National Science Foundation: Transforming Undergraduate
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Transcript National Science Foundation: Transforming Undergraduate
National Science Foundation: Transforming
Undergraduate Education in Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics (TUES)
Transforming Undergraduate Education in
STEM (TUES)
Seeks to improve the quality of STEM
education for undergraduate students
Goals of the program reflect national
concerns about producing skilled STEM
professionals and citizens knowledgeable
about STEM and how it relates to their
lives
What TUES grants support
Bring advances in STEM disciplinary knowledge
into the curriculum
Create or adapt learning materials and teaching
strategies
Develop faculty expertise
Promote widespread implementation of educational innovations
Prepare future K-12 teachers
Enhance our understanding of how students learn STEM topics
Enhance our understanding how faculty adopt instructional
approaches
Build capacity for assessment and evaluation
Further the work of the program itself
Project Types: Scale & Scope
Type 1*: up to $200k; 2-3 years
Ex: A pilot study to begin understanding how various
factors affect how students learn particular content or
skills (*This is a good choice for new PIs)
Type 2: up to $600k; 2-4 years
A study involving several diverse institutions to build on
smaller scale proven ideas
Type 3: up to $5 million; 3-5 years
A project that involves a regional or national effort to
disseminate proven materials or pedagogies
TUES Central Resource Projects: varies
Typically for small focused workshops; can be submitted
any time after discussing with program officer
TUES Submission Dates
◦ Application deadlines:
May 29, 2012 - Type 1 proposals
January 14, 2013 - Type 2 & 3 proposals
and TUES Central Resource Project proposals
TUES Success Rates
Money is distributed to each discipline;
currently, engineering gets the most and that
is about 50% (applies to Type 1)
Success rates in Type 1 proposals is <20%,
but proposals that receive good reviews and
are revised following reviewers and program
officers advice usually have a higher success
rate
TUES Fast Facts
Application completed in NSF Fastlane
PI will need registration in NSF Fastlane
◦ Contact GO Office to set up Fastlane account
If submitting 5/29, earliest start date Dec.
Budget Total- $200k for Type 1 proposals
Project duration- 2-3 years
Project Description section limit: 15 pages
Cost-share is not required
NSF Fielded Searches
Go to the NSF Fielded Search website to query abstracts for
awarded institutions and projects.
Be sure to complete the NSF Organization field by selecting
“DUE: Division of Undergraduate Education” to isolate
pertinent abstracts in results.
You can also refine search to specific field of application or
put a keyword into the term search field.
NSF Fielded Search: Sample Search
Project Components
Creating Learning Materials and Strategies
Implementing New Instructional Strategies
Developing Faculty Expertise
Assessing and Evaluating Student Achievement
Conducting Research on Undergraduate STEM Education
Creating New Learning Materials and
Strategies
Type 1projects can focus on piloting new educational
materials and instructional methodologies; must be
guided by research on teaching and learning and
relate to advances within discipline.
Type 1projects can focus on outcomes at a single
site, but must include assessment and community
engagement.
Proposals may request funds in any budget category
supported by NSF, including instrumentation.
Implementing New Instructional
Strategies
Usually Type 1 projects
Must result in locally improved STEM education via
implementation of exemplary materials, laboratory
experiences, or educational practices previously
developed and tested by the STEM community.
TUES-Implementation projects should stand as
models for broader adaptation throughout the
community and must encourage widespread
adoption.
Proposals may request funds in any budget category
supported by NSF, including instrumentation
Developing Faculty Expertise
Methods that enable faculty to gain expertise (develop
new knowledge and skills needed to revise curricula or
pedagogy)
May range from short-term workshops to sustained
activities
Foster new communities of scientists in undergraduate
education
Cost-effective professional development
◦ Diverse group of faculty
◦ Leading to implementation/adoption
Must include evaluation efforts that describe impact on
faculty, and/or on student learning.
Assessing and Evaluating Student
Achievement
Design and test new assessment and evaluation
tools and processes.
Apply new and existing tools to conduct broadbased assessments of student understanding
◦ Must span multiple institutions and be of general
interest
Projects using established instruments and
strategies and/or likely to have only a local
impact are discouraged.
Conducting Research on Undergraduate
STEM Education
Develop new models about how students learn
Synthesize previous results and theories
Practical focus
◦ Testable new ideas
◦ Impact on STEM educational practices
May be combined with other components
Important Features of Successful
TUES Projects
Quality, Relevance, and Impact
Student Focus
Use of and Contribution to Knowledge about STEM Education
STEM Education Community-Building
Sustainability
Expected Measurable Outcomes
Project Evaluation
NSF Merit Review Criteria
Intellectual Merit
◦ Importance of proposed activity to discipline or across different fields
◦ Proposer’s qualifications and his/her ability to conduct project
◦ Extent of creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts
◦ Well conceived and organization of proposed activity
◦ Sufficient access to resources
Broader Impacts
◦ Advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training,
and learning
◦ Participation of underrepresented groups
◦ Enhancement of infrastructure for research and education
◦ Broad Dissemination
◦ Benefits to society
How to Really Learn about Programs and
Proposal Application Process
Become a reviewer for the program and become
part of the proposal review process.
◦ Send an e-mail to the lead or disciplinary program
officer.
◦ Your name will be added to the database of potential
reviewers.
◦ NSF wants to use new reviewers each year, especially
for Type 1 projects.
Resources from the Grants Office
The GO can provide the following:
◦ Assistance in understanding program
guidelines
◦ Successful proposal samples
◦ Tips/Hints from Program directors
◦ Assistance in preparing application forms
◦ Proposal editing and proposal packaging
◦ Assistance in budget development
◦ Internal review and approval process support
NSF TUES Submission Resources
Program Announcement
Application Guide
Program Director Contact Information
What has been funded?
Additional Resources & Tips
Open Discussion/Questions?
Grants Office Contact Information
E-226
101 Vera King Farris Drive
Galloway, NJ 08205
Phone: (609) 652-4844
Fax: (609) 626-3467
[email protected]
www.stockton.edu/grantsoffice