Ideas Lab: Personalized Engineering Learning | 23 627

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Ideas Lab "Personalized Engineering Learning" (NSF 23-627)

What is this NSF funding opportunity?

This is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity structured as an Ideas Lab called "Personalized Engineering Learning." An Ideas Lab is an intensive, highly interactive convening intended to spark new, cross-disciplinary collaborations and quickly shape bold, high-risk/high-reward research directions around a defined grand challenge.

How is an Ideas Lab different from a typical NSF program solicitation?

Unlike a standard grant program where teams usually submit a fully formed project plan from the start, an Ideas Lab is designed to bring researchers and practitioners together across disciplines to rapidly develop new collaborations and project concepts. The emphasis is on generating and refining ambitious, potentially transformative ideas through the Ideas Lab process.

What is the grand challenge for this Ideas Lab?

The grand challenge is advancing engineering education research so learning experiences and assessments can be personalized at a much more advanced level than is common today, in both K-12 settings and higher education contexts.

What is the main goal of the solicitation?

The core aim is to develop the knowledge, methods, and enabling technologies needed to tailor engineering teaching and evaluation to individual learners and learning contexts.

What kinds of research directions does NSF highlight as promising?

The opportunity description points to several broad research avenues NSF views as especially promising, including: (1) personalized engineering education (theories, instructional approaches, curricula, and assessments that adapt to learner differences), (2) multimodal sensing for personalized learning systems (using multiple data streams to infer understanding and engagement), and (3) team-based personalized learning (personalization that accounts for team roles and collaboration while meeting learning objectives).

What does "personalized engineering education" mean in this context?

It refers to developing new theories, instructional approaches, curriculum designs, and assessment strategies that adapt to differences in learners' backgrounds, prior knowledge, interests, and progress, rather than using one-size-fits-all instruction and evaluation.

What does NSF mean by "multimodal sensing" for personalized learning?

Multimodal sensing suggests integrating multiple forms of evidence about learning and engagement. Examples named in the opportunity description include interaction logs, written work, speech, gesture, eye gaze, physiological signals, and other observable indicators that could help infer what a learner understands, how they are engaging, or where they are struggling.

Why does the solicitation emphasize team-based personalized learning?

Engineering education often occurs in groups and design teams. The solicitation recognizes that personalization may need to account not only for individuals but also for team roles, collaboration patterns, and equitable participation, while still achieving learning objectives.

Is this opportunity intended to be cross-disciplinary?

Yes. NSF explicitly emphasizes bringing together experts across scientific, engineering, computing, and education communities to create solutions that would be difficult to produce within a single discipline. The breadth of NSF units involved signals a strong expectation for cross-cutting approaches.

Which NSF units are involved in organizing or coordinating this Ideas Lab?

The Ideas Lab is coordinated through NSF units spanning Engineering, Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, STEM Education, and Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. Units specifically mentioned include the Office of Emerging Frontiers and Multidisciplinary Activities (EFMA), Engineering Education and Centers (EEC), Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation, Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS), Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, multiple divisions within the STEM Education directorate (including graduate education, undergraduate education, and research on learning in formal and informal settings), and Translational Impacts in TIP.

What does the list of participating NSF units suggest about competitive projects?

Based on the description, competitive projects are likely to blend learning sciences, AI or data-driven approaches, assessment design, and practical deployment considerations, rather than staying within a single traditional discipline.

Was there an informational webinar for potential applicants?

Yes. An informational webinar was planned for October 2023 and was hosted by EFMA to walk potential applicants through the solicitation and answer questions, with access details posted on the EFMA website. The date has passed, but it indicates NSF intended active community engagement around the Ideas Lab process and fit.

Who is eligible to submit proposals?

Eligibility is limited to specific U.S.-based applicant types described in the opportunity information: U.S. for-profit organizations (including small businesses) with strong research or education capabilities and an innovation focus; non-profit, non-academic organizations (such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies) directly tied to research or educational activities; accredited U.S. institutions of higher education (two- or four-year, including community colleges) acting on behalf of faculty; and federally recognized Tribal Nations.

Are U.S. for-profit companies allowed to apply?

Yes. U.S. for-profit organizations, including small businesses, are listed as eligible if they have strong research or education capabilities and an innovation focus.

Are non-profit organizations eligible even if they are not universities?

Yes. Non-profit, non-academic organizations are listed as eligible when they are directly tied to research or educational activities. Examples provided include independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies.

Are community colleges eligible?

Yes. Accredited U.S. institutions of higher education are listed as eligible, including two-year institutions such as community colleges.

Are federally recognized Tribal Nations eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Tribal Nations are explicitly listed as eligible applicants.

What should applicants know about international branch campuses of U.S. institutions?

If any funding would support work performed at an international branch campus (including through subawards or consultants), the proposal must clearly explain why that location benefits the project and why the same work cannot reasonably be done at the U.S. campus.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is 23-627.

What type of grant is this categorized as?

It is described as a discretionary NSF grant in the science and technology research and development category.

Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA numbers listed include 47.041, 47.070, 47.075, 47.076, and 47.084.

What was the closing date listed for this opportunity?

The original closing date shown is May 8, 2024.

Is the award ceiling provided in the listing?

No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided listing.

Does the listing say how many awards NSF expects to make?

No. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided listing.

What does it mean if the award ceiling and number of awards are not specified?

Based on the information provided, it suggests applicants may need to rely on the full solicitation for budget expectations, project scope, and details of the Ideas Lab process (such as participant selection, team formation, and what proposal stages follow).

What kinds of learning settings are relevant to this solicitation?

The description indicates relevance to both K-12 settings and higher education, with a focus on engineering education and the personalization of learning experiences and assessments.

What is meant by personalization being a "deep capability" rather than a superficial feature?

The description frames personalization as instruction and assessment that adapt dynamically, potentially using rich multimodal evidence, and that work for individual learners as well as team-based learning environments common in engineering practice.