National STEM Education Distributed Learning Grant
Grant: National STEM Education Distributed Learning (NSDL) Grant
Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Division: Undergraduate Education
Deadline: May 26, 2010
Description: This program aims to establish a national network of learning environments and resources for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at all levels. The program has four tracks:
- Pathways projects are expected to provide stewardship for the content and services needed by major communities of learners.
- Services projects are expected to develop services that support users and resource collection providers that enhance the impact, efficiency, and value of the NSDL network.
- Targeted Research projects are expected to explore specific topics that have immediate applicability to collections, services, and other aspects of the development of the NSDL network.
- The NSDL Resource Center will provide collaboration assistance across all projects; undertake strategic partnership development on behalf of projects particularly with respect to non-academic entities; coordinate and, in some cases, perform thematic research and evaluation studies related to the program; synthesize findings across the portfolio; and disseminate findings of the accomplishments of the NSDL program.
In all tracks, except for the NSDL Resource Center, the program will also accept proposals for small grants that extend or enhance results from existing services, collections, or targeted research activity so as to enlarge the user audience for the NSDL network or improve capabilities for the user.
The NSF is seeking to enable the collection, organization, discovery and delivery of quality learning and teach resources appropriate for educators and learners of all levels. The resulting network of learning environments and resources should provide reusable, shareable, and interoperable resources that enable learners at all levels to access and use materials suited to their needs. Such materials should also include assessment and evaluation tools and findings and should harness new understandings about pedagogy and the processes of learning.
Fit for Public Broadcasting: NSF is building a library of teacher training content in particular disciplines. Many stations are already engaged in building such libraries of educational content. Read below to learn how stations have partnered their own projects with this NSF initiative.
Recent PTV Grantees:
- In 2009, Maryland Public Television received just over $1.6 million for MathPath, a three year project in partnership with the Math Forum at Drexel University and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). The project is "establishing an elementary math pathway as part of the National STEM Education Distributed Learning program (NSDL). The primary target audience for MathPath is elementary classroom teachers and specialists, including coaches and supervisors. Additional audiences include higher educators involved in teacher preparation and parents. The overarching goal of MathPath is: 1) to make high-quality digital mathematics content available to the target audience; and 2) to contextualize the resources so that educators can easily incorporate them into effective math instruction. To accomplish these goals, MPT is: 1) forming and strengthening collaborative relationships; 2) identifying content for inclusion in MathPath; 3) specifying requirements for the MathPath website; 4) developing, testing and refining the MathPath website; 5) developing MathPath professional development resources; 6) launching, promoting, and supporting the MathPath website; and 7) evaluating the implementation and outcomes of the MathPath project."
- In 2009, WGBH received over $700,000 to enhance their Teacher's Domain project.
View more program abstracts using the NSF's Award Search database.
Eligibility: While there are no strict eligibility guidelines, as with many NSF programs, the lead applicant is most often an institution of higher education or research laboratory.
How to apply: In response to this program solicitation, proposers may opt to submit proposals via Grants.gov or via the NSF FastLane system. All collaborative proposals submitted as separate submissions from multiple organizations must be submitted via the NSF FastLane system.
Anticipated funding: An estimated $10,750,000 will be set aside for approximately 24 to 37 grants.
Resources:
Program notice
Program website
NSDL.org is the nation's online library for education and research in science, technology, engineering, mathematics.
Grant Center NSDL webinar with special guest Dr. Lee Zia, Lead Program Director, National Science Foundation
