Creating Successful Proposals for Educational Technology Projects

1. Creating Successful Proposals for Educational Technology Projects Educational Technology Integration

2. Heather Hurley • Jeff Sun • www.sun-associates.com • hhurley@sun-associates.com • 978-453-3070

3. Goals for this Session • What does it take to create a successful educational technology grant proposal? • What are some general rules for grant and proposal writing? • Where can one find proposal-writing resources and funding information? • Others?

4. Key Items for a Successful Grant Proposal • A technology plan with clear curriculum-based goals and objectives is the #1 key to a successful funding request. • The plan ties your funding request into the big picture of what technology means in your school or district. • What do you know about your school’s educational technology plan??

5. Technology Grants • There are no easy answers to finding funds for technology... • The majority funding is for curriculum and staff development • Most funders expect you to have your infrastructure in place • “Computers” are routine whereas good use of that hardware is innovative • Funders support innovation

6. What is Innovative? • Curriculum mappings • Staff development models • Innovative technologies • Combinations of all of the above

7. Hallmarks of a Well-Written Technology Proposal • Clear and documented links to a strategic technology plan • Clearly defined teaching and learning goals which build upon proven practice • The project involves more than one teacher and/or classroom (although focus on one is fine) • The project has matching funds and support from other sources • A strong evaluation component

8. Bottom Line? • Over the long run, the best source for funding is the local initiative • Your community must come to believe in the value of technology tools • No amount of grant funds will continually and constantly support the use and integration of technology tools

9. Tips for Proposal-Writers • 10 Tips for Proposal-Writers • www.sun-associates.com/resources/10tips.html • Read the Request for Proposals!! • It’s surprising how many people miss this basic point • The RFP should serve as your proposal’s blueprint and virtually the table of contents • Organize the proposal in the same order as the sections of the RFP

10. Follow the rules, regulations, and/or guidelines • Adhere to page limits, budget limitations, IRS rules, deadlines, etc.. • Be concise, but don’t leave out important points • Obviously, this is the key to “good writing”

11. Working a Sample Proposal • In groups, read the sample RFP • Discuss and outline • What are they asking for? • What are the criteria for funding? • Read the sample proposals • Discuss and Score

12. Report Out • What are the proposal’s strong points? • What are the proposal’s weak points? • Should this be funded? • Why or why not • Frame your responses along the line of the review questions and the RFP

13. Things to Think About... • Involve other people in your search for funders and in the proposal-writing process • Don’t overlook local funding sources • Think broadly! Do not limit yourself to seeking a particular type of grant or to a particular funding source • Ground your proposal in relevant literature

14. Does Your Proposal Answer These Questions? • How will this project positively impact student learning? • How will the funds we are requesting create a ultimately self-sustaining project? • How does this request fit into our local educational technology plan? • How does this proposal address particular funding priorities? • e.g.., areas of poverty, empowerment zones, gender equity, etc.

15. Common Proposal Mistakes • Proposals not written to the guidelines • too long, requests for non-allowed expenses, etc. • Proposals that attempt to do too much • No singular grant will cover all your technology needs. • Proposals that are written by only one person • A good proposal needs the ideas and contributions of several people. Proposal writing is a collaborative effort!

16. Proposals that do not directly address student outcomes • Funders want to fund technology for children, not teachers (as hard as this may be to understand...) • Funders want to know that that their funds have had some impact. • How will your project demonstrate this impact?

17. Evaluation • All proposals should have an evaluation component…even if the RFP does not mandate one! • Formative vs. Summative • Allocating sufficient resources for evaluation

18. Developing evaluation questions • Evaluation questions must tie back to project goals and objectives • Ideally, your actual proposal will define… • Evaluation questions • Data collection and analysis methodologies • Stonger proposals will detail this information even if an outside evaluator will conduct the actual evaluation

19. Internet Resources for Funding Information • www.ed.gov/funding.html • The US Department of Education’s on-line grant information resource • fdncenter.org • The Foundation Center. An excellent source for information on foundation and private grants • www.eschoolnews.com/funding/ • eSchool News is an electronic newsletter with information on a wide variety of funding opportunities

20. and a few more... • www.sun-associates.com/grantwriting.html • Tips for proposal-writers, example proposals, etc. • www.learner.org/sami/pages/fund-l.php3 • www.nsf.gov/home/grants.htm • myweb.magicnet.net/~gwest/grant.htm

21. For more information... • Heather Hurley • www.sun-associates.com • hhurley@sun-associates.com • 978-453-3070