National Science Foundation Grant Workshop

Introduction to the Advanced Technological Education (ATE)

Program

Discussion leaders

– Darrell Abney, Maysville Community and Technical College

– Vince DiNoto, Jefferson Community and Technical College

– Mark Hundley, KCTCS System Office

Outline

Reasons to Participate in GrantsIntroduction to NSF Website and to FastLaneOverview of NSF ATE SolicitationReview of NSF Grant Writing GuidelinesProposal Development StrategiesBudget DevelopmentPractice

• National Science Foundation and FastLane– http://www.nsf.gov/– https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/index.jsp

Reasons to Participate• Increased resources for students•Classroom equipment•Specialized professional development•Networking – professional opportunities

NSF Solicitation Overview

Goal of the ATE program - Improve Technological Education“With an emphasis on two-year colleges, the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program focuses on the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation's economy.”

ATE Deadlines• Preliminary Proposal– Always in April• Full Proposal – Always in October

– October 21, 2010

Type of proposal submission• Preliminary proposals

– Encourage/not encourage• Full proposals

NSF Solicitation Overview (cont)Project areas ($25 to $300 K per year for 3 years):

•Program Development and Improvement•Professional Development for Educators•Leadership Capacity Development for Faculty•Curriculum and Educational Materials Development •Business and Entrepreneurial Skills for Students•Teacher Preparation

•ATE Centers that provide models and leadership:– National Centers of Excellence: $5 million over four years– Regional Centers of Excellence: $3 million over four years– Resource Centers: $1.5 million over four years

NSF Solicitation Overview (cont)

• Small Grants for Institutions New to ATE— Maximum $200,000 over 3 years .— Can not have received an ATE award in preceding 10 years.— Improving STEM programs or teacher preparation programs that focus

on technological education.— ATE is particularly interested in projects addressing issues in rural

technician education.— Build on prior ATE work - - - adapt, tweak.

Proposal Development Strategies

• Looking for an idea– Personal areas of interest– Opportunity to apply a new method or technology– Need for professional development– School or community need– Collaboration with a colleague– Review other NSF ATE grant awards

Proposal Development Strategies (cont)

• Flesh out the idea– Read some literature– Speak with NSF program officers.– Speak with Principal Investigators for similar projects– Write a 1- or 2-page summary

• Answer the questions: What do I want to do and what is needed to carry out this work?

– Determine Goals of the Proposal– Develop some Objectives– Write a short (3-5pp) concept paper or abstract to sharpen your

idea.– Discuss with other colleagues. – Find a devil’s advocate.

Proposal Development Strategies (cont)

• Budget development and budget narrative– Consider the scope of the project and answer the question: What

resources are needed? – How do I decide what is needed?– NSF budget format.

• Personnel• Fringe• Equipment• Travel• Participant Support

– Stipends, Travel, Subsistence, Other

• Other– Materials, Supplies, Dissemination, Consultant Services, Computer Services, Subawards,

Other (Including Evaluation)

• Indirect Costs

Proposal Development Strategies (cont)

• Budget narrative and project abstract are the two most important documents in any proposal.

Practice/Discussion

• Practice problem: You are an IT faculty member. At your college, you notice that teaching technology is not penetrating into the classroom beyond email and PowerPoint. This appears to be true at area secondary schools as well. Some businesses have also remarked about the need for more complex technological skills. Outline a program abstract and sketch a budget that would address this. Stay within a two-year, $200,000 maximum award framework.