Tech & Learning - July 2008 - (Page 37)

W W W.T E C H L E A R N I N G . C O M Objective 1: Seventh grade teachers will map the curriculum and review data to determine gaps and repetitions within the curriculum. Objective 2: Seventh grade teachers will work collaboratively to develop a model multimedia project. Looking for funding sources that match the goals and purpose of your program GRANTS ALERT: http://www.grantsalert.com/ FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS: http://www.ed.gov/fund/landing.jhtml?src=rt NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRANTS: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/research_edu_community.jsp DONORS CHOOSE (for classroom resources): http://www.donorschoose.org/ TECHNOLOGY GRANTS: http://www.mcrel.org/lesson%2Dplans/funding.asp THE FOUNDATION CENTER: http://fdncenter.org/ SCHOOL GRANTS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: http://www.k12grants.org/grant_opps.htm TOP TEACHING RESOURCES: http://www.topteachingresources.com/grants_funding.php Read the grant guidelines thoroughly to see if your program is a good match. You don’t want to spend valuable time writing a grant that is not going to be taken seriously by the funding agency. JUSTIFICATION Write a rationale that justifies doing this type of project, since it will take time out of the existing curriculum. Your administrator might ask: Why doesn’t the existing curriculum provide deep understanding of the standards? Why would a group project provide deeper understanding? You can explain that without having time to map what is currently taught and review current assessment data, teachers may continue teaching content that is redundant or unnecessary and may miss other content that is necessary. The textbook may cover all areas tested, but you can show that test scores are low involving the same standards year after year. You also may have to justify why you want your students to work collaboratively instead of individually. TIMETABLE How long will your program take? Assess how much teachers know about mapping the curriculum, digital storytelling, the technology used to do digital storytelling, classroom management, and collaborative projects. For this blueprint, you can use a quick survey. When you have some idea of what your teachers know and don’t know, write the dates you hope to start and end the project and how often teachers will need release time to participate in workshops, and the person(s) responsible. You can elaborate on this and detail all of the activities in the full proposal. Resources to help you write the complete proposal SCHOOL GRANTS WRITING TIPS: http://www.k12grants.org/tips.htm GUIDE FOR WRITING A FUNDING PROPOSAL: http://www.learnerassociates.net/proposal/ GUIDE FOR PROPOSAL WRITING (NSF): http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04016/start.htm PROPOSAL WRITING SHORT COURSE: http://foundation center.org/getstarted/tutorials/shortcourse/index.html Make sure that you put enough time aside to write the grant and have all stakeholders include their input. Follow all guidelines to a T. The readers follow the guidelines, so make sure you use the checklist for each section. Twenty-five percent is the usual amount to put aside for professional development. Without enough time for teachers to try something new, take a risk, learn from each other, reflect, and be coached by someone who understands their situation, the program will not be effective or successful. EXPENSES Write how much money you will need to do this project. You may not know all the expenses at this point but try your best to include the costs for people and resources. From the assessment and timetable, you can figure out who will need what. Do you have the people who can provide the training and coaching support? If they are full-time teachers, you will need to build in enough release time. If you find you don’t have the people to provide the training and/or coaching, then do some research about trainers or coaches available and their costs. What resources do your teachers have and what will each teacher need to complete the projects? The administrator may ask for this information before the timetable. You presented your blueprint and your administrator gave the okay to go to the next step. Now where do you go? Sometimes the project you want to do is perfect for your school and there are categorical funds available, the parent teacher association or educational foundation may fund it, or your administrator may know of different funding sources. Barbara Bray (barbara@my-ecoach.com) writes a regular column on professional development for OnCUE, is president of My eCoach (my-ecoach.com) an online learning community powered by eCoaching, and has contributed over 400 PDQs (Professional Quick Tips) and articles to TechLearning.com. You can read her blog, Rethinking Learning, at barbarabray.my-ecoach.com. TECH & LEARNING | 37 http://WWW.TECHLEARNING.COM http://www.grantsalert.com/ http://www.ed.gov/fund/landing.jhtml?src=rt http://www.nsf.gov/funding/research_edu_community.jsp http://www.donorschoose.org/ http://www.mcrel.org/lesson%2Dplans/funding.asp http://fdncenter.org/ http://www.k12grants.org/grant_opps.htm http://www.topteachingresources.com/grants_funding.php http://www.topteachingresources.com/grants_funding.php http://www.k12grants.org/tips.htm http://www.learnerassociates.net/proposal/ http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04016/start.htm http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/shortcourse/index.html http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/shortcourse/index.html http://my-ecoach.com http://TechLearning.com http://barbarabray.my-ecoach.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech & Learning - July 2008

Tech & Learning - July 2008 Contents Editor's Desk News & Trends In the Money How They Got So Rich The Better Ways to Win a Grant What's the Big Idea? Cover Your Assets Leader of the Year

Tech & Learning - July 2008

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