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Selected NSF Selected NSF Programs in Programs in

Undergraduate STEM Undergraduate STEM EducationEducation

Richard A. AlóDirectorate for Education and Human

ResourcesNational Science Foundation

September 17, 2011

Minority Serving Institutions-CyberInfrastructure Empowerment Coalition

www.msi-ciec.usCalifornia Institute of Telecommunications and Information

Technology, CalIT2

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Selected Programs in Selected Programs in DUEDUE

Transforming Undergraduate Education in STEM TUES: NSF 10-544

STEM Talent Expansion Program- STEP: NSF 08-569 (Old)

Scholarshisps in STEM S-STEM: NSF 09-567

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring PAESMEM: NSF 11-xxx

National Science National Science FoundationFoundation

“NSF invests in the best ideas generated by scientists, engineers and educators working at the frontiers of knowledge, and across all fields of researchand education. Our mission, vision and goals are designed to maintain and strengthen the vitality of the U.S. science and engineering.”

National Science Foundation Investing in America’s Future Strategic Plan FY 2006-2011

The NSF StructureThe NSF Structure

Organization of EHR Organization of EHR DirectorateDirectorateDirectorate of Education & Human

Resources (EHR)

Division of Graduate Education(DGE)

Division of Undergraduate Education(DUE)

Division of Human Resource Development

(HRD)

Division of Research on Learning in Formal & Informal Settings (DRL)

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TUESTUESTransforming Undergraduate Ed in STEMTransforming Undergraduate Ed in STEM

Translating Learning Theory into PracticeTranslating Learning Theory into Practice

Our broadest, most innovative program

VisionExcellent STEM education for all undergraduate

students.

GoalStimulate, disseminate, and institutionalize

innovative developments in STEM education through the production of knowledge and the improvement of practice.

Program Mirrors Learning TheoryProgram Mirrors Learning Theory

Learner-Centered- learning begins with experience, knowledge, interest and motivation that learner brings to the setting.

Knowledge-Centered- problems can only be solved if students have a solid knowledge base from which they can draw

Community-Centered- Learning is usually more effective when it occurs within a community, where people can exchange ideas and receive feedback from other interest participants.

Assessment to support Learning- For quality of Learning to improve, there must be mechanisms in place to determine just how effective the teaching strategies are.

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New Challenges, New Strategies: Building Excellence in Undergraduate STEM education, AAAS 2010

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TUES: TUES: Four Project TypesFour Project TypesMaximum Award SizesMaximum Award Sizes

Type 1

$200,000 duration: 1 to 3 years

(+ $50,000 with community college partner)Type 2

$600,000 duration: 2 to 4 yearsType 3

$5,000,000 duration: 3 to 5 yrs (5 if max reqst)

Central Resource Projects: 3 - 5 yrs leadership & implementation work to increase impact of TUES

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TUES TUES Choice of Type ReflectsChoice of Type Reflects

Scale of the Project Number of institutions, students and faculty

Maturity of the Project (Stage) Phase 1 may lead to Phase 2, etc. But prior CCLI or TUES funding is not required

Scope of the Project Defined by number of components, based on

our view of the cyclic nature of educational innovation

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TUES TUES For Example, Type 1 reflectsFor Example, Type 1 reflects

Scope and Scale: One or two program components Limited number of students & faculty at one

institution

Expected Results: Contribute to understanding of effective STEM

education, typically by exploring new ideas Can serve as basis for Type 2 project Often motivated by an interest to apply for Type

2 later

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TUES: TUES: Types of projectsTypes of projectsIntegrate new instrumentation or equipment into under-graduate laboratories or field work Develop materials that use a new instructional approach embodying current understanding of how students learn

Introduce content from new research into existing courseExplore the practical aspects of using remote laboratories

Develop an instrument to assess students’ knowledgeProvide courses needed for efficient, seamless transfer from 2-yr to 4-yr colleges in partnership with other instn

Explore or pilot internet-based approaches for faculty professional development Develop interdisciplinary courses on public issues

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TUES TUES Types ReflectTypes ReflectScale of the Project Number of institutions, students and faculty

Maturity of the Project (Stage) Type 1 may lead to Phase 2, etc. But prior CCLI funding is not required

Scope of the Project Defined by number of components, based on

our view of the cyclic nature of educational innovation

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Cyclic Model for Creating Knowledge andCyclic Model for Creating Knowledge andImproving Practices in Improving Practices in STEMSTEM Education Education

Research on Teaching and

Learning

Implement Innovations

New Materials

and Strategies

Increase Faculty

Expertise

AssessAnd

Evaluate

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Five ComponentsFive Components from the from the

Cyclic Model Cyclic Model

Include one or more of these components • Create learning materials and teaching strategies• Develop faculty expertise• Implement educational innovations (not adoption)• Assess learning and evaluate innovation• Conduct research on STEM teaching and learning

Research

Implement

Materials

Expertise

Assess

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Component 1Component 1

Create Learning Materials and Teaching Strategies

New materials and toolsNew methods and strategiesRevised materials and strategiesAdapt and implement

Research

Implement

Materials

Expertise

Assess

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TUES: TUES: Over time, we have Over time, we have increased our emphasis onincreased our emphasis on

Building on and contributing to the literature on effective STEM education

Building a community of scholars in STEM education reform

Identifying project-specific measurable outcomes Project management and evaluation

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TUESTUES DeadlinesDeadlines

Deadline For Type 1 May 26, 27, 2011 (check website for

days)

Deadline For Type 2 and 3, and Central Resource Projects  January 13, 2012

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Science, Mathematics and Engineering

MentoringMentoringA White House Initiative on behalf ofA White House Initiative on behalf of

President of the United StatesPresident of the United StatesIdentify outstanding mentoring efforts that enhance participation of groups (women, minorities, disabled) that are underrepresented in STEMAwardees serve as leaders in national effort to develop fully nation’s human resources in STEMMust have demonstrated outstanding and sustained mentoring and effective guidance to a significant number underrepresented students at K-12, undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral levels for minimum of five years.

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Presidential Awards for Excellence in Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Science, Mathematics and Engineering

MentoringMentoring

Awardee may be • an individual or organization

• From academia, industry, government

• Awardee• $10,000.00 Honorarium

• Invited to Washington for • Awards Ceremony with the President of USA• Recognition Events• Meetings with Leaders in Federal Sector

education and research• Focused workshops addressing effective mentoring

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STEP

STEM Talent Expansion Program

[STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics]

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STEP Basic Goals• Increase the number of students (U.S. citizens or permanent residents) in STEM

•Increase associate’s / bachelor’s degs (established or emerging STEM fields)

•Community colleges get credit for transfers to 4-year STEM programs

NSF 08-569, Letter of Intent due August 17, 2010 Full Proposal September 28, 2010

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Maximum Support Levels – Enrollment based

$500 K for 5 years for 1- 5,000 FTE undergrads

$1.0 M for 5 years for 5,001-15,000 undergrads

$2.0 M for 5 years for >15,000 undergrads

One proposal per institution (can be a partner on only one proposal)

STEP Budget $28 million expected in FY 2010 20-24 awards expected

STEP

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STEP Some features of good proposals

Focus on Recruitment and Retention Set up numerical targets for each; pipeline model

Usually more than one STEM discipline included avoid reducing majors in other STEM majors

STEM Faculty are PIs

Strong administrative support plus buy-in from key departments.

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Successful projects might provide:• Bridge programs that enable additional

preparation for students from HS or community colleges

• Programs to improve the quality of student learning• Peer tutoring, learning communities• new pedagogical approaches (e.g. mastery

learning, active learning, SENCER courses)

• Programs to encourage undergraduate research

• Student support mechanisms

STEP

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Outcomes expected:Description of activities that will be

institutionalized from the project

Plan for continuing efforts to increase number of STEM students & graduates

Formative assessment of progress towards goals

Dissemination of project results to broader community

STEP

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S-STEM S-STEM NSF Scholarships in NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, & Science, Technology, Engineering, &

MathMath

Goal: Provides funds to institutions to provide scholarships to academically talented, but financially needy, students

Students can be pursuing associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degrees

Scholarships can be up to $10,000/yr - up to 4 yrs within the limits of students official level of need.

(They can be less than $10K and less than 4 yrs)

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S-STEMS-STEM DeadlinesDeadlines

Optional Letter of Intent: July 13, 2011

Proposal Deadline: Aug 11, 2011

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S-STEM S-STEM Major Features of ProgramMajor Features of Program

Most STEM disciplines are eligible - except Social & Behavioral sciences

Grant size - max $600,000 (4 s-ship yrs), (up to 7% can be spent for admin costs and up to 8% for student support services)

One proposal per constituent school or college that awards STEM degrees (e.g. school of eng, college of arts & sciences)

Est: $50 to $70 million available in FY’09

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S-STEM S-STEM Special program featuresSpecial program features

PI must be member of STEM facultyS-ships to “natural” cohorts of students S-STEM students are full time & are US Citizens, Residents, Nationals, or refugees Institution must provide some student support structures Optional enhancements: research opportunities, tutoring, internships, etc.

INSPIREINSPIRE

• Support potentially transformative interdisciplinary research that spans NSF’s programmatic boundaries.• Create new, robust, and long–term funding opportunities for novel ideas from the scientific community.• Catalyze a change of NSF culture: supporting cross-cutting collaborations throughout the agency.

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INSPIREINSPIRE

Proposals on any NSF-supported topic will be accepted. Proposals may be submitted at any time. GPG compliance is required. Awards will generally be made to an individual PI or a small team. An INSPIRE 1 award will be co-funded by at least two intellectually diverse divisions or programs. Centralized co-funding, approved by an OIA-coordinated NSF-wide group, will support up to 50% of each INSPIRE 1 award. There will be $12.35 million in the FY 2012 OIA budget for this purpose. If a directorate or office provides internal front-office funds, that contribution will be matched by OIA in the same manner as divisional or program funds.

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