Dive Brief:
- The University of South Florida has piloted peer review software for students and faculty since 2009 with the faculty-created system My Reviewers.
- The cloud-based technology allows students to review writing, make comments and score entries on rubric, while faculty can monitor and assess the quality of work and assessment in real-time.
- USF invested $250,000 in startup capital for the project, which has also been piloted at the University of Pennsylvania with funding from a federal grant.
Dive Insight:
Faculty innovation can come in many forms outside of research, publishing and scientific experiments, and classroom technology is one of the growing ways in which professors are gaining recognition and funding for their creativity. College executives should consider the opportunities which lie in promoting faculty startups with funding and time for research and development support.
Many universities hold hackathons for student maker initiatives, but rarely are faculty and staff engaged to join the innovation process. As more learning and professional development moves into digital space, schools which encourage tech creation for classrooms will benefit in media opportunities, patenting and financial gain.