Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST)

Overview

ITEST is an applied research and development program with goals to advance the equitable and inclusive integration of technology in the learning and teaching of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) from pre-kindergarten through high school. The program’s objective is to support all students’ acquisition of the foundational preparation in STEM disciplines. Preparation for the current and future workforce is increasingly dependent upon the application and use of technology and computing.

Proposed ITEST projects are expected to
(1) engage students in technology-rich learning to develop disciplinary and/or transdisciplinary STEM content knowledge, including skills in data literacy and evidence-based decision-making and reasoning;
(2) prioritize the full inclusion of groups who have been underrepresented and/or underserved, including but not limited to Blacks and African Americans, Alaska Natives, Hispanics and Latinos, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, Native Pacific Islanders, persons with disabilities, neurodiverse students, and women in the STEM and information and communication technologies (ICT) workforce;
(3) motivate students to pursue appropriate education pathways to technology-rich careers;
(4) leverage strategic and community partnerships to expand education pathways in communities through public and private partnerships and collaborations.

ITEST supports three types of projects:
(1) Exploring Theory and Design Principles (ETD);
(2) Developing and Testing Innovations (DTI); and
(3) Scaling, Expanding, and Iterating Innovations (SEI).

ITEST also supports Synthesis and Conference/Workshop proposals.
ITEST will support one 5-year resource center starting in FY23.

All ITEST proposals must address how the proposed research and development project meets the ITEST program Pillars:
1) Innovative Use of Technologies in Learning and Teaching,
2) Partnerships for Career and Workforce Preparation,
3) Strategies for Equity in STEM Education (Program Description, section A.).

All proposals must also include high-quality research design, a section describing how the project meets the Solicitation-Specific Review Criteria and plans for project evaluation and dissemination of findings (Program Description, section B: Requirements for Research Proposals.)

Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant

Estimated Number of Awards: 24 to 33

8 to 10 awards for Exploring Theory and Design Principles for Innovations (ETD) with durations up to three years and budgets up to $500,000;
8 to 10 awards for Developing and Testing Innovations (DTI) with durations up to four years and budgets up to $1,300,000;
3 to 5 awards for Scaling, Expanding, and Iterating Innovations (SEI) with durations up to five years and budgets up to $3,500,000;
2 to 4 awards for Syntheses with durations up to two years and budgets up to $400,000; and
2 to 3 awards for Conferences with durations of one year and budgets up to $100,000.NSF anticipates having approximately $25,000,000 to $30,000,000 available for the FY23 competition and approximately $25,000,000 to $30,000,000 each year thereafter.