Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR)

EHR Core Research (ECR): Fundamental Research in

STEM Education

Program Announcement: NSF 15-509

Introductions Webinar etiquette

◦ Please place your phone on MUTE if you are not asking a question or not responding to the presenters.

◦ If you encounter problems viewing the presentation or hearing the audio, please contact the host/presenter through the chat feature in WebEx.

Introductions and Guidelines

2

ECR Program Page Website:

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504924&org=EHR&from=home

Full Proposal Deadline Dates: ◦February 3, 2015◦September 10, 2015◦Second Thursday in September, Annually

Thereafter

NSF Grant Proposal Guide (NSF 15-1)

EHR Core Research (ECR)

3

Introduced in 2013 to support fundamental research to generate foundational knowledge in the following focal areas:◦ STEM learning and STEM learning environments ◦ STEM professional workforce development◦ Broadening participation in STEM

From the onset, encouraging integration across the focal areas and collaboration among researchers in related disciplines, including social and behavioral sciences.

EHR Core Research

4

Investing in fundamental research in STEM education about critical areas that are essential, broad and enduring.

Seeking proposals that help synthesize, build and/or expand research foundations in the focal areas.

Contributing to the accumulation of robust evidence to inform efforts to understand, build theory to explain, and suggest interventions and innovations.

Goals of ECR

5

Addressing persistent challenges in STEM interest, education, learning, participation and workforce development.

Developing foundational knowledge in STEM learning and learning contexts, both formal and informal, from childhood through adulthood, for all groups, and from the earliest developmental stages of life through participation in the workforce.

Goals of ECR

6

ECR projects are: Theory driven, theory generating, theory testing and predictive.

Awards funded by ECR program:◦Use NSF Advanced Award Search:◦http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/advance

dSearch.jsp◦In the Element Code field, enter: 7980

Proposal Types: Research and Capacity Building proposals

ECR Projects

7

Fall within one or more focal research areas. Test theory that informs core scientific

questions about STEM education, learning, participation and workforce development.

Fundamental research involving the collection of new data, and/or secondary analyses of extant state, national, international or other databases.

Research to develop innovative research methods, metrics and conceptual models to measure existing and emerging phenomena.

Research Proposals

8

Level I• Maximum award size: $500K

• Maximum duration: 3 years

Level II◦ Maximum award size: $1.5M

◦ Maximum duration: 3 years

Level III◦ Maximum award size: $2.5M

◦ Maximum duration: 5 years

ECR Research Proposal Types:

9

Depends on the alignment of the funding request with:◦Maturity of proposed work.◦Size and scope of the empirical effort.◦Capacity of the interdisciplinary team to

conduct the research.

Which Research Level?

10

Aligned with ECR program goals. Synthesis Proposals:

◦Synthesis or meta-analysis of existing data on topic of critical importance.

◦May include knowledge diffusion efforts. Workshop and Conference Proposals:

◦Conceptual framework, draft agenda, participant list, & outcomes or products.

◦Describe how products serve fundamental research goals of ECR program.

Capacity Building Proposals

11

Synthesis• Maximum award size: $300K

• Maximum durations: 2 years Conference and Workshop

◦At lease one year in advance of event.

◦Typical costs are $25K to $100K

◦Can be submitted throughout the year.

◦Follow NSF Grant Proposal Guide.

ECR Proposal Types:Capacity Building Proposals

12

ECR Program Page Website (www.nsf.gov)

ECR Program Announcement (NSF 15-509)

NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) (current NSF 14-1, but after 12/26/14: NSF 15-1)

Common Guidelines for Education Research and Development (NSF 13-126)

FAQs on the Common Guidelines (NSF 13-127)

Resources

13

Standard or continuing grants Estimate making 64 awards Funding amount is $61,500,000

(pending availability of funds) No PI limit No limit of number of proposals per

organization No limit on number of proposals per PI

Award and Eligibility Information

14

Cover Sheet Project Summary• State which of the focal research area(s) are targeted

Table of Contents Project Description• Restate which focal research area(s) are targeted

• Must include results from any prior NSF Support for past 5 years: separate intellectual merit and broader impacts reporting

Sections of Proposal

Follow the NSF Grant Proposal Guide

15

References Cited Biographical Sketch(es) Budget / Budget Justification Current and Pending Support Facilities, Equipment and Other

Resources Supplemental Documents:• Post-doc Mentoring Plan• Data Management Plan

Sections of Proposal

16

Linkages to theory and extant research in the field.

Research plan. Contributions to implementation (where applicable).

Contributions to foundational knowledge and theory.

Communication strategy. Objective external feedback.

Elements of ECR Proposals

17

• NSF projects should be of the highest quality and have the potential to advance, if not transform, the frontiers of knowledge.

• NSF projects, in the aggregate, should contribute more broadly to achieving societal goals.

• Meaningful assessment and evaluation of NSF funded projects should be based on appropriate metrics, and include both the broader impacts and intellectual merit of the project.

NSF Merit Review Principles

18

Intellectual Merit – the potential to advance knowledge.

Broader Impacts – the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.

Both criteria, Intellectual Merit and Broader Impact, will be given full consideration during the review and decision-making processes. Proposers must fully address both criteria.

NSF Merit Review Criteria

19

What is the potential for the proposed activity to:• Advance knowledge and understanding within its own

field or across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and• Benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes

(Broader Impacts)? To what extent does the proposed activity suggest

and explore creative, original or potentially transformative concepts?

Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well-organized, and based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success?

Merit Review Considerations

20

How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the proposed activities?

Are there adequate resources available to the PI (either at the home institution or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities?

Please Note: Reviewers are also asked to review Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources, Data Management Plan, and Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan

Merit Review Considerations

21

IRB exemption/approval documentation is required at the time of the award - in order to receive funding.

Please plan for the timing necessary to obtain institutional IRB approval.

IMPORTANT: Human Subjects – IRB Documentation

22

Address questions to the program via:

ECR@nsf.gov

ECR Program Page Website:http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504924&org=EHR&from=home

Full Proposal Deadline Dates: February 3, 2015September 10, 2015Second Thursday in September, Annually Thereafter