Early Childhood STEM Learning Challenge Grant

Overview

<p>100Kin10 will support innovative solutions from current 100Kin10 partners that prepare and support teachers to create active STEM learning in grades P - 3. This grant opportunity is intended to encourage experimentation and “launch” great solutions to the root causes ... of this overarching challenge. We don’t expect solutions to be perfect and have incorporated opportunities throughout the grant period to allow solutions to evolve and improve. This is your chance to improve an existing idea or try something completely new.<br>The application will consist of three key elements. Applicants will be asked to provide a narrative or short video containing the following:<br>1. A clear definition of the problem being tackled and the user group most impacted.<br>a. There are a significant number of root causes that contribute to the dearth of active STEM learning opportunities in P-3 classrooms. Applicants must select and define a root cause, and explain why addressing this root cause is important. Applicants will also be asked to identify a user group that is directly impacted by this root cause (problem) and describe what they understand about the user group. User groups must be specific - eg., “3rd grade teachers in NYC Public Schools” as opposed to “elementary teachers”.<br>2. A Prototype:<br>a. Once you have selected and defined a root cause to focus on and understand the user group, ideate probable solutions and design a new solution or revise an existing solution with the end-user in mind. Seek to understand the needs of the user and design around those needs. Prepare a “paper” prototype (see application details for more information and resources) and test it with users (evidence of user testing must be provided). Based on feedback revise your design. <br>3. Revised solution: <br>a. Applicants will have the option of presenting their solution through a video recording or written narrative. Descriptions of solutions must include a presentation of the revised prototype, evidence of data from user-testing and a description of the revisions that have been made to the original prototype.<br>See the application instructions for a list of key questions that should be answered in the application.</p>