The National Science Foundation’s Computing Education for the 21st Century (CE21) program addresses the challenges of underproduction of computing degrees, lack of diversity in the field, and absence of computing in K-12 education. It focuses on building a research base for computing education, developing rigorous curricula, training teachers, and increasing the participation of underrepresented groups in computing. The program aims to engage diverse student populations, teach fundamental concepts, and develop computational competencies essential for a computationally empowered workforce.
Opportunity ID: 202114
General Information
| Document Type:: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number:: | 12-609 |
| Funding Opportunity Title:: | Computing Education for the 21st Century |
| Opportunity Category:: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation:: | |
| Funding Instrument Type:: | |
| Category of Funding Activity:: | Science and Technology and other Research and Development |
| Category Explanation:: | |
| Expected Number of Awards:: | 20 |
| Assistance Listings Number(s):: | 47.070 — Computer and Information Science and Engineering |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:: | No |
| Version:: | Synopsis 4 |
| Posted Date:: | Sep 17, 2012 |
| Last Updated Date:: | Jan 13, 2014 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications:: | Mar 13, 2013 |
| Current Closing Date for Applications:: | |
| Archive Date:: | Jan 13, 2014 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding:: | $ 15,000,000 |
| Award Ceiling:: | $10,000,000 |
| Award Floor:: | $200,000 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants:: | Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) |
| Additional Information on Eligibility:: | *Organization Limit: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities. -State and Local Governments: State educational offices or organizations and local school districts. -Universities and Colleges – Universities and two- and four-year colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic institutions. |
Additional Information
| Agency Name:: | National Science Foundation |
| Description:: | The Computing Education for the 21st Century (CE21) program aims to build a robust computing research community, a computationally competent 21st century workforce, and a computationally empowered citizenry. In this undertaking, there are three interrelated challenges: the significant underproduction of degrees needed for the computing and computing-related workforce, the longstanding underrepresentation of many segments of our population, and the lack of a presence of computing in K-12. Innovation in information technology (IT) has driven economic growth, underlies many of our recent scientific advances, and ensures our national security; it is not surprising then that predicted IT job growth is very strong. Yet students are not majoring in computing in sufficient numbers to fulfill the forecasted demand. This shortfall is exacerbated by the longstanding underrepresentation of women, persons with disabilities, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and indigenous peoples in computing. We cannot meet workforce demands without their participation and we cannot, in an increasingly competitive world economy, afford to cede the talents and creativity of so many. To ensure their participation, and the full participation of all students, we must provide better opportunities to study computing in K-12. We must start with a better understanding of how students learn computing. Unlike many of the other STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines, computing has not developed a robust research base on the teaching and learning of its fundamental concepts and skills. That research base must be built and it must be used in providing all students with rigorous academic curricula that cover computational concepts and skills, and the breadth of application and potential of computing. Providing access to rigorous, academic computing in K-12 will require an unprecedented effort to develop curriculum and materials and to prepare teachers.CE21 thus supports efforts in three tracks: Computing Education Research (CER) proposals will aim to develop a research base for computing education. Projects may conduct basic research on the teaching and learning of computational competencies in face-to-face or online settings; they may design, develop, test, validate, and refine materials, measurement tools, and methods for teaching in specific contexts; and/or they may implement promising small-scale interventions in order to study their efficacy with particular groups. Efforts can focus on computational thinking as taught in computing courses or infused across the curriculum, they can target students or their teachers in informal or formal educational settings, or they can address any level within the K-16 pipeline, from elementary school through high school and college. CS 10K proposals will aim to develop the knowledge base and partnerships needed to catalyze the CS 10K Project. The CS 10K Project aims to have rigorous, academic curricula incorporated into computing courses in 10,000 high schools, taught by 10,000 well-trained teachers. CS 10K proposals can address a wide range of needed activities, including the development of course materials, pedagogy, and methods courses, as well as professional development and ongoing support for teachers, approaches to scaling, best practices for increasing the participation of students from underrepresented groups, and strategies for building K-12, university, and community partnerships. Broadening Participation (BP) proposals will aim to develop and assess novel interventions that contribute to our knowledge base on the effective teaching and learning of computing for students from the underrepresented groups: women, persons with disabilities, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and indigenous peoples. Proposed interventions should be designed to engage and retain students from these groups and, at the same time, to increase their knowledge of computational thinking concepts and skills. Proposers are encouraged to leverage the resources provided by the existing BPC-A Alliances and to develop interventions that, if proven successful, could be implemented within a BPC-A Alliance. For additional information on the Alliances, see http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503593&org=NSF.In aggregate, CE21 projects will contribute to our understanding of how diverse student populations are engaged and retained in computing, learn its fundamental concepts, and develop computational competencies that position them to contribute to an increasingly computationally empowered workforce. |
| Link to Additional Information:: | |
| Grantor Contact Information:: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: |
Version History
| Version | Modification Description | Updated Date |
|---|---|---|
| Synopsis 4 | Opportunity NSF 12-609 has been archived and replaced by NSF 14-523. | Jan 13, 2014 |
| Synopsis 3 | updated closing date–rc; | |
| Synopsis 2 | updated 4.26.13–rc; | |
| Synopsis 1 |
Package
Package No: 1