When I tell people about the K-12 science programs I evaluate, they invariably say “I wish they had something like that when I was in school!” I agree. At Rockman et al, my colleagues and I have studied projects that use interactive multimedia to teach evolution, that give students opportunities to analyze real scientific data, and that bring together storybooks, hands-on activities, and a planetarium visit to teach early elementary students about the Sun and Moon. Along the way, we’ve begun to discover how students learn and how teachers teach with these new approaches, and have generated more questions to study. None of this would be possible without funding from the National Science Foundation’s Discovery Research PreK-12 (NSF DRK-12) program.
The DRK-12 program synopsis reads as follows:
The Discovery Research PreK-12 program (DRK-12) seeks to significantly enhance the learning and teaching of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science (STEM) by preK-12 students and teachers, through research and development of STEM education innovations and approaches. Projects in the DRK-12 program build on fundamental research in STEM education and prior research and development efforts that provide theoretical and empirical justification for proposed projects. Projects should result in research-informed and field-tested outcomes and products that inform teaching and learning. Teachers and students who participate in DRK-12 studies are expected to enhance their understanding and use of STEM content, practices and skills. (Source: DRK-12 Program Solicitation 17-584, p. 1)
The program funds six types of projects (1) Exploratory, (2) Design and Development, (3) Impact, (4) Implementation and Improvement, (5) Syntheses, and (6) Conferences about STEM assessment, learning, and teaching. The first four project levels correspond with the Common Guidelines for Educational Research and Development. Proposals must be submitted by 5PM local time on Monday, November 18th, 2019.
Successful DRK-12 proposals combine innovative program and materials development with clearly articulated, rigorous research on implementation and outcomes. A logic model or theory of change can help proposers identify the critical features of their intervention. A Blumenfeld chart is useful for unpacking the research questions, and aligning them with hypotheses, instruments, data collection methods, and analytic approaches. These graphics may not necessarily be in the final proposal, but can still be extremely beneficial for planning.
More information about the NSF DRK-12 grant program can be found on NSF’s DRK-12 page. Click here to find recently-funded DRK-12 proposals. You can find additional information, including proposal webinar recordings and tip sheets, in the Community for Advancing Discovery Research in Education (CADRE)’s NSF DRK-12 Proposal Toolkit.
Rockman et al has served as the research partner or third-party evaluator on nine DRK-12 projects over the last six years. Based on our experiences, we’ve even compiled some tips around NSF proposal planning to get you started: 2019 and 2018 posts. If you are planning or considering an application for DRK-12 and are seeking a research partner or third-party evaluator, we encourage you to contact us to discuss your project and needs. We are always happy to share what we’ve learned to help you develop a strong proposal.