STEDTRAIN STEM GRANTS For K-12 Schools

Transcription

1 STEDTRAIN STEM GRANTS For K-12 Schools We put a man on the moon. Help our children reach the stars. HUNTSVILLE ASSOCIATION OF TECHNICAL SOCIETIES (THE ASSOCIATION, PREVIOUSLY HATS) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION AND TRAINING (STEDTRAIN) PROGRAM Seed Grants Proposal and Award Guidelines PROPOSAL APPLICATION INFORMATION APPLICATION DEADLINE: APRIL 1 OF CURRENT YEAR FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR GENERAL INFORMATION Seed Grants are for new classroom projects or programs that facilitate the learning of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by means such as hands-on activities, student teamwork, or students teaching other students. While grant funds may be used for the purchase of materials, software, or equipment to further the objectives of the proposal, the project or program is the only part that will be ranked. Thus, a grant request for an Ipad, Kindle, Elmo, Activboard, Promethian board, or computer program that does not directly support a specific innovative project or program will not be funded. Successful grant proposals are those that strictly comply with and address the evaluation outline, to include a project or program plan defining the goals, objectives, and activities to meet them. Grant funds may NOT be used for providing for substitute teachers, travel, accommodations, conference or competition fees, trophies, televisions, office furniture or supplies, or classroom equipment. Including these items will lower the ranking. If a grant were to be awarded, the funds associated with such items will be withheld from that grant. Historically, STEDTRAIN Standard Seed Grants ranged from $200 to $1000. For the school year, the STEDTRAIN Program is being expanded to include a new and more challenging class of grants that may qualify for awards of $1500 to $2500, Enchanced Seed Grant. The program also retains the original range of $200 to $1000. A teacher may apply for one or two, but only one of the two classes of grants will be awarded to a successful applicant. Please note that the decision of the committee is final as to the level of grant to be awarded to you if you chose to submit both Type I and II Grant Proposals. And, please note that in no case will a grant value exceeding $2500 be awarded. There are no $3500 grants. The proposal instructions spell out how to apply for both the original grant amounts and the new grant amount, and include what new, additional requirements must be met to qualify for the $2500 grant. Teachers will be limited to one award per year. Grant awards are based on evaluation of proposals and on the funds available for the school year of grants. Unless there are unusual circumstances, individual schools will not receive more than two awards. Proposals for continuation of previously funded projects will be considered only if sufficient funds are available after funding of all qualified proposals for new projects, and the proposals meet the evaluation criteria. Awards are based on the amount of funds available and the quality of proposals. Proposals are evaluated and scored according to criteria given below. Proposal score determines qualification for funding and score rank determines distribution order of available funds. Notification of an award will be made on or about August 5 h to the lead teacher and Principal. Both must respond with their acceptance of the Grant. Official Website: STEDTRAIN Member Contacts: Woody Williams, , Dr. Mike Baran,

2 ELIGIBILITY All K-12 teachers currently employed in public and private non-profit, tax-exempt schools in Jackson, Madison, Marshall, Morgan, and Limestone Counties in Alabama and Lincoln County in Tennessee are eligible to apply. EVALUATION CRITERIA TYPE I STANDARD SEED GRANT PROPOSAL Submitted proposals will be evaluated and scored according to the following criteria: Score each subcategory 1-10 A. Project - Program Plan: 20% 1. Statement of Project - Program Objective(s): 25% of 20% What will this effort accomplish to benefit the students? 2. STEM Implications: Which of the following apply to the Objective(s)? 25% of 20% How does the project clearly introduce a new technology? How does the Project Program propose a new and/or novel Project Program that employs existing technologies? How does the Project Program provide a strong stimulus for motivating students to pursue additional STEM subjects for education and/or career considerations? a. How does the Project Program demonstrated Skill and/or knowledge goals that will be accomplished: a.i Psychomotor? a.ii Knowledge? a.iii Application of Knowledge to Problem Solving? a.iv Teamwork and communications? b. Are there other factors the Committee should consider? Score only those parts that are indicated or should have been indicated and explained. 3. Major project - program steps and schedule to achieve the objective(s). 25% of 20% 4. Clear reasonable budget to accomplish objective(s). 25% of 20% B. Project Program Impact: 25%. How will the Items discussed under 7. A. 2. accomplish the objective(s)? What is (are) the approach(es) to be used? Demonstrated Skill and/or knowledge goals that will be accomplished. 1. Psychomotor Hands-on extent [The degree to which the proposed project program provides for student hands-on experiences.]? 25% of 25% 2. Knowledge What new ideas, concepts, or material will the students learn? 25% of 25% 3. Application of Knowledge to Problem Solving How will these apply to the objective? 25% of 25% 4. Teamwork and communications 25% of 25% a. Teamwork extent [The degree to which the proposed project provides opportunities that foster collaboration and team-building to achieve success in the project.]? 34% of 25% b. Student Presentations extent? 33% of 25% c. Multiplicative Effects? 33% of 25% c. i. Can or will this grant be used repeatedly for more than one class, one term, or one year? c. ii. Can or will the methods, materials, or instructions of this grant be taught or shared with other teachers and/or schools? Revised February 15, 2015 Page 2 of 7

3 C. Professionalism: 10% Qualities of proposal presentation, i.e., are the questions asked fully answered in a thoughtful and professional manner? Teachers who have received prior grants will be also be scored on their professionalism in following prior grant requirements, i.e., attendance or representation at check presentation ceremony, on-time submittal of reports and participation in the STEDTRAIN Conference. D. Student Evaluation Strategy - Plan: 20% 1. Does the proposal propose a definite knowledge increase? 25% of 20% 2. Is there a clear picture of how student success will be measured? 25% of 20% 3. Has it a specific plan to evaluate this increase such as pre- and post- test, production of student reports, and production of student constructions? 25% of 20% 4. How will you demonstrate tangible results? 25% of 20% E. Reuse [Teacher provided - Server Compiled]: 15% Teacher will answer via Reuse and non-reuse within the budget chart. F. Potential for Wide Involvement: 10% Can or will this grant be used repeatedly for more than one class, one term, or one year? Can or will the methods, materials, or instructions of this grant be taught or shared with other teachers and/or schools? EVALUATION CRITERIA TYPE II ENHANCED SEED GRANT PROPOSAL Proposals for $1500 to $2500 grants are for projects - programs that try to expose students to STEM learning and/or careers in a unique way. Submitted proposals will be evaluated and scored according to the following criteria: Score each subcategory 1-10 A. Project - Program Plan: 10% 1. Statement of Project - Program Objective(s): 25% of 10% What will this effort accomplish to benefit the students? 2. STEM Implications: Which of the following apply to the Objective(s)? 25% of 10% How does the project clearly introduce a new technology? How does the Project Program propose a new and/or novel Project Program that employs existing technologies? How does the Project Program provide a strong stimulus for motivating students to pursue additional STEM subjects for education and/or career considerations? a. How does the Project Program demonstrated skill and/or knowledge goals that will be accomplished: a.i Psychomotor? a.ii Knowledge? a.iii Application of Knowledge to Problem Solving? a.iv Teamwork and communications? b. Are there other factors the Committee should consider? Score only those parts that are indicated or should have been indicated and explained. 3. Major project - program steps and schedule to achieve the objective(s). 25% of 10% 4. Clear reasonable budget to accomplish objective(s). 25% of 10% Revised February 15, 2015 Page 3 of 7

4 B. Project Program Definition: 13%. How will the Items selected under 7. A. 2. accomplish the objective(s)? What is (are) the approach(es) to be used? Demonstrated Skill and/or knowledge goals that will be accomplished. 1. Psychomotor Hands-on extent [The degree to which the proposed project program provides for student hands-on experiences.]? 25% of 13% 2. Knowledge What new ideas, concepts, or material will the students learn? 25% of 13% 3. Application of Knowledge to Problem Solving How will these apply to the objective? 25% of 13% 4. Teamwork and communications 25% of 13% a. Teamwork extent [The degree to which the proposed project provides opportunities that foster collaboration and team-building to achieve success in the project.]? 34% of 13% b. Student Presentations extent? 33% of 13% c. Multiplicative Effects? 33% of 13% c. i. Can or will this grant be used repeatedly for more than one class, one term, or one year? c. ii. Can or will the methods, materials, or instructions of this grant be taught or shared with other teachers and/or schools? C. Professionalism: 5% Qualities of proposal presentation, i.e., are the questions asked fully answered in a thoughtful and professional manner? Teachers who have received prior grants will be also be scored on their professionalism in following prior grant requirements, i.e., attendance or representation at check presentation ceremony, on-time submittal of reports and participation in the STEDTRAIN Conference. D. Student Evaluation Strategy - Plan: 10% 1. Does the proposal propose a definite knowledge increase? 25% of 10% 2. Is there a clear picture of how student success will be measured? 25% of 10% 3. Has it a specific plan to evaluate this increase such as pre- and post- test, production of student reports, and production of student constructions? 25% of 10% 4. How will you demonstrate tangible results? 25% of 10% E. Reuse [Teacher provided - Server Compiled]: 7% Teacher will answer via Reuse and non-reuse within the budget chart. F. Potential for Wide Involvement: 5% Can or will this grant be used repeatedly for more than one class, one term, or one year? Can or will the methods, materials, or instructions of this grant be taught or shared with other teachers and/or schools? G. The Proposal must address one or more of these questions: Score this section as a group. 10% Have students learned enough to take on their own projects independently of teacher support? Have students demonstrated a desire for further STEM education? Have students learned how the benefits of the program relate to their academic choices and careers beyond STEM? H. The Proposal shall provide an explanation of how the students will progress from STEM skills obtained via the Proposal project - program and workplace careers that utilize those skills. 10% Revised February 15, 2015 Page 4 of 7

5 I. How does Grant Proposal project - program provide skills and knowledge to students that were previously unavailable to the students? 8% J. Outline a program vision beyond this year s funding how could this Grant Proposal spark future STEM efforts? 7% K. How will this Grant Proposal promote interaction between grades? 5% L. How will this Grant Proposal's project - program align with and promote current curriculum? 5% M. How will this Grant Proposal's project - program integration with other funding to achieve greater goals? 5% APPLICATION PROCEDURE ONLY ON LINE APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE. a. Use STEDTRAIN Website - to submit the proposal. Follow all directions provided. b. Start early in case there are any potential problems with access to the STEDTRAIN website and/or the electronic forms. If problems occur, contact STEDTRAIN immediately. c. Proposals shall be written and submitted by the proposed lead teacher using the form online. d. Teachers must authenticate submitted proposals via the online form prior to the submission deadline e. Coordinate with your Principals early. Principals have the sole legal authority to accept Seed Grant funding for their schools. Principals must authenticate and accept the teacher s submitted proposal and the Grant when notified on or about August 5. Furthermore, the principal must agree to certify annual reporting of non-expendable items purchased with Seed Grant funds for a period of 5 years via our online form NOTE: Example(s) of proposal(s) may be accessed from the website for your convenience and for the purpose of general guidance. You will also find lists of abstracts for previously funded Seed Grant proposals. DISQUALIFICATION Deadlines are enforced by the proposal collection software on our website. Official proposal time is based on the web server clock. Other time references will not be accepted. Incomplete or late proposals. Late proposal disqualification is automatic. Proposals not written and submitted by the proposed lead teacher using the form online. Proposals not authenticated and accepted by the principal before the deadline. Disqualification is automatic and determined by the server clock. Proposals that do not follow all the guidelines. Revised February 15, 2015 Page 5 of 7

6 PROPOSAL ACCEPTANCE AND FULFILLMENT REQUIREMENTS By accepting and using STEDTRAIN Seed Grant funds, the lead teacher and the school principal agree to the following fulfillment requirements. Attend or have a representative attend (arriving and departing on time) the check presentation ceremony starting promptly at 9:00 A.M. and running until approximately noon. You are encouraged to attend the Social that begins 30 minutes before the ceremony at 8:30 A.M. This will be held typically the last Saturday of August unless that is Labor Day Weekend to avoid interfering with the beginning of the school year. Submit an online electronic midterm report between December 20 and January 20 to be RECEIVED no later than midnight January 20. These reports should include an evaluation of the grant s contribution to the teacher s professional development. Present (electronically - Power Point, Video, and other approved media uploaded to the online site) in 3 minutes or less project goal, objectives, and learning outcomes at the Annual STEDTRAIN Conference held the last Saturday of April. The format of the Conference is changing to reduce time required and enable the interaction between the teachers. One purpose of the Awards Ceremony and the Conference is to facilitate information and idea exchanges and networking. Therefore, teachers shall be present for the entire events. Failure to appear without prior notification and absence approval can result in immediate forfeiture of grant award or a loss of points in the evaluation of a future grant application. Be responsive to communications from the The Association Board of Directors, STEDTRAIN Point of Contact, and other STEDTRAIN volunteers; including any and all classroom visits by STEDTRAIN volunteers to determine the Grant project program status and progress. Provide the funding source STEDTRAIN to all inquiring parties regarding the project AND display the STEDTRAIN poster at the school site s main entrance and if available, another poster within or just outside the classroom. Complete any and all STEDTRAIN Questionnaires. Revised February 15, 2015 Page 6 of 7

7 IMPORTANT DATES In the year the Seed Grant is awarded: Request for Proposals begins Deadline for proposals submission Deadline for principals to accept proposals Deadline to notify STEDTRAIN of problems Awards published and notices sent Deadline to accept awards Deadline to verify award ceremony attendance Award Ceremony In the year following the Seed Grant award: Midterm reports due Final reports due Final presentations February 1 st April 1 st before 4:30 P.M. April 3 rd before midnight April 15 th before midnight On or about August 5 th 15 days after notification 3 days before the ceremony Usually the last Saturday in August, August 29, 2015 January 20 th before midnight Thursday at noon before presentations Usually the last Saturday in April, April 30, 2016 NOTICES Recipients (both teachers and principals) are required to notify the STEDTRAIN Committee Chair, if the grant activities, for whatever reason, cannot be conducted as presented in the proposal. Grant funding may not be awarded nor redirected to another teacher or project without the STEDTRAIN Committee s review and approval. If the lead teacher for the proposed project is unable to execute and/or manage their approved project at the applying school and the same teacher has transferred to another area school, the grant may be transferred to the new school if both principals agree in writing and the written agreement is provided to the STEDTRAIN committee chair no later than the due date for midterm reports. (This exception will be approved only if the grant's lead teacher changes schools within the counties eligible for STEDTRAIN Seed Grant awards.) In any other instance, materials remain at the school to which the teacher was originally assigned to teach and for which the grant award was originally intended under control of and annual reporting of the principal. All unspent monies, in the latter instance, must be returned to STEDTRAIN on or before the due date for midterm reports directly from the teacher by official bank check, official school check, bank-drafted money order, or post office money order. Failure to complete and/or implement the project for any other reasons will result in the violation of the understood conditions noted herein and result in the teacher forfeiting all funds submitted. Repayment must be received no later than 10 business days after the spring STEDTRAIN conference date and paid by official bank check, official school check, bank-drafted money order, or post office money order. Revised February 15, 2015 Page 7 of 7