Fundable Widgets

Life-long, Informal STEM Learning



Web Development Employment Track



Competency-based Assessment & Badging




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Funding Opportunities




Proposal / Funding Pipeline for School of Webcraft

For each:


High Potential


==== NSF - Informal Science Education ====

Proposal Deadline (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time): January 11, 2012

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11546/nsf11546.htm

(and it looks like there are related calls that would work equally well for hackasaurus.)

"The Informal Science Education (ISE) program supports innovation in anywhere, anytime, lifelong learning, through investments in research, development, infrastructure and capacity-building for STEM learning outside formal school settings."

Most promising grant type for us:

"The ISE program invests in the design and development of models, resources, and programs for STEM learning throughout the lifespan. Proposals can use a broad range of communication formats and experiences, such as mobile and broadcast media, virtual learning environments, exhibitions, TV, radio, films, citizen science, and after-school and/or out-of-school programs.  Proposals that help learners identify, navigate, and integrate among multiple resources are particularly encouraged. Investigators should make a case for the innovative contributions of such deliverables. Examples include building innovative technology platforms with multiple uses, creating virtual organizations, building cross-sector partnerships, or developing connections among the wealth of existing informal science education resources in the physical and online worlds.  Such approaches should advance the field toward a more seamless informal learning infrastructure in which participants can learn anywhere and anytime, and are deliberately supported to deepen their STEM expertise over their lifetimes."

Most promising grant categories for us:

"3. Pathways projects relate to the "design, develop, and test" component of the DRL cycle of innovation. They include planning activities, pilot studies, and feasibility studies, or, in general, innovative work that is on a path toward a major ISE project (Research, Full-Scale Development, or Broad Implementation) but needs to address critical issues or decisions before major projects can be formulated. Pathways proposals should be more focused than general planning work normally required for submission of a major proposal, and should result in lessons learned that can inform the informal science education field as well as the project team. Not all of the Pathways projects will necessarily result in a subsequent proposal.

Pathways projects can be funded for up to $250,000 total and up to two years in duration.

4. Full-Scale Development projects relate to the "implement, study efficacy, and improve" component of the DRL cycle of innovation. These projects generate an innovative idea or approach to informal science education, develop and fully implement the concept, and evaluate its effectiveness. Such initiatives can be directed at improving STEM learning by the public, increasing capacity of the professional audience, contributing to the informal science education infrastructure, or embracing several of these goals. While many Full-Scale Development projects create complete STEM learning resources, programs, or experiences, they need to be guided by an explicit conceptual framework and should generate significant knowledge about impact and efficacy.

Full-Scale Development proposals typically will be funded in the $1 million to $3 million total range and may be up to five years in duration; projects requiring less than $1 million total can also be supported."


==== Wave III - NGLC ====

Proposal Deadline/ Three possible submission dates:


http://nextgenlearning.org/the-grants/wave-iii-challenges

<snip>

Wave IIIb: Breakthrough Models for College Completion

Our priority: Innovative delivery models that generate high student
outcomes at affordable cost

Our vision for Wave IIIb is to spotlight innovative delivery models
that generate high student outcomes at an affordable cost. Grants will
stimulate the development of new, next generation online and blended
programs that lead to associates or bachelor’s degrees.

<snap>

Notes:

Could see this working, if we partnered up with an existing accredited institutions that would handle the degree granting part.




==== Wave II - DoL OER Grant ====

Proposal Deadline: Spring 2012

Partners:

Finding the right Community College

SoW is such an obvious project for this, and it feels like we didn't get it simply because we weren't in control of the proposal process. i suspect you feel exactly the same way. things i'd like to do differently:

Wave I winners -> http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20111409fs.htm

(1) ask for less money (2-5M). i reviewed the winners and there were only two applications that received more than 20M USD, and both stayed under 25M. most winners are just under 20, but there are many successful applications in the 2-5 M range.

(2) focus on web development. most of the applications focus on one content area (e.g. health workers) or one challenge (e.g. college readiness). we know there is demand for web developers. we have a good model that can scale. bingo. 

(3) work with one (or few) partners. i've started asking around for potential community college partners for web development. i'd prefer to find a college that gets what we want to do, and wants to build it together with us - and then work with them in a small team. 

(4) The college also has to be in a neighbourhood - physical neighbourhood - where we can point to (i) unemployed people and (ii) open, available web jobs.




Hackasaurus?

http://www.wtgrantfoundation.org/funding_opportunities/current_research_interests


Need More Info

http://www.stupski.org/about_the_foundation.htm