Penn State Funds Projects To Enhance Online Learning

Pennsylvania State University's Center for Online Innovation in Learning (COIL) will fund seven new projects designed to enhance teaching and learning through online innovation.

Each year since 2012, COIL's Research Initiation Grant program has provided seed money for projects initiated by Penn State faculty, staff and students that could lead to external funding for larger studies. This year's seven projects, most of which will receive about $25,000 in funding support, examine everything from incorporating electron microscopy techniques into hybrid and online courses to geospatial visual analytics.

"These projects emerged from a peer-review process, edging out other worthy proposals," said COIL Co-Director and Professor Kyle Peck. "It's exciting to see the momentum developing and Penn State increasing its contributions in this area."

In previous years, COIL grants have, for example, helped engineering students develop an immersive virtual reality system to provide distance education students with a tactile classroom experience. Also, researchers have taken advantage of a COIL grant to pilot a computer game they designed to help adolescents on the autism spectrum improve their ability to understand body language.

In awarding the Research Initiation Grants, COIL typically gives priority to projects that enhance learning through online innovation, potentially stimulate additional external funding, and create collaboration among different units of the university and with other institutions.

About the Author

Michael Hart is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and the former executive editor of THE Journal.

Featured

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.

  • floating digital interface with glowing icons, surrounded by faint geometric shapes

    Digital Education Council Defines 5 Dimensions of AI Literacy

    A recent report from the Digital Education Council, a global community devoted to "revolutionizing the world of education and work through technology and collaboration," provides an AI literacy framework to help higher education institutions equip their constituents with foundational AI competencies.

  • computer screen displaying a landline phone being unplugged from a single cord, with a modern office desk, keyboard, and subtle lighting in the background

    Microsoft to Discontinue Skype Services

    Microsoft has announced that it is shutting down service for its Skype telecommunications and video calling services on May 5, 2025.

  • glowing brain, connected circuits, and abstract representations of a book and graduation cap on a light gray gradient background

    Snowflake Launches Program to Upskill 100,000 People in Data and AI

    Cloud data platform Snowflake is embarking on an effort to train and certify more than 100,000 users on its AI Data Cloud by 2027. The One Million Minds + One Platform program will provide Snowflake-delivered courses, training materials, and free access to Snowflake software, at no cost to learners.