive​ ​peer​ ​feedback​ ​from​ ​the​ ​evaluation​ ​of​ ​my​ ​submission​ ​and​ ​what​ ​will​ ​it tell​ ​me?

• Feedback​ ​on​ ​your​ ​application​ ​will​ ​be​ ​provided​ ​upon​ ​request​ ​after​ ​the​ ​peer​ ​review process​ ​ends.​ ​It​ ​will​ ​take​ ​the​ ​form​ ​of​ ​consolidated​ ​comments​ ​from​ ​the​ ​peer​ ​review​ ​panel and​ ​will​ ​cover​ ​the​ ​merits,​ ​weakness,​ ​and​ ​recommendations​ ​for​ ​improvement​ ​for​ ​your application.
   

• ●  Whom​ ​do​ ​I​ ​contact​ ​with​ ​questions​ ​on​ ​filling​ ​out​ ​my​ ​application?

• The​ ​ATLAS​ ​Committee​ ​Chair​ ​contact​ ​information​ ​is​ ​posted​ ​at https://www.apereo.org/communities/atlas/atlas-leadership
   

• ●  How​ ​can​ ​I​ ​apply?

• Application instructions are posted to​ ​​https://www.apereo.org/communities/atlas in mid-January each year.
   

• ●  Can​ ​I​ ​apply​ ​using​ ​a​ ​language​ ​other​ ​than​ ​English?​ ​Do​ ​my​ ​screenshots​ ​have​ ​to​ ​be in​ ​English?

• At​ ​present​ ​the​ ​ATLAS​ ​committee​ ​does​ ​not​ ​have​ ​enough​ ​members​ ​who​ ​are​ ​fluent​ ​in languages​ ​other​ ​than​ ​English,​ ​so​ ​for​ ​now​ ​all​ ​applications​ ​must​ ​be​ ​in​ ​English.​ ​In​ ​the future,​ ​if​ ​more​ ​committee​ ​members​ ​are​ ​prepared​ ​to​ ​peer​ ​review​ ​applications​ ​in​ ​other languages,​ ​this​ ​requirement​ ​may​ ​change.

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• ●  Can​ ​I​ ​provide​ ​a​ ​video​ ​showing​ ​my​ ​course​ ​in​ ​action​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​still​ ​screenshots?

• Yes.​ ​You​ ​can​ ​provide​ ​a​ ​video​ ​showing​ ​your​ ​course​ ​or​ ​project.​ ​Please​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​it’s accessible​ ​by​ ​the​ ​peer​ ​reviewers.  Requirements for all applicant videos are outlined in the application.
   

• ●  Are​ ​there​ ​examples​ ​from​ ​past​ ​winners​ ​I​ ​can​ ​access?

• See​ ​applications​ ​from​ ​past​ ​winners​ ​at​ ​​https://www.apereo.org/communities/atlas
   

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Rubrics

• ●  What​ ​is​ ​the​ ​role​ ​of​ ​the​ ​rubrics​ ​in​ ​the​ ​application​ ​process?

• There​ ​are​ ​two​ ​ATLAS​ ​rubrics​ ​to​ ​choose​ ​from,​ ​one​ ​for​ ​courses​ ​and​ ​projects​ ​and​ ​one​ ​for portfolios.​ ​Choose​ ​the​ ​rubric​ ​that​ ​best​ ​fits​ ​your​ ​application.​ ​The​ ​rubrics​ ​have​ ​criteria​ ​to guide​ ​your​ ​description​ ​and​ ​self-evaluation​ ​process.​ ​Your​ ​chosen​ ​rubric​ ​will​ ​also​ ​be​ ​used by​ ​peer​ ​reviewers​ ​to​ ​evaluate​ ​your​ ​submission.
   

• ●  Where​ ​do​ ​I​ ​find​ ​the​ ​rubrics? The​​ applications​​ and ​​rubrics​​ are​​​ available​​ year​​ round​,​​but​​ may​​ change​​ slightly​​ from ​​year to​​ year.​​

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• Course/Project​​ rubrics:​​​ http://bit.ly/ATLASCourseProjectAppRubric

• Portfolio​​ rubrics: http://bit.ly/ATLASPortfolioAppRubric

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• ●  Why​ ​are​ ​there​ ​different​ ​rubrics​ ​for​ ​courses/projects​ ​and​ ​for​ ​portfolios?

• Course/project​ ​and​ ​portfolios​ ​are​ ​different​ ​in​ ​terms​ ​of​ ​design,​ ​implementation,​ ​and assessment​ ​and​ ​so​ ​require​ ​two​ ​different​ ​rubrics.​ ​The​ ​peer​ ​review​ ​panel​ ​will​ ​use​ ​the appropriate​ ​rubric​ ​to​ ​review​ ​each​ ​submission​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​better​ ​understand​ ​its​ ​merits​ ​and weaknesses.​ ​The​ ​Application​ ​Filter​ ​Questionnaire​ ​may​ ​help​ ​you​ ​decide​ ​which​ ​rubric​ ​you will​ ​chose​ ​for​ ​your​ ​submission:​ ​​http://bit.ly/ATLASQuestionnaire
   

• ●  How​ ​do​ ​I​ ​use​ ​the​ ​rubrics​ ​in​ ​my​ ​application​ ​for​ ​the​ ​award?

• Based​ ​on​ ​your​ ​project,​ ​you​ ​will​ ​apply​ ​the​ ​appropriate​ ​rubric​ ​type​ ​for​ ​either​ ​a course/project​ ​or​ ​a​ ​portfolio.​ ​This​ ​entails​ ​going​ ​through​ ​each​ ​criterion​ ​and​ ​ranking​ ​your submission​ ​on​ ​all​ ​rubric​ ​criteria.​ ​You’ll​ ​give​ ​both​ ​a​ ​quantitative​ ​score​ ​and​ ​a​ ​qualitative answer​ ​for​ ​each​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​rubric​ ​along​ ​with​ ​examples​ ​from​ ​your​ ​project​ ​that demonstrate​ ​your​ ​self-assessed​ ​scoring.
   

ATLAS​ ​Committee

• ●  Is​ ​there​ ​a​ ​networking​ ​opportunity​ ​with​ ​the​ ​ATLAS​ ​committee?

• Yes,​ ​we​ ​meet​ ​via​ ​web​ ​conferencing​ ​almost​ ​every​ ​week​ ​and​ ​meet​ ​in​ ​person​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Open Apereo​ ​Conference​ ​each​ ​year.
   

• ●  Can​ ​I​ ​join​ ​the​ ​committee?

• Yes.​ ​Everyone​ ​interested​ ​in​ ​ATLAS​ ​is​ ​welcome​ ​to​ ​join.​ ​We​ ​invite​ ​volunteers​ ​to​ ​join​ ​our committee​ ​at​ ​any​ ​time.​ ​Contact​ ​the​ ​committee​ ​chair​ ​(using​ ​the​ ​information​ ​on​ ​the​ ​ATLAS leadership​ ​page)​ ​for​ ​meeting​ ​details.
   

• ●  Who​ ​are​ ​the​ ​members​ ​of​ ​the​ ​current​ ​committee?

• See​ ​ATLAS​ ​leadership​ ​page​ ​at​ ​​​​https://www.apereo.org/communities/atlas
   

● What​ ​does​ ​the​ ​committee​ ​do?
You​ ​may​ ​contribute​ ​in​ ​different​ ​capacities​ ​based​ ​on​ ​your​ ​availability.

• Participate​​ ​in​ ​meetings​ ​and​ ​planning
• Peer​ ​review​​ ​of​ ​submissions
• Marketing​​ ​within​ ​local​ ​and​ ​global​ ​networks