National Science Foundation program solicitation
The Office of Sponsored Programs announces a National Science Foundation program solicitation for Widening Implementation & Demonstration of Evidence Based Reforms (WIDER).
Synopsis of Program:
The chief goal of WIDER is to transform institutions of higher education into supportive environments for STEM faculty members to substantially increase their use of evidence-based teaching and learning practices. The first recommendation in the Report of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), "Engage to Excel," is to increase widespread implementation of evidence-based practices in order to increase persistence in STEM and contribute to the goal of producing 1 million additional STEM graduates.
Through this process, WIDER seeks to substantially increase the scale of application of highly effective methods of STEM teaching and learning in institutions of higher education, by employing instructional materials and methods that have a convincing evidentiary basis of effectiveness. In particular WIDER seeks this transformation for high enrollment, lower division courses required for many STEM majors and taken by many other students to fulfill general education distribution requirements.
Included in our broad definition of effective STEM teaching and learning are not only instructional practices in traditional learning environments, but also modern laboratory methods and field research, proven distance education methods (or hybrid designs incorporating both face-to-face and distance methods), and improved approaches to motivating student interest in STEM. In all cases, the primary goal of WIDER is to increase substantially the scale of these improvements within and across the higher education sector in order to achieve:
(1) Improved student learning;
(2) Increased numbers of students choosing STEM majors, particularly from demographic groups underrepresented in STEM;
(3) Improved retention in the first two years of undergraduate study and to graduation of all STEM majors.
Applicants may apply for WIDER grants to begin institutional planning efforts, to support implementation efforts for evidence-based teaching and learning practices, and for research on how to increase the importance placed on evidence-based practices in institutional strategic planning and faculty rewards.
To see the full announcement go to http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13552/nsf13552.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click
Grants are integral to establishing "Gallaudet as the epicenter of research development and outreach leading to advancements in knowledge and practice for deaf and hard of hearing people and all humanity." A central component of Gallaudet University's mission is the enhancement of faculty and staff opportunities for creative and scholarly research and training.
If you have a question about the grant writing process or if you have an idea or concept and would like to discuss potential grant opportunities, please contact Audrey Wineglass Foster at audrey.foster@gallaudet.edu. We look forward to meeting and working with you.
