Practicable Grant Writing: Approaches and Workshop

Center for Scholarship in Teaching and Learning
Presenters: Gathman / Wildman
May 30, 2007

I. List of Technology Grant Opportunities

A. Education Research – Any proposal that would conduct qualitative or quantitative research with the objective of improving the pedagogy of teaching or assess learning styles is funded primarily by NSF and the Department of Education. They have broad interest in improving education and learning.

B. Broadening Understanding (Marketing) for Specific Disciplines - There are also niche disciplines that are interested in promoting learning and yielding graduates in specific areas of study - USDA (Agriculture), NEH (Humanities), NSF Engineering Education Program. Funds are often available to improve teaching / curriculum in these areas and technology can be a component of that.

C. Technology is a tool. General requirements for seeking grant funds for this tool:

1. Innovation

2. Collaboration / Cross-Campus Initiatives

3. Detailed Evaluation

4. Model Outcome / Dissemination

II. Resources for SEARCHING for Grant Opportunities

A. Subscription Databases / Listservs (http://www5.semo.edu/sponsprog/funding_ops.html)

B. Grants.Gov

C. Funded Grant Databases (NSF) (www.nsf.gov click on “awards”)

III. Basic Components of a Grant Proposal

A. Need

B. Qualifications

C. Goals

D. Timeline / Project Design / Approach (Handout)

E. Evaluation (Handout)

F. Budget (Handout)

IV. Sample RFPs and Funded Proposals

AT&T Excelerator (Private Foundation – Simple)

NSF CCLI (Federal Grant – Complex)

V. Sample Grant Review Rubric

Bottom Line: Address questions, point by point, directly from the RFP

VI. Additional Grant Writing Resources