What Early Childhood Literacy Program Funding Covers

Defining Education Research Infrastructure for Mid-scale RI-1 Funding The Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 (Mid-scale RI-1) grant program, supported by a Banking Institution, is designed to fund research infrastructure projects with total costs exceeding the NSF's Major Research Instrumentation program. For the education sector, this means investing in critical infrastructure that enables cutting-edge research and education. To be eligible, education research infrastructure projects must meet specific definition and scope boundaries. Education research infrastructure encompasses a broad range of resources, including equipment, cyberinfrastructure, large-scale datasets, and personnel. For the purposes of the Mid-scale RI-1 grant, eligible projects should focus on developing and implementing research infrastructure that supports innovation and advancement in education. This may include, but is not limited to, educational technology, data analytics platforms, and research personnel with expertise in education research methodologies. Concrete use cases for education research infrastructure include the development of virtual and augmented reality tools for educational settings, creation of large-scale datasets to study educational outcomes, and implementation of artificial intelligence-powered adaptive learning systems. Projects should demonstrate a clear understanding of the research questions they aim to address and the infrastructure required to support them. Applicants from the education sector should be aware that the Mid-scale RI-1 grant is not intended to support general educational initiatives or infrastructure that is not directly related to research. For example, projects focused solely on teacher professional development or curriculum development are not eligible. ## Trends and Priorities in Education Research Infrastructure The education sector is experiencing a significant shift towards technology-enabled learning, driven in part by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, there is a growing need for research infrastructure that can support the development and evaluation of innovative educational technologies. The Mid-scale RI-1 grant program is likely to prioritize projects that address this need, particularly those that focus on emerging technologies such as AI, VR, and AR. In addition to technological advancements, there is also a growing emphasis on interdisciplinary research in education, incorporating insights and methods from fields such as psychology, sociology, and economics. Projects that demonstrate a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and research are likely to be well-positioned for funding. Capacity requirements for education research infrastructure projects will vary depending on the specific scope and goals of the project. However, applicants should be prepared to demonstrate a clear understanding of the personnel and resources required to support their proposed infrastructure, including any necessary training or professional development for research staff. One concrete regulation that applies to education research infrastructure projects is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which governs the handling of student educational records. Applicants must demonstrate compliance with FERPA and other relevant regulations when working with sensitive student data. ## Operational Challenges and Requirements Delivering education research infrastructure projects can be complex, particularly when it comes to integrating new technologies and datasets into existing research workflows. One verifiable delivery challenge unique to the education sector is the need to ensure that research infrastructure is accessible and usable for diverse populations of students and educators. To address this challenge, applicants should prioritize user-centered design and testing, involving educators and students in the development and validation of research infrastructure. This may require additional staffing and resource requirements, including expertise in user experience design and accessibility. In terms of workflow, education research infrastructure projects often involve multiple stakeholders, including researchers, educators, and students. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate a clear understanding of the workflows and data flows involved in their proposed infrastructure, as well as any necessary safeguards to protect sensitive student data. Eligibility barriers for education research infrastructure projects may include a lack of prior experience with large-scale research infrastructure or limited access to relevant datasets and resources. Applicants should be aware of these potential barriers and demonstrate strategies for addressing them in their proposals. Compliance traps for education research infrastructure projects include failure to comply with relevant regulations, such as FERPA, and inadequate attention to data security and privacy. Applicants should demonstrate a clear understanding of these risks and outline strategies for mitigating them. The Mid-scale RI-1 grant program is not intended to support projects that are primarily focused on general educational initiatives or infrastructure that is not directly related to research. Applicants should be aware of these limitations and ensure that their proposals are clearly aligned with the program's goals and priorities. In terms of measurement and evaluation, the Mid-scale RI-1 grant program will require applicants to demonstrate clear outcomes and KPIs related to their proposed research infrastructure. For education research infrastructure projects, this may include metrics such as the number of researchers or educators using the infrastructure, the number of publications or presentations resulting from the research, or the impact of the infrastructure on educational outcomes. Reporting requirements for the Mid-scale RI-1 grant program will include regular progress reports and a final project report. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate a clear understanding of these requirements and outline strategies for meeting them. Q: How does the Mid-scale RI-1 grant program differ from other funding opportunities for education research infrastructure? A: The Mid-scale RI-1 grant program is distinct from other funding opportunities in its focus on supporting research infrastructure projects with total costs exceeding the NSF's Major Research Instrumentation program. This means that applicants should be prepared to propose large-scale projects that are likely to have a significant impact on the field of education research. Q: What types of education research infrastructure projects are likely to be prioritized for funding under the Mid-scale RI-1 grant program? A: Projects that focus on emerging technologies such as AI, VR, and AR, and that demonstrate a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and research, are likely to be well-positioned for funding. Additionally, projects that address the needs of diverse populations of students and educators, and that prioritize user-centered design and testing, are likely to be prioritized. Q: How can applicants ensure that their proposed education research infrastructure project is compliant with relevant regulations, such as FERPA? A: Applicants should demonstrate a clear understanding of relevant regulations and outline strategies for ensuring compliance. This may include working with institutional review boards, implementing robust data security and privacy measures, and ensuring that all personnel involved in the project are trained in relevant regulations and guidelines.