Chemical Education Today
Report
New Guidelines for Undergraduate and Technological Education at the NSF Web Site by Donald J. Wink
Advanced Technological Education
Preparing and Submitting CCLI Proposals
The NSF Web site now has the newest guidelines for two important programs.1 One is the Advanced Technological Education program at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/ getpub?nsf0062. The ATE program supports those involved in technician training. There is a preliminary proposal deadline of May 25, 2000. Two-year colleges are expected to be the leaders on these proposals, which can also involve work in secondary schools and at four-year institutions.
The guidelines include sections that are important in understanding the process and the goals of CCLI in full. First, there are important and well-presented rules regarding cost sharing on all CCLI proposals, particularly those requesting funds for instrumentation. Second, a separate section highlights the “special themes” of all DUE programs, including K–12 teacher preparation, diversity, faculty development, and the incorporation of technology. This is also apparent in reading the guidelines’ extensive discussion of merit review for this program. The issue of evaluation is also important in all CCLI tracks. The guidelines clearly indicate the need for an independent evaluation and suggest four resources for new investigators unfamiliar with educational evaluation. All CCLI proposals must now be submitted using FastLane, NSF’s electronic proposal management server system. Proposal applicants whose institutions do not have in place access to FastLane should start the process as soon as possible. Detailed information on negotiating FastLane was presented in an earlier column (1). The deadline for submission of full proposals of all CCLI programs is in the first week of June 2000. Because of the large number of proposals that must be processed through FastLane, the actual date is now split between June 5 (A&I) and June 6 (EMD and ND). Those interested in looking over the titles and abstracts of previous NSF awardees using the “fielded search” at http:// www.nsf.gov/verity/srchawdf.htm should use the new CCLI codes under “NSF Program” (2). To find awards in the CCLI program, enter “7428” for the A&I track, “7427” for the EMD track, or “7429” for the ND track.
Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement The second new announcement covers the Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) program. The Division of Undergraduate Education operates the program, which incorporates the former Course and Curriculum Development and Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement programs. The guidelines (NSF Document No. 00-63) are available in four different formats at http://www.nsf.gov/ cgi-bin/getpub?nsf0063. There are three tracks to the CCLI program, covering Educational Materials Development (EMD), Adaptation and Implementation (A&I), and National Dissemination (ND). The EMD track is intended to support the development of actual products that will be used in courses. The track has two different stages. A Proof of Concept stage, limited in budget to $75,000, will allow for the initial development of an idea or the evaluation of an existing idea prior to full-scale development. The Proof of Concept stage will usually precede a second stage, Full Development, that can have a budget up to $500,000. The A&I track does not require a proof of concept because it supports the investigator who wants to use ideas already in place elsewhere. One kind of A&I proposal will use materials developed in another location in a new context and with new populations. A second kind of proposal introduces new lab or field experiences into an existing curriculum. A third area is the use of new learning methodologies, such as collaborative learning or online pedagogy, in new arenas. Instrumentation-only proposals may be submitted in all areas of this track. Support is available up to $100,000 for one course or $200,000 for multiple courses. The ND track is for very large proposals for extensive faculty development initiatives. Up to $1,000,000 is available, and a preliminary letter of intent by April 24, 2000 is strongly suggested.
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Note 1. Information about these NSF Guidelines and their deadlines was posted by NSF on March 1 and March 3 of this year. It is being published as soon as possible thereafter.
Literature Cited 1. Wink, D. J. J. Chem. Educ. 1999, 76, 1181. 2. Wink, D. J. J. Chem. Educ. 1998, 75, 677.
Donald J. Wink teaches in the Department of Chemistry (m/c 111), University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60607;
[email protected].
Journal of Chemical Education • Vol. 77 No. 5 May 2000 • JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu
