Digital Learning Infrastructure and IT Modernization Pilot Webinar

TABLE OF CONTENT

I.      Purpose

II.    Submission of Applications

III.    Absolute Priority 

Selection Criteria

General Comments 

VI.   Instructions 

VII.  Grants.gov

VIII.  Questions

PURPOSE

	The Digital Learning Infrastructure and IT Modernization Pilot provides grants to HBCUs, TCUs, and other eligible minority-serving institutions (MSIs) to support IT modernization, and to enable them to provide support and technical assistance to expand their digital learning infrastructure.

Purpose of your program—your grant, of course, must address this purpose.  Remember the focus is on institutions not individual students.

Students will benefit as a result of improved institutions. 

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Submission of Applications

You must be eligible to compete for the AANAPISI grant.

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Applications must be submitted electronically using grants.gov unless you qualify for an exception.  

Requirements for obtaining an exception are discussed in the Closing Date Notice.

Closing date for receipt of applications is November 25, 2022.

ABSOLUTE PRIORITY

Projects to Develop or Improve the Institution’s Digital Learning Infrastructure. Through the following areas –

(a) Leadership: Describe how the institution will equitably and efficiently sustain progress toward digital learning and institutional governance, resources, and collaboration with external partners will support and drive change to improve the learning environment for students, faculty, and staff.

This goes over the basic requirements for eligibility.  

Again, if you are not already eligible, you cannot compete in this competition.

Must wait until the next competition. 

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ABOSLUTE PRIORITY 

Projects to Develop or Improve the Institution’s Digital Learning Infrastructure. Through the following areas –

(b) Human Capacity: Describe the institution’s plan to address the professional development needs of leadership, faculty, and staff, which will allow for active learning opportunities enabled through technology for students as they work toward a certificate or degree.

This goes over the basic requirements for eligibility.  

Again, if you are not already eligible, you cannot compete in this competition.

Must wait until the next competition. 

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ABSOLUTE PRIORITY 

Projects to Develop or Improve the Institution’s Digital Learning Infrastructure. Through the following areas –

(c) Approach to networks and infrastructure: Describe how the institution will strategically maximize resources to provide equitable access to and adoption of devices and broadband and ensure adequate infrastructure for digital learning, including reliable, high-speed access.  Applicants must describe how their projects will ensure greater equity and accessibility to learning opportunities for all students by providing support to ensure that the technology supports active teaching and learning practices.

This goes over the basic requirements for eligibility.  

Again, if you are not already eligible, you cannot compete in this competition.

Must wait until the next competition. 

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ABSOLUTE PRIORITY 

Projects to Develop or Improve the Institution’s Digital Learning Infrastructure. Through the following areas –

(d) Content, Instruction, and Assessment: Describe how vendors will be vetted and evaluated to ensure that their products and services can meet the institution’s digital learning infrastructure needs and goals for high-quality, active teaching and learning.  The plan must address how the institution will develop and implement standards for high-quality digital learning in their courses and programs, provide coaching and professional development for faculty and leadership, and support students in the adoption and effective use of technology for learning. 

This goes over the basic requirements for eligibility.  

Again, if you are not already eligible, you cannot compete in this competition.

Must wait until the next competition. 

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ABSOLUTE PRIORITY 

Projects to Develop or Improve the Institution’s Digital Learning Infrastructure. Through the following areas –

(e) Coordination and collaboration: Describe how the institution will take a systemic approach by collaborating with other IHEs and/or other public, private, and nonprofit entities toward a systemic approach to address the purchase of broadband internet access service and/or any eligible equipment, and the hiring and training of information technology personnel. 

This goes over the basic requirements for eligibility.  

Again, if you are not already eligible, you cannot compete in this competition.

Must wait until the next competition. 

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Selection Criteria 

Five evaluation areas:

(1) Significance – 15 points

(2) Quality of the Project Design – 35 points

(3) Quality of Project Services – 10 points

(4) Quality of the Management Plan – 20 points

(5) Quality of the Project Evaluation – 20 points

Total Points: 100

You are only getting credited for how you address the criteria.  And remember to address all parts of the different criterion.  

No matter what I great idea you have, you will receive a low score if you do not address the criteria properly.  

Study the proposal evaluation criteria and the points allocated to each. This information will tell you what to emphasize and where to put your efforts with regard to proposal preparation. 

This is just general presentation of the criteria which will now be gone over in greater specificity. 

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Significance (15  points)

The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed project, the Secretary considers:

 (1)  The significance of the problem or issue to be addressed by the proposed project. (5 points)

The potential contribution of the proposed project to increased knowledge or understanding of educational problems, issues, or effective strategies. (5 points)

The likelihood that the proposed project will result in system change or improvements. (5 points)

There is a lot to do here.  Make sure you address every aspect, which relates to the problem that you are rectifying. 

State the  your institutional strengths and weaknesses and significant problems.

You need to show that there are problems but if you paint your situation as too bleak,   you may appear to lack even the basic conditions for building a new project. 

In short, show that there are problems but that the institution has the strength to rectify them with this grant funding.  

Also, make sure to describe how the relevant constituencies of the institution were involved in the process of identifying these strengths and weaknesses. 

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Quality of the Project Design (35 points)

The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project.  In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers:

 (1)  The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes   to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable. (15 points)

(2)  The extent to which the design of the proposed project is appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target population or other identified needs. (10 points)

(3)  The extent to which the proposed project demonstrates a rational. (10 points)

Specify your institutions goals  to address the proposed project, and how the proposed activities relate to these goals.  Provide reason to believe that the activities will address the proposed project and successfully address the needs of your target population. 

Must have objectives that are measureable that are related to the goal 

and realistic time frames for achieving the objectives.

Provide  a clear and realistic plan for the institutionalization of the project’s achievements 

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Quality of the Project Services(10 points)

The Secretary considers the quality of the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project. 

(1) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. (3 points)

(2)  The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or beneficiaries of those services. (3 points)

(3)  The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice. (4 points)

Specify your institutions goals  to address the proposed project, and how the proposed activities relate to these goals.  Provide reason to believe that the activities will address the proposed project and successfully address the needs of your target population. 

Must have objectives that are measureable that are related to the goal 

and realistic time frames for achieving the objectives.

Provide  a clear and realistic plan for the institutionalization of the project’s achievements 

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Quality of the management Plan(20 points)

The Secretary considers the quality of the quality of the management plan to be provided by the proposed project. 

(1) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project tasks. (5 points)

(2)  The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project. (10 points)

(3)  The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products and services from the proposed project. (5 points)

Specify your institutions goals  to address the proposed project, and how the proposed activities relate to these goals.  Provide reason to believe that the activities will address the proposed project and successfully address the needs of your target population. 

Must have objectives that are measureable that are related to the goal 

and realistic time frames for achieving the objectives.

Provide  a clear and realistic plan for the institutionalization of the project’s achievements 

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Quality of the Evaluation Plan (20 points)

The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project.  In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers:

 (1)  The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project. (10 points)

(2)  The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and qualitative data to the extent possible. (10 points)

Evaluation is considered very important in the Dept. of Education and it is a place where points are often deducted.  

What is listed is pretty self-explanatory

Be specific in your descriptions.  

Make sure you have objectives that are measureable-quantifiable

Show the success of the project—look at outcomes not simply processes.

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Instructions 

8% Indirect Cost Rate

50 Pages 

A “page” is 8.5” x 11”, on one side only, with 1” margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.

Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative, except titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, captions, and all text in charts, tables, and graphs. These items may be single-spaced.  Charts, tables, figures, and graphs in the application narrative count toward the page limit.

Abstract can be single-spaced.

Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).

Format is looked over carefully.  Any violation will make an application ineligible.  

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Instructions 

There is no budget section in the Selection Criteria.

Complete the Budget Narrative 

Use one of the following fonts:  Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial.    

Format is looked over carefully.  Any violation will make an application ineligible.  

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Follow Instructions

It is essential that you follow all instructions completely!

Read all instructions a number of times.

You are being evaluated solely by what you write in your application, not the great idea that you have.  

Read all instructions carefully since your application is being evaluated solely by what you write, which must follow what is being called for in the criteria.

Read all the instructions a number of times so that you don’t overlook anything and that you clearly understand what is being called for.

There are a number of times when I have heard readers comment about the great idea a particular application presents, but that the application did not address all of the criteria properly and thus could not receive a sufficiently high score. 

Make sure you thoroughly address all the criteria and subcriteria.  A week job in a very few areas, maybe even one, could prevent your application from winning an award. 

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What’s Included in the Page Count? 

Only the Application/Project Narrative is included in the page count. If you include any attachments or appendices, these will be counted as part of the Application/Project Narrative. 

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What’s Not Included in the Page Count?

Application for Federal Assistance & Supplemental Information Form (SF 424)

Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs (ED 524)

Assurances and Certifications

Table of Contents

One-page Abstract

Resumes

Bibliography

Letters of Support

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General Comments

Selection Criteria determine the order of the application

Your application is not a scavenger hunt where the reviewers have to search for information. 

Place your information in the proper place and do not depend upon reviewers to find it elsewhere.

Make sure you write your application to fit the criteria.  Do  not have a lot of extraneous material that takes space but does not really apply to any of the criteria.  

Your application is scored on the selection criteria only.  

Readers are expected to credit information no matter where it is located in the your report.  But you can’t count on this.  

You are NOT being judged on your writing style.  The concern is content.  Nonetheless, poor writing might make it difficult for readers to discern actual content.  Readers are not expected to give you the benefit of the doubt in interpreting what you have written.  

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General Comments

Quality of the Content is Key

Reviewers’ evaluations not based on writing style. 

Reviewers are not expecting a great literary work.

However, it is essential to write in a clear and understandable fashion.  

Do check your grammar and spelling!

The readers are focusing on the content in your application—in terms of how it fits the criteria.

Just use plain English—no need for colorful words of phrases.

A mundane, focus on the facts is all that is called for. –

You do not have to be like Shakespeare

But it is essential to write in a clear and understandable fashion so the readers  will easily know your meaning.  Readers will not make any guesses to give you the benefit of doubt. 

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General Comments (cont.)

Read and follow the guidelines.

Address everything that is called for.

Leave out extraneous material. 

Write clearly, not cryptically .

Beware of  jargon and buzz words.

Grant writers can sometimes be so carried away by their own eloquence and subject-matter knowledge that they tend to completely blow off instructions.  You might have a masterpiece but ignore or slight any of the selection criteria you will have points reduced no matter what a great masterpiece your overall project might be. 

Again, you are only being scored on how you address the selection criteria.  Material unrelated to the criteria, no matter how interesting, will not boost your score and will be taking up space that could  be used for relevant information that might increase your score.

Beware of jargon and buzz words.. 

Now, of course, neither educators nor bureacrats ever use jargon or buzzwords but 

Avoid it if at all possible. If you do need to use technical terms, try to define them the first time you use them.

Of course, it might be difficult to determine exactly what constitutes jargon or buzz words.  Remember, we are have overall experts on higher education but they might not be familiar with new terms in particular fields—curriculum, education technology. 

The problem with jargon is also that its meaning is nebulous or that can often have more than one meaning.

Also, I have noted that a lot of jargon  can turn some readers off to the overall review.  They might  come to think that the writer is simply being pretentious and  intends simply to impress  readers with the use of an obscure term.

buzzword (which often develops from the appropriation of technical jargon) is used imprecisely among non-specialists with the primary goal of impressing the listeners with the speaker's use of an obscure term rather than technical communication per se.[1]

This can result in slightly lower scores—even a difference of one point can mean the difference between receiving and not receiving an award.

Buzz Words 

.

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General Comments (cont.)

Use facts and statistics to prove your case.

 Be sure the facts and figures you use in one section of your application are consistent with those used elsewhere.

Don’t just make assertions without offering proof. 

Few things you write are really common knowledge, even if they seem obvious to you.  Readers want to see backup information, proof that what you say is true

Readers want to see statistics. They want to know that your objectives and your results are quantifiable.

Obviously, if you have inconsistencies you can have a more than a few  points deducted.  Readers are good at finding this, especially since they work as a group. 

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Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants

REGISTER EARLY – Grants.gov registration involves many steps including registration on SAM (www.sam.gov) which may take approximately one week to complete. For detailed information on the Registration Steps, please go to: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

SUBMIT EARLY – We strongly recommend that you do not wait until the last day to submit your application.  Grants.gov will put a date/time stamp on your application and then process it after it is fully uploaded. 

VERIFY SUBMISSION IS OK – You will want to verify that Grants.gov received your application submission on time and that it was validated successfully.  To see the date/time your application was received, login to Grants.gov and click on the Track My Application link. 

SUBMISSION PROBLEMS- If you have problems submitting to Grants.gov before the closing date, please contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 1-800-518-4726 or http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/about/contact-us.html, or access the Grants.gov Self-Service web portal at:  https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants

   Questions?

Contact Information:

Pearson.Owens@ed.gov

202-453-7997

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