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NSF Programs to Support Undergraduate Education

Steve Cunningham Ernest McDuffiescunning@nsf.gov emcduffi@nsf.gov

703-292-4629 703-292-4655Division of Undergraduate Education

National Science Foundation

Hawaii International Conference on Computer Sciences

January 16, 2004

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• People, Ideas, Tools

• Individual research and educational projects

• Instrumentation, equipment, curricula, and facilities

• Financial aid to graduate/undergraduate students

• National and Regional Centers

• Small business innovation

• NSF does not itself conduct research or development

NSF Supports…

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National Science Foundation Organization

D IR E C T O R A T E F O R B IO L O G IC A LS C IE N C E S

D IR E C T O R A T E F O R M A T H E M A T IC A L A N DP H Y S IC A L S C IE N C E S

D IR E C T O R A T E F O R E D U C A T IO N A N DH U M A N R E S O U R C E S

D IR E C T O R A T E F O R G E O S C IE N C E S

D IR E C T O R A T E F O R C O M P U T E R A N DIN F O R M A T IO N S C IE N C E A N D E N G IN E E R IN G

D IR E C T O R A T E F O R E N G IN E E R IN G

D IR E C T O R A T E F O R S O C IA L , B E H A V IO R A L ,A N D E C O N O M IC S C IE N C E S

O F F IC E O F B U D G E T , F IN A N C E , A N DA W A R D M A N A G E M E N T

O F F IC E O F IN F O R M A T IO N A N D R E S O U R C EM A N A G E M E N T

D E P U T Y D IR E C T O R

D IR E C T O R

N A T IO N A L S C IE N C E B O A R D

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Education and Human Resources (EHR)

E lem en ta ry , S ec o n d a ry , a n dIn fo rm a l E d u c a tio n

(E S IE )

D iv is io n o f G ra d u a teE d u c a tio n (D G E )

E d u c a tio n a l S ys tem R efo rm(E S R )

H u m a n R eso u rc eD ev elo p m en t

(H R D )

E x p erim en ta l P ro g ra m toS tim u la te C o m p etitiv e

R esea rc h (E P S C o R )

D iv is io n o f U n d erg ra d u a teE d u ca tio n (D U E )

R esea rc h , E v a lu a tio n ,a n d C o m m u n ic a tio n

(R E C )

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Three Focus Areas

• People

• Ideas

• Tools– How do the programs in DUE fit these

areas?– Bear in mind that many programs

actually cover more than one area!– Refer to the booklet as we go along…

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• Scholarship programs– CSEMS

– SFS Scholarships

– Noyce

• Development programs– STEP

– TPC

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• Curriculum– CCLI EMD and ASA

– NSDL

– SFS Capacity Building

– ATE

• Recognition– DTS

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• Equipment and Resources– CCLI A&I

– ATE

– SFS Capacity Building

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• Advanced Technological Education (ATE)

• Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI)

• Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholarship (CSEMS)

• National Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technological Education Digital Library (NSDL)

• NSF Director’s Award for Distinguished Teaching Scholars (DTS)

• Federal Cyber Service : Scholarship for Service (SFS)

• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP)

• Teacher Professional Continuum (TPC)

• Robert Noyce Scholarship Program

Programs in DUE

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Purpose

To strengthen the education of technicians for careers in many science- and engineering-related fields that drive the US economy. Targets both undergraduate and secondary school.

• Promotes improvement in the education of science and engineering technicians

• Two-year colleges expected to have a leadership role in all projects

• Develop partnerships between two/four year colleges/ universities, secondary schools, business, and industry

• Develop articulation agreements

• Managed jointly by DUE and ESIE (Division of Elementary, Secondary, and Informal Education)

Tracks

• Projects

• Centers

• Articulation Partnerships

Advanced Technological Education (ATE)

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Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI)

Purpose

To improve the quality of SMET education for all students. Targets activities affecting learning environments, course content, curricula, and educational practices

Tracks• Educational Materials Development (EMD)

Proof of Concept (POC)Full Development (Full)

• Adaptation & Implementation (A&I)• Assessment of Student Achievement (ASA)• National Dissemination (ND)

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CCLI - EMD

To promote the development of new educational materials such as electronic or print textbooks, software, or laboratory materials that are expected to be nationally disseminated.

EMD - Proof of Concept• Demonstrate the scientific, educational, and

commercial merit of an idea or concept based on sound pedagogy

• Assessment of efficacy may serve as the basis for full-scale-development project

• Outcomes: prototype; evaluation data; plan for further development, identification of test sites, and self-sustainability

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EMD - Full Development• Innovative substantive product to be developed based

upon sound pedagogy• Effectiveness demonstrated at diverse sites• National dissemination

– faculty development– self-sustaining distribution mechanism

EMD Important Elements • Prototype, prior work• Potential for national impact• Diverse test sites• Professional development• Commercial publication potential• Consider “Proof of Concept” to start

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Promotes the improvement of undergraduate SMET education through adaptation & implementation of effective materials, techniques, and practices to result in positive change at an institution

Range of Possible A&I Projects • Adapt laboratory experiments and/or field experiences• Adapt exemplary materials to significantly different student

audiences• Adapt new resources such as instructional and information

technologies• Adapt collaborative learning, learning communities, or other

innovations to improve pedagogy• Adapt ways graduate and undergraduate students contribute

to undergraduate education• Adapt the educational use of laboratory equipment

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A&I – Expected outcomes• Faculty professional development in support of

educational improvements• Initiation of efforts to broaden the impact at the institution• Evaluation of the effectiveness of the project• National model of effective implementation

A&I - Institutional Impact• How does the project fit into departmental and

institutional goals?• Will the department or institution build on the result of the

project?

A&I – Things to Include• Specific materials identified• Department-wide implementation• Details of implementation plan• Good evaluation plan

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A&I – Things to Include, con’t• Faculty development• Evidence of familiarity with other work (bibliography)• Matching funds• Evidence of commitment/support• Spark!

A&I – Things to Avoid• Vagueness about materials• One person implementation plan• Adapting own materials• Requesting funds for what faculty do naturally• Overuse of “buzz words”• Gratuitous diversity claims

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Promotes the development of opportunities for professional development for faculty through a national offering of workshops, short courses, or related activities.

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CCLI - ASA

• Development and dissemination of assessment practices, materials/tools, and measures to guide efforts that improve the effectiveness of courses, curricula, programs of study, and academic institutions in promoting student achievement in STEM

• Relatively new area in DUE and only part of CCLI for one year, but important as we look not only at innovation but at making the innovation mainstream

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Computer Science, Mathematics, & Engineering Scholarship Program (CSEMS)

Purpose

To fund institutions to provide scholarships for academically talented, low-income students in associate, baccalaureate and graduate degree programs

• Workforce initiative funded by H1-B visa fees• Scholarships & support infrastructure for students in

targeted fields· computer science or computer technology· engineering or engineering technology· mathematics

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• Student Eligibility

– Financially needy, academic promise

– Full time enrollment in target disciple

– US citizen or resident alien

– Complete degree during funding period

• Other Expectations

– Direct involvement of discipline faculty with students

– Team approach to student management

– Student support structures

– Tracking and reporting

CSEMS Proposal InformationScholarship maximum: $3125/year per student

$100,000/year per proposal

Due Date: February, 2004 (anticipated)

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Federal Cyber Service: Scholarship for Service (SFS)

Purpose

To increase the number of qualified students entering the fields of information assurance and computer security and to increase the capacity of the US higher education enterprise to continue to produce professionals in these fields.

Tracks

• Scholarship

• Capacity Building

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Scholarship Track

• Funding for students in last 2 years of bachelors or masters or Ph.D. program in IA

• Required federal service upon graduation, 2 years

• Cohort management and support

• Summer internships at federal agencies

• Open to institutions with CAE/IAE certification or equivalent

Capacity Building

• Institutional capacity to develop IA program

• Consortia

• Minority-serving institutions support

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Typical Capacity Building Projects

• Adaptation and Implementation: The program wishes to foster collaboration and dialogue among institutions offering courses and programs in information assurance.

• Curriculum and Educational Materials Development: Supported activities should affect the learning environment, course content, and the experience of instruction.

• Faculty Development: Grants are made to CAE/IAE designated or equivalent institutions for the development and implementation of activities that assist faculty from other institutions to learn about recent advances in information assurance and computer security and to improve their instructional capability in these areas.

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SFS FY’01 Award InformationAward total: $11.2M

6 Scholarship Awards8 Capacity Building Awards – funding $1,632,175

SFS FY’02 Award InformationAward total: $11.2M + $19.3M supplemental

9 New Scholarship Awards 16 New Capacity Building Awards – funding $1,509,503

SFS FY’03 Award Information Award total: $11.2M

4 New Scholarship Awards – now 19 total19 New Capacity Building Awards – now 35 total – FY03 funding $ 3,936,089.00

SFS Proposal InformationDue date: December, 2003 (anticipated)

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Special Projects

• Projects/ideas that do NOT fit into existing programs– Workshops

– Faculty enhancement activities

• Funded by ‘leftover’ CCLI monies– Not a large amount of funds

• Requirements:

– 1-3 page white paper describing project, including rationale and impact

– Preliminary budget

– Approximately $75K max

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NSF-Wide Programs with an Undergraduate Component

Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER)Information Technology Research (ITR)Information Technology Workforce (ITW)Partnerships for Innovation (PFI)Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI)Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Careers (ADVANCE)

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• Other EHR divisions, especially REC, also support undergraduate education in different ways

• Most research directorates also support projects in undergraduate education that focus on their areas

• These are usually less structured than DUE and sometimes have more flexibility in their funding levels

• Computational Science programs that have a strength or focus in one of the science disciplines should make contacts with the appropriate research directorate to talk about projects and possible support

• Research directorates and EHR directorate can collaborate to support projects

Funding Outside DUE

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• Start EARLY • Focus on your PROJECT and not your PROPOSAL• Get acquainted with FASTLANE• Read the Program Announcement & follow the guidelines• Learn about the recent DUE awards & request copies of the

proposals from the PIs • Become an NSF reviewer• Contact (e-mail is best) a program officer to discuss your idea;

this lets you refine your ideas and may help you find the right program for your project

• Subscribe to Custom News Services at NSF• www.nsf.gov/home/cns

Getting Started

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The Program Announcement

• Intellectual Merit and Broader Impact– Project Summary

• Find the appropriate program or programs• Follow the program guidelines carefully

– Deadline, page limit, font size, margins– Appendices

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• Don’t give up before getting started• Organize a good working team• Allow enough time to write and to review• Schedule time for

– internal and external support letters– permissions– obtaining any matching fund commitments

Preparation for the Project

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Preparation for the Project

• What have others done?– Previous awards, survey literature– Contact investigators, program directors

• Build consensus within your own department

• What have you done?– Pilot program, partial or preliminary version

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The Proposal Narrative

• Form and content• Reviewers want details• Careful planning, schedule of

activities• Continuation beyond the

funding period

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Evaluation and Dissemination

• Formative and summative evaluations

• Consider hiring an evaluator

• Involve the evaluator in the planning of the proposal

• Commercial publication, web pages, talks at meetings, etc.

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The Budget

• Should be realistic• Should be complete and

unambiguous• Should reflect the narrative and

show careful planning• Keep the average size in mind

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Other Considerations

• Advisory Board?• Be positive• Letters of Support

– Administrators– Participating Institutions– Commercial Publishers– Advisors

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www.nsf.gov

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www.ehr.nsf.gov/due

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• The grant equivalent of a literature search is finding out about other funded projects

• To learn about DUE-funded projects, go to https://www.ehr.nsf.gov/pirs_prs_web/search/ and look for awards in your area of interest

• Useful search criteria include keywords that describe your concept, except that “computational science” may not get all the awards you’re interested in. Try “modeling” or “visualization” or other, mor focused terms

• Do not select any discipline to look in; computational science can be based on any of the STEM fields

Learning About Other Projects

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How to Really Know About a Program

Become a reviewer for the proposals submitted to the program

– Go to the Web address below and sign up to be a reviewer, and then email to the lead program officer to let us know

– Include your area of specialization to help us make up panels

– Your name will be added to the database of potential reviewers

• http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?form428a

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NSF & DUE Web Resources

• GPG: Grant Proposal Guide- search on www.nsf.gov

• FastLane submission required – www.fldemo.nsf.gov

• PIRS: Search for DUE award information- search for “PIRS” on the NSF main page or choose

Awards (Funded Projects) in DUE dropdown menu• DUE Reviewer Information Form

- choose Publications, then Forms from DUE drop down menu or search on the NSF page

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National Science FoundationDivision of Undergraduate Education

More than you ever wanted to know about DUE:

• DUE Web Page: ehr.nsf.gov/ehr/due

• Click on: program of your choice…

or

• Dropdown: Make a selection to navigate DUE:• About the Division

• Awards (Funded Projects)

• Advice to Applicants and…

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onContact NSF

• Telephone 703-292-5111 (NSF Information Center)

• Websites:

http://www.nsf.gov

http://www.nsf.gov/home/ehr/

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Any Questions?

Steve Cunningham

scunning@nsf.gov

703.292.4629

Ernest McDuffie

emcduffi@nsf.gov

703.292.4629