A team of Fulbright scholars from Brazil’s Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar) recently set out to find the best ways to bring active learning into their classrooms. Their research led them to Arizona State University’s ICAP Center for Teaching and Learning — created by Regents Professor Michelene “Micki” Chi and housed within the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation.
Current application processes are described in the How to Apply section below. Please see the October 2025 Spencer news update from Dr. Nasir and Dr. Bricker for information about how we have changed our processes to respond to the large volume of applications we are currently receiving. Starting in 2026, we are moving to a single cycle of Large Grants per year, but as we have communicated to the field, we will fund more proposals than in past years.
The NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) supports transformative research and education projects that develop new knowledge in all aspects of computing, communications, and information science and engineering through multiple research programs. These programs support research and education activities that advance:
From reflective teaching assistants to AI-powered research partners, Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation faculty, students and staff are exploring how artificial intelligence can be used as a catalyst for creativity and collaboration in education.
Science and Technology Studies (STS) is an interdisciplinary field that investigates the conceptual foundations, historical developments and social contexts of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), including medical science. The STS program supports proposals across a broad spectrum of research that uses historical, philosophical and social scientific methods to investigate STEM theory and practice. STS research may be empirical or conceptual; specifically, it may focus on the intellectual, material or social facets of STEM.
Limited Submission
RRF funds professional education and training projects that will be broadly disseminated to achieve a national impact. RRF recognizes the importance of a well-trained work force to serve older persons.
Of particular interest are programs that:
High-quality education is essential for young children with disabilities to achieve their full potential and this often depends on a well-prepared workforce. Special Education was identified in 2022 as the teaching area with the most vacancies nation-wide, with about 43% of schools reporting vacancies, double the rate of other teaching areas, according to data from the National Education Center for National Statistics, and the U.S. Department of Education.
Science of Learning and Augmented Intelligence (SL) supports potentially transformative research that develops basic theoretical insights and fundamental knowledge about principles, processes and mechanisms of learning, and about augmented intelligence — how human cognitive function can be augmented through interactions with others or with technology, or through variations in context.
The Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics (MMS) Program is a standing, interdisciplinary program in the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE). MMS supports the development of innovative analytical and statistical methods and models for those sciences. The Program interacts with the other programs in SBE as well as other programs in the Foundation. The Program also partners with a consortium of federal statistical agencies to support research proposals that further the production and use of official statistics.
Help transform education with strategic school staffing.
Hosted by the Next Education Workforce™ initiative, the Strategic School Staffing Summit brings together hundreds of stakeholders from across the education ecosystem to share ideas, strategies, practices and conditions that enable a more diverse, team-based education workforce.