[Coehd] Funding Opportunity: Dear Colleague Letter on Artificial Intelligence in K-12 Ed

Greetings Colleagues, Many of you are exploring research into artificial intelligence and its implications for education. NSF has released a Dear Colleague Letter informing us about funding on AI in classrooms and out-of-school settings. The application mechanism is the RAPID grants, which I pasted below the section from the page II-43 of the NSF Proposal and Award Policy and Procedures Guide (as cited in the DCL). NSF 23-097 Dear Colleague Letter: Rapidly Accelerating Research on Artificial Intelligence in K-12 Education in Formal and Informal Settings Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) May 8, 2023 Dear Colleagues: The unprecedented speed of advancements in machine learning (ML), generative artificial intelligence (AI), and large language models (LLM) is rapidly transforming formal and informal educational settings and systems. Educators and learners are grappling with unanticipated and rapidly changing AI that impacts both day-to-day K-12 classroom practices and the use of AI in informal (out of school) settings. In response to these technological changes, the nature of learning, teaching, and assessment is rapidly evolving. Schools are faced with insufficient research-based findings on the use of AI tools and environments for teaching; other educational organizations are equally challenged. There is also a great need to clarify which AI concepts and principles K-12 students should be learning. Finally, it is critical to investigate the ways AI will both promote and impact equitable education and inclusive learning. As a result, there is a severe urgent need for research on the use of AI, and the teaching of AI, in K-12 classroom and informal settings. This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) invites researchers to submit Rapid Response Research (RAPID) proposals for time-sensitive research including, but not limited to: * Developing AI tools and environments to advance age-appropriate equitable learning and inclusive teaching; * Supporting learning about and interest in AI; * Using AI to teach AI; and, * Integrating generative AI in education in an ethical, responsible, and effective way. Proposed projects must include strong data-driven research methods in need of a quick response due to rapidly changing AI. NSF strongly encourages proposals that will sustain and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM education research. Likewise, NSF is seeking proposals that will have an impact on underserved and underrepresented schools and communities. Requests for RAPID proposals may be for up to $200K and up to one year in duration. PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Proposers must submit a 1-page Concept Outline that details the proposed research by email to RAPID-DRL-AI(a)nsf.gov. The prospective PI will receive an email from the cognizant NSF program officer specifying whether a full proposal may be submitted. The email confirming approval to submit a RAPID proposal must be uploaded by the prospective PI in the “Program Officer Concurrence Email” section of Research.gov. Guidance on submitting a RAPID proposal may be found in Chapter II.F.2 of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide<https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg> (PAPPG). In addition, the following instructions apply: * Either an IRB approval or approved exemption is required. The IRB approval date or exemption number should be provided on the proposal Cover Sheet. * Proposals must specify plans for bounding the proposed research within reasonable constraints given rapidly changing technology. Invited proposals must be submitted via Research.gov to the current PAPPG and directed to the EDU/DRL “ITEST - Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers”. Proposal titles should begin with the phrase, "DRL AI:" after the prepended text “RAPID:”. After the submission of the RAPID proposal, PIs should alert the cognizant program officers by sending an email to RAPID-DRL-AI(a)nsf.gov with the proposal number assigned to the submission. Proposals submitted in response to this DCL will be subject to internal NSF review only. Proposals submitted to this DCL will be reviewed and funded on a rolling basis while this notice is posted. DISSEMINATION Briefing Paper and Presentation at NSF forum Each project must post a briefing paper on a public project website, 12-months post-award. The briefing paper should inform a broad audience about (a) research results; and (b) how the results inform future research and practice in the short- and long-term. The PI also must present results at an NSF forum that will be held virtually approximately one-year post-award. POINTS OF CONTACT All correspondence should be directed to RAPID-DRL-AI(a)nsf.gov. DUE DATE Required Concept Outlines may be submitted at any time. Sincerely, James L. Moore III, Assistant Director Directorate for STEM Education Here are the instructions for submitting a RAPID grant proposal application. 2. Rapid Response Research (RAPID) Proposal RAPID is a type of proposal used when there is a severe urgency with regard to availability of or access to, data, facilities or specialized equipment, including quick-response research on natural or anthropogenic events and similar unanticipated occurrences. RAPID proposals are NOT for: • projects that are appropriate for submission as "regular" NSF proposals; • events that are unanticipated due to lack of awareness of timelines; or • collection of only non-perishable data. PIs are advised that they must submit a concept outline prior to submission of a RAPID proposal. This will aid in determining the appropriateness of the work for consideration under this type of proposal. Concept outlines can be submitted either by email to a cognizant Program Officer or via ProSPCT. An NSF funding opportunity that includes RAPID proposals will provide specific guidance on submission of concept outlines using either email or via ProSPCT. See Chapter I.D.1 for additional information on concept outlines. For concept outlines that must be submitted via ProSPCT, users must have a valid Login.gov account to access the tool. The prospective PI will receive an email from the cognizant NSF program officer that specifies whether a full proposal may be submitted. The email confirming approval to submit a RAPID proposal must be uploaded by the prospective PI in the “Program Officer Concurrence Email” section of Research.gov. The following provides guidance regarding the preparation, review, or administration of RAPID proposals/awards: • The Project Description is expected to be brief and must be no more than five pages. It must include clear statements as to why the proposed research is urgent and why RAPID is the most appropriate type of proposal for supporting the proposed work. Note this proposal preparation instruction deviates from the standard proposal preparation instructions contained in this Guide; RAPID proposals must otherwise be compliant with the proposal preparation requirements specified in Part I of the PAPPG. • The “RAPID” proposal type must be selected in the proposal preparation module in Research.gov. • The project title will be preceded by the prefix “RAPID:” Only internal merit review is required for RAPID proposals. In some instances, Program Officers may elect to obtain external reviews to inform their decision. If external review is to be obtained, then the PI will be informed in the interest of maintaining the transparency of the review and recommendation process. • Email documentation from at least one NSF Program Officer confirming approval to submit a RAPID proposal must be uploaded by the PI as a document entitled “RAPID – Program Officer Concurrence Email” in the Supplementary Documentation section of Research.gov. • Requests may be for up to $200K (including indirect costs) and up to one year in duration. The award size, however, will be consistent with the project scope and of a size comparable to grants in similar areas. • RAPID proposals are not eligible for reconsideration, if declined. See Chapter IV.D.2.b. • No-cost extensions and requests for supplemental funding will be processed in accordance with standard NSF policies and procedures. • Renewed funding of RAPID awards may be requested only through submission of a Traditional or Accomplishment-Based Renewal proposal that will be subject to full external merit review. See Chapter V for further information. [the source document for the above instructions is https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/2022-10/nsf23_1.pdf] Please contact me for support if you are interested in applying. Thank you. --Iwan Mr. Iwan Notowidigdo Senior Grant Development Manager The University of Texas at San Antonio College of Education & Human Development (COEHD) iwan.notowidigdo(a)utsa.edu (Mobile: 347-231-5931) Regular Office Hours NEW​​​ Mondays at 3 PM CST No advanced registration necessary https://utsa.zoom.us/j/92065601904 or schedule an appointment with me through Calendly https://calendly.com/iwan-notowidigdo/30min [cid:4aa941e6-2816-4423-82ab-722dd9c5ff19]