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CONTACT PCS TO SET UP AN ENGINEERING LAB!
This is kind of cool! You might even consider visiting the J.A. & KATHRYN ALBERTSON FOUNDATION website or give them a call at (208) 424-2635.
As a volunteer in public schools, I am often asked "where can I raise money to get Lego® resources?" My response has always been: "The money is there." To be perfectly honest, I would rather see money spent on resources like Lego® elements than on half baked software or the newest gizmo on the computer market! Lego® elements as a constructive manipulative just have too much value for me.
To that end I am adding some grant writing information I found scribbled on some paper someplace. ( Okay I am borrowing freely from other sources...the majority of this information being common sense and commonly available elsewhere ). I hope it may be of use to you who are committed to developing Lego Labs and the like.
Develop a project. Brinstorm project ideas and decide which products meet your class needs.
Evaluate and select the most promising project idea. Collect supporting literature.
Plan your project in detail. ( Hey, I can even help with this! )
LOCATE FUNDING
Identify possible sources of funding. ( The Lego Group states they can help you with this by calling 1-800-362-4308 )
Write to funding sources for proposal guidelines.
Study guidelines and select appropriate funding sources.
WRITE GRANT PROPOSAL
Write proposal in accordance with guidleines. Revise proposal after review by peers. Request letters of support from faculty, principal, chairperson and others.
Have an outsider read the final draft. Submit proposal on or before deadline by certified mail.
A sample proposal requirement:
Proposals must be typed , double-spaced, unless otherwise noted, and single-sided on standard letter-sized paper. Font size must be no smaller than 10 point and width between characters should be set at normal ( 100% ). For ease in processing do not place your proposal in a bound folder or notebook. Only the required components descibed below should be included in the proposal: Submit one original and five copies of the completed proposal...
PROPOSAL COVER FORM The cover sheet on the back of this information packet must be completed and serve as the top page of your proposal. The sheet may be typed, printed legibly in ink, or reproduced in its entirety on a word processor. The name, address, and signature of the project's director's principal is required. Only one person may be designated as project director.
PROPOSAL ABSTRACT ( Not to exceed one double-spaced page. ) List the project title, the project director's name and the total budget figure at the top of the page. Briefly summarize the project's goals and activities in a concise nonphilisophical manner. A clear picture of what the project will accomplish should be evident from reading the abstract.
RATIONALE ( Not to exceed two double-spaced pages. ) Explain why there is a need for such a project in your school or school district. Focus on local data, including student performance, that support your choice of this particular project. These data can provide the baseline for an evaluation of the program's effectiveness.
CONTACT PCS TO SET UP AN ENGINEERING LAB!
First off, check out my page and links to the 21st CENTURY GRANTS located at:
www.weirdrichard.com/21grant.htm It is a great place to
start!
Next off, check out
Pitsco-DACTA's website on obtaining
grants for Lego® resources! Highly recommended!!
We need more GIRLS exploring Engineering! Check out:
The American Association of University Women. They can fund
engineering labs for girls! ( Now that would be cool! ).
Toshiba offers $5000 grants to worthy technological causes!
I know an engineering lab would fit the bill!
Texas Instruments and the T3 Folk maintain a site
with many links to sources of funding. ( http://www.ti.com/calc/docs/grants.htm ) The TI rep seemed convinced
this may be the way to go with finding funding for a Lego Lab ( applied math! ) Also, they link to
Yahoo's list of Grant sources.
Council for Exceptional Children (
CEC ) maintains a site. A friend of mine in a GT program tells me she has
had
success in getting funding for Lego supplies with these folk.
Technology Applications for People ( TAP ) America Award. The program focuses on uses of
technology that effectively link math and science topics to "real life" situations.
$10,000
TAPAA, Electronics Industries Foundation, 919 18th St NW, Ste 900 Washington DC, 20006
Computer Learning Foundation, (415) 217-3347, www.ComputerLearning.org for more
imformation regarding contests and prizes.
Global Information Infrastructure ( GII ) Education Awards
honor innovatiove and practical uses of Internet an network technology. (888) 282-0809, www.gii.com for further information.
Microsoft Curriculum Grant Program. Targeted areas include computer science, programming, Web development,
and information systems. Check out http://academicoop.isu.edu for more information.
National Science Teachers Association awards. check out (703) 243-7100, www.nsta.org/programs for more
information.
TOYOTA TIME states "We are sure you have several teachers in your building who have creative ideas they would like to try in their mathematics classes...Here is their opportunity to apply for grants of up to $10,000 to put those ideas into action." Call 1-888-573-TIME or email toyotatime@nctm.org for more information.
You might give eduplace (http://www.eduplace.com/techcent/grants/) a look up for helpful hints
in grant writing.
GTE ( www.gte.com ) offers several grants and is certainly worth checking out!
How about Family PC Magazine? They offer $5000 grants to worthy technological causes!
I bet an engineering lab would fit the bill!
The Local Independent Charities of America (http://www.lic.org/ ) has a
search engine that may guide you to a local source of assistance.
The National Science Foundation has an
active interest in helping engineering. This link:
( http://www.eng.nsf.gov/eec/ ) leads
to their engineering programs. You might check out the CAREER program!
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