CCAT Calls for Proposals for Certificate Program

Proposals should come from qualified instructors within the CCAT consortium and are due May 15th, 2024

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The Center for Connected and Automated Transportation (CCAT) is seeking proposals from qualified instructors within the CCAT consortium (University of Akron, Central State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, Purdue University, Washtenaw Community College, and University of Wisconsin-Madison) to develop modules for our Certificate Program on Connected and Automated Transportation (CAT). CCAT aims to offer a comprehensive program covering various aspects of this rapidly evolving field, with a focus on safety, mobility, security, and equity. The certificate program will be offered free of charge to students enrolled in the member institutions of the CCAT consortium.

Overview:

Module Development: The certificate program will consist of 6-8 modules covering diverse topics related to CAT. Instructors are invited to submit proposals for developing individual modules within the program. The content should be oriented toward advanced (senior undergrad and graduate-level) concepts and cater to students with an engineering background. Example modules include Traffic Flow with Connected Automated Vehicles, Machine Learning/AI in Transportation, Automated Vehicles, Connected Vehicles, etc.

Mode of Delivery: Modules will be delivered through pre-recorded lectures over Zoom, with approximately 20 hours of content per module. Short stand-alone recordings (15-25 min) are preferred where feasible. (For example, one could develop two 25 min videos, or three 15 min videos for one hour of instruction.)

Student Learning Assessment: Instructors have the flexibility to customize assessments to align with the content of their modules. Possible assessment methods include:

• Multiple Choice Questions: Easily graded automatically to gauge understanding.
• Self-Assessment: Instructors can assign homework assignments similar to traditional classrooms, offering solutions through documents or video recordings for students to evaluate their own progress.
• Projects: Instructors may suggest one or multiple projects for students to choose from, with grading occurring quarterly.

Instructors are invited to adopt one or more of the above assessment criteria, yet have the option to introduce supplementary methods that effectively complement their modules. It is important to note that at least one assessment criterion should be suitable for grading purposes.

Office Hours: Instructors will be required to conduct virtual office hours (2 hours each) once every quarter to support student learning. A student can attend office hours for up to a year after starting a module, allowing for flexibility in learning.

Compensation: Selected instructors will receive $15,000 for module development and $800 for each 2-hr office hour session conducted. Additionally, modules will be updated every 3 years with compensation provided to the instructor.

Intellectual Property: Ownership of the module material will remain with the faculty member who develops it, while CCAT will have the right to utilize the material.

Module Development Timeline: All components of the module, encompassing videos, assessments, and supplementary materials when applicable, must be fully developed and finalized by September 30th, 2024.

CCAT Support: CCAT staff will support instructors in the following ways:

• CCAT will offer training sessions to support instructors in producing high-quality video recordings.
• Course logistics will be managed by CCAT, ensuring smooth operation throughout.
• CCAT will oversee the scheduling and setup of office hours for instructors.
• Each instructor will receive a comprehensive package from CCAT, including a Zoom background, a shirt, a camera, a microphone, and a tablet to enhance their teaching experience.

Proposal Guidelines:

Interested instructors are invited to submit proposals for one or more modules.

Proposals should include:

• Instructor name, affiliation, and institution
• Module title and a brief description (approximately 250 words)
• Detailed outline of module content, including learning objectives and key topics to be covered
• Instructor qualifications and relevant experiences in the field of connected and automated transportation

Proposals should not exceed 3 pages in length and should be submitted in PDF format.

Submission Instructions:

• Proposals must be submitted via email to Debby Bezzina by May 15th.
• Please include “CAT Module Proposal – [Module Title]” in the subject line of the email.
• Instructors may submit proposals for multiple modules, but each proposal should be submitted separately.

Selection Process:

• Proposals will be evaluated based on their alignment with program objectives, clarity of content and assessment criteria, and instructor qualifications
• CCAT reserves the right to select proposals based on the needs of the program and the availability of resources.
• Selected instructors will be notified by June 1st and provided with further instructions for module development.

Contact Information:

For inquiries or further information, please contact Prof. Neda Masoud.