Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Digital Media & Learning Competition

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has announced the Digital Media and Learning Competition, a $2 million open competition for ideas with the potential to transform learning using digital media. The competition seeks designers, inventors, entrepreneurs, researchers, and others to build digital media experiences — the learning labs of the 21st century — that help young people interact, share, build, and explore in new and innovative ways.

Awards will be made in two categories: 21st Century Learning Lab Designers and Game Changers. The competition includes three rounds of submissions, with public comment at each stage. The public will also be invited to judge the final candidates, including the selection of People's Choice awards in each category.

Amount: Varies

Date due: The application system opens on January 15, 2010. During this period, applicants are encouraged to seek partnerships with other applicants that may make either or both proposed projects stronger. Preliminary applications are due on January 22, 2010.

For more information, click here.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education: EU - US Program

This priority supports the formation of educational consortia between EU and US institutions. To meet this priority the applicant must propose a project that encourages cooperation in the coordination of curricula; the exchange of students, if pertinent to grant activities; and the opening of educational opportunities between the U.S. and EU member sites.

Amount: Varies depending upon type of project proposed

Date due: April 8, 2010

For more information, click here.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Oregon Math & Science Partnership Program

The purpose of the Oregon MSP program is to improve the academic achievement of students in the areas of mathematics and science by encouraging State educational agencies, institutions of higher education, local educational agencies, elementary schools, and secondary schools to collaborate. The goals of the Oregon MSP program are to:
  • Support partnerships to increase the subject matter knowledge and teaching skills of cohorts of K-12 teachers of mathematics and/or science. A cohort may be made up of teachers within one eligible school district. Alternatively, a cohort may be made up of teachers selected from throughout an Education Service District, or from throughout the state. A cohort may also include teachers from non-eligible LEA’s, if the non-eligible LEA’s use their Title IA or Title IIA funds to support their teacher’s participation in grant activities. A cohort should be of a manageable size to ensure high quality professional development. Partnerships will bring together teachers with higher education mathematicians, scientists, and/or engineers to expand teachers' subject matter knowledge of mathematics and/or science teaching that is aligned with the Oregon mathematics and/or science academic content standards and enhances the ability of K-12 teachers to teach students these standards.
  • Enhance professional development of K-12 teachers of mathematics and/or science as a career-long process. Partnerships will provide opportunities for advanced and ongoing professional development activities that improve K-12 teachers' subject matter knowledge that is aligned with the Oregon mathematics and/or science academic content standards and knowledge of how students learn particular content. Partnerships also will provide teachers with the opportunity to work with experienced teachers and disciplinary higher education faculty in mathematics, science, and/or engineering.
  • Improve and expand training of mathematics and science teachers, including training such teachers in the effective integration of technology into curricula and instruction.
  • Support the rigorous evaluation of programs regarding the impact of Oregon Title IIB MSP awards on the academic achievement of the students of teachers in these programs and ensure the results are widely accessible through electronic means.
  • Develop more rigorous mathematics and science curricula that are aligned with Oregon’s state academic content mathematics and science standards and with the standards expected for postsecondary study in mathematics, science, and engineering.
Amount: $300,000/year for three years

Date due: April 26, 2010

For more information, click here.