The National Science Foundation’s Discovery Research K-12 (DR-K12) program seeks to enable significant advances in K-12 student and teacher learning of the STEM disciplines through research about, and development and implementation of, innovative resources, models, and technologies for use by students, teachers, and policy makers. Activities funded under this solicitation begin with a research question or hypothesis about K-12 STEM learning or teaching; develop, adapt, or study innovative resources, models, or technologies; and demonstrate if, how, for whom, and why their implementation affects learning.
This solicitation calls for proposals that are responsive to either the Contextual Challenges strand or the Frontier Challenges strand. The former invites proposals that address the more immediate and pressing challenges facing K-12 STEM education at the national level. The latter anticipates opportunities for the future and supports initiatives on the frontiers of knowledge which challenge existing assumptions about learning and teaching within or across STEM fields, envision needs of learners in 10 to 15 years, and consider new and innovative ways to reach learners. Within these strands, the program calls for full research and development projects, exploratory projects, and synthesis projects. A DR-K12 Resource Network will be funded to support these efforts in FY 2008. In addition, conferences related to the mission of the DR-K12 program are also supported.
Application deadline is January 28, 2008. For application details, click here.