Funding-Discovery Research K-12 (DRK-12); January 10, 2012
Agency
Name
National
Science Foundation
Synopsis
The Discovery Research
K-12 program (DRK-12) seeks to significantly enhance the learning and teaching
of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) by preK-12 students,
teachers, administrators and parents. All DRK-12 projects should be framed
around a research question or hypothesis that addresses an important need or
topic in preK-12 STEM education. The emphasis in DRK-12 is on research projects
that study the development, testing, deployment, effectiveness, and/or scale-up
of innovative resources, models and tools. DRK-12 invites
proposals that address immediate challenges that are facing preK-12 STEM
education as well as those that anticipate a radically different structure and
function of pre-K 12 teaching and learning. DRK-12 especially encourages proposals
that challenge existing assumptions about learning and teaching within or
across STEM fields, envision the future needs of learners, and consider new and
innovative ways to support student and teacher learning. DRK-12 is particularly
interested in projects that hold promise for identifying and developing the
next generation of STEM innovators (NSB, 2010). There are four
strands described in detail in the solicitation: 1) Assessment; 2) Learning; 3)
Teaching; 4) Scale-up.
DRK-12 projects are
based on theories of learning, prior research and development. Projects
reflect the needs of an increasingly diverse population as well as national,
state, or discipline priorities. Outcomes include usable and scalable
resources, models, tools, and contributions to the knowledge about STEM
teaching and learning. In addition, teachers and students who participate in
DRK-12 studies are expected to enhance their understanding and use of STEM
content, practices and skills.
The DRK-12 program is
primarily concerned with the goals and effectiveness of formal education, but
recognizes that learning is not limited to formal school environments and
times. The program encourages projects to draw from knowledge and practice of
learning in out-of-school and informal settings.
Most young people and
STEM professionals today use powerful technologies in the activities of their
everyday lives. New knowledge, new ways of thinking, and new ways of finding
and processing information drive our society and economy. Many of the resources,
models and tools researched and developed by DRK-12 will provide innovative
ways to use current and emerging technologies to transform STEM education.
DRK-12 recognizes
that outstanding teaching is a critical and integral component of this
improvement process. While Strand 3 has a specific focus on resources,
models and tools for teacher education and the impact of those models on
student learning, projects submitted to the other strands may also include
teacher support materials or professional development components in support of
student learning. Projects submitted to the Learning strand might
also include the development of assessments related to the specific goals of
the project.
Some DRK-12 projects
focus on a specific STEM discipline or concept, while others have
cross-disciplinary, cross-grade level content, but all projects must
demonstrate that the content is important from both a disciplinary and learning
perspective.
Full Research and
Development projects are expected to lead to successful dissemination and
adoption of findings or products in the preK-12 enterprise at a scale
beyond that directly supported by the grant.
Announcement Number: 11-588
Due
Date: January
10, 2012
Link
to Full Announcement
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=500047&WT.mc_id=USNSF_39&WT.mc_ev=click
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