NSF Funding Opportunities

Dave Brown and Celeste CarterDivision of Undergraduate Education (DUE)

National Science Foundationdrbrown@nsf.govvccarter@nsf.gov

July 22, 2013

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

DIVISION OF UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION (DUE)

Take Homes (your homework))

Become familiar with the NSF website (nsf.gov)

Read the program solicitation and the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG)

Register early on FastLane and practice; connect with your faculty

Contact a Program Officer with questions

Solicit colleague’s opinion on your proposal

Explore the Various STEM Education Resources

Ask Questions at any time today!

CoSTEM Report 2013

DUE FY 2014 Budget Request

DRL FY 2014 Budget Request

Fiscal Year 2012 Funding Fiscal Year 2012 Funding RatesRates

Where to Look for Programs Education and Human Resources (EHR)

Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)

Division Specific Programs

Cross Discipline Programs

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

SBIR/STTR Phase IICC

EHR Core Research (ECR)

Programs in Other EHR Divisions:

Human Resource Development (HRD)

Division on Research and Learning (DRL)

www.nsf.govNSF Home Page

Navigating to the EHR Directorate

The EHR Home Page

More P

rograms

The DUE Home Page

The DUE Home Page (cont.)

DUE Programs

ATE Program Focus: education of science and engineering

technicians for high-technology fields that drive the nation’s economy.

Grades 7-12, 2yr- and 4-yr Community and technical colleges Proposals due Oct. 17, 2013

ATE Program Tracks

Projects (up to $900,000 for 3 yrs) Program Development, Implementation and Improvement Professional Development for Educators Curriculum and Educational Materials Development Teacher Preparation Small Grants for Institutions New to the ATE Program

($200K, 3 yrs) Business and Entrepreneurial skills for students in

technician education programs Centers National, Regional, Resource ($1.6-5M, 4 yrs)

Targeted Research on Technician Education ($1.2M, 4yrs)

ATE Resources ATE Centers: http://www.atecenters.org Evalua|t|e Center: http://www.evalu-

ate.org ATE Central: http://atecentral.net/ SCATE Center:

www.teachingtechnicians.org Mentor Connect project

ATE PI Guide: http://govpiguide.org/ “Educating Biotechnicians”:

http://www.aacc.nche.edu/Resources/aaccprograms/ate/Documents/biotech_report.pdf

“Preparing Energy Technicians for the 21st Century Workforce”:

http://www.ateec.org/store/catalog/Energy-General---Preparing-Energy-Technicians-for-the-21st-Century-Workforce-400.html

1003564 Project W.A.T.E.R.S.: Ways to Amplify Teaching and Education in Regard to Science

PI: Tracy HolbrookCape Fear Community College

WATER QUALITYWorking in conjunction with the Chemical Technology Program, the project is enhancing student learning by reinforcing difficult theoretical concepts in the laboratory environment through the use of state-of-the-art equipment commonly found in an industrial job environment.

Students are learning how to: follow standardized methods enforced by regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), carry out multifaceted and advanced experiments, interpret chromatograms and mass spectra data, and operate computer-based instrumentation.

NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and

Mathematics (S-STEM)

Goal: Provide scholarships to academically talented, financially needy students pursuing associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degrees, uses FAFSA Federal Student Aid

Full Proposal: August 13, 2013

MAJOR FEATURESEligible disciplines include almost all NSF supported areas (see solicitation for guidance) Maximum scholarships increased to $10,000 (but still based on financial need and cost of attendance)Grant size increased to $600,000 with 5% allowed for administration and 10% for student supportMaximum of $225,000 in any one year, but can ramp upOne proposal per constituent school or college that awards degrees (also schools within institutions)

S-STEM

NSF and EHR DUE Programs :Questions? Cross Discipline Programs

REU, SBIR Phase IICC, ECR HRD Programs and DRL Programs STEM Education Resources

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

Supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by NSF REU Sites (half students must come from

institutions where research opportunities are limited) http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm

REU supplements (typically supports 1-2 students)

Students must be US citizens, nationals or permanent residents

Students apply directly to REU sites or to PIs who receive REU supplements

SBIR/STTR Phase IICC

EHR Core Research (ECR)

23

Focus: projects that will help synthesize, build and/or expand research foundations in the following core areas: STEM learning, STEM learning environments, workforce development, and broadening participation in STEM.

Proposals due: July 12, 2013Anticipate: 28 awards

• NSF and EHR • DUE Programs • Cross Discipline Programs:

Questions? REU, SBIR Phase IICC, ECR

• HRD Programs & DRL Programs• STEM Education Resources

Human Resource Development (HRD)

Programs that Target Minorities and Minority Serving Institutions The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority

Participation Program (LSAMP) (community college track)

Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Programs (HBCU-UP)

Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP)

Division on Research and Division on Research and Learning in Formal and Informal Learning in Formal and Informal

Settings (DRL)Settings (DRL)Innovative Technology Experiences for

Students and Teachers (ITEST)

Program seeks solutions to help ensure the breadth and depth of the STEM workforce.

Projects must include students and can include teachers ITEST is emphasizing the design and implementation of

robotics competitions to study their effectiveness as a means of engaging students in learning STEM content and 21st Century skills.

New solicitation is due to be released soon

27

• NSF and EHR • DUE Programs • Cross Discipline Programs

– REU, SBIR Phase IICC, ECR

• HRD Programs & DRL Programs: Questions?

• STEM Education Resources

PCAST Report: “Engage to Excel”

2012Five overarching recommendations to reach goal:(1) catalyze widespread adoption of empirically validated teaching practices;

(2) advocate and provide support for replacing standard laboratory courses with discovery- based courses;

(3) launch a national experiment in postsecondary mathematics education to address the math preparation gap;

(4) encourage partnerships among stakeholders to diversify pathways to STEM careers; and

(5) create a Presidential Council on STEM Education to provide strategic leadership for transformative and sustainable change in STEM undergraduate education.

DBER ReportStudent-centered learning strategies can enhance learning more than traditional lectures.  Examples of effective, research-based approaches are making lectures more interactive, having students work in groups, and incorporating authentic problems and activities

Students have incorrect understandings about fundamental concepts -- particularly phenomena that are not directly observable, such as those that involve very large or very small scales of time and space. DBER has identified instructional techniques that may help, like using “bridging analogies” that link students’ correct understandings and the situation about which they harbor a misconception.

Students are challenged by important aspects of the domain that can seem easy or obvious to experts. For instance, in problem solving students tend to focus on the superficial aspects of a problem rather than its deep structure.   These challenges pose serious impediments to learning in science and engineering, especially if instructors are not aware of them.  Several strategies appear to improve problem-solving skills, such as providing support and prompts -- known as “scaffolding” -- as students work their way through problems.

2012

Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown Universitycew.georgetown.edu

2012 2011

More on STEM Workforce

31

2012

A Focus on Community Colleges

32

33

• NSF and EHR • DUE Programs • Cross Discipline Programs

– RUI, REU, NUE, SBIR Phase IICC

• HRD Programs & DRL Programs• STEM Education Resources:

Questions?

Questions?Questions?

Your ParticipationYour Participation

Grant Holder PI Project Team Member, or Coalition, or

Advisory Board Test Site

User of Products Workshop and Symposium Participant Review Proposals

Email and attach your CV

Key Questions for the Prospective PI

• Why is the work important? AND• What has already been done?• What do you intend to do? • How are you going to do the work? – Do you have a qualified team? – Do you have the necessary infrastructure?

• How will you assess the goals and outcomes and tell others the results?

Read the Solicitation, Read the Grant Proposal Guide, Do your

homework.Thank you!