Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL)
Solicitation Title: Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL)
Funding Amount: Varies depending on program type (See Limitations on Solicitation).
Sponsor Deadline: Monday, November 6, 2017
Solicitation Link: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15593/nsf15593.htm
Solicitation Number: NSF 15-593 | 47.076 --- Education and Human Resources
Overview
<p>Synopsis of Program: The Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program seeks to advance new approaches to and evidence-based understanding of the design and development of STEM learning opportunities for the public in informal environments; provide multiple pathways for broadening access to and engagement in STEM learning experiences; and advance innovative research on and assessment of STEM learning in informal environments. The AISL program supports seven types of projects: (1) Collaborative Planning, (2) Exploratory Pathways, (3) Research in Service to Practice, (4) Innovations in Development, (5) Broad Implementation, (6) Conferences, and (7) Informal STEM Learning Resource Center (FY 2016 only). STEM content areas Content may focus on any areas of STEM that NSF supports, including interdisciplinary learning and learning that positions STEM within meaningful personal, cultural or societal frameworks. The STEM content area(s) should be discussed in sufficient depth to provide a clear understanding of concepts, topics, processes, and associated skills that are conveyed to the target audience. Topics should be relevant to the age levels of proposed target audience(s). Projects may integrate STEM and art or the humanities, as long as the goal is to enhance STEM learning.<br>Priorities: Knowledge-building, Innovation, Strategic Impact, Collaboration.</p>
Solicitation Limitations: <p>Limits for funding requests of AISL proposals are as follows: (1) Collaborative Planning projects: up to $150,000 with duration of one year; (2) Exploratory Pathways projects: up to $300,000 with duration up to two years; (3) Research in Service to Practice projects: from $300,000 to $2,000,000 with a duration from two to five years; (4) Innovations in Development projects: $500,000 to $3,000,000 with duration from two to five years; (5) Broad Implementation projects from $500,000 to $3,000,000 with a duration from two to five years; (6) Conference projects up to $250,000 with a duration of up to two years; and (7) up to one Informal STEM Learning Resource Center award up to $5 million with a duration of five years. If the Resource Center is funded in 2016, there will not be a competition for a Resource Center in 2017.</p> Other Information:<p>About EHR and DRL - The Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) is one of six programs in the Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL) in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR). The other five programs in EHR/DRL are: •Advanced Technological Education (ATE) • Discovery Research Pre-K-12 (DRK-12) • Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) • EHR Core Research (ECR) • STEM + Computing Partnerships (STEM+C) The contributions of AISL projects to advancing knowledge and the evidence base in STEM education differ from the EHR Core Research program (ECR). AISL's research and development investments focus on the translation of foundational and early stage research to research, design, development, and implementation of STEM learning in informal environments. As such, AISL contributes to the knowledge base that advances our understandings of or has ultimate use in informal settings. Each program can be accessed from the DRL Web Page located at <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=DRL">https://www.nsf.gov/div/inde…;Last Updated:
RODA ID: 214