The National Science Foundation
NSF sponsors a cutting edge initiative called The Networking Infrastructure for Education...
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NSF sponsors a cutting edge initiative called The Networking Infrastructure for Education. Its components include model testbed consortia, innovative projects and individual investigators (ATT), research and development, and planning grants throughout the entire U.S. The array of dimensions in telecommunications and telecollaboration is impressive: community networks (schools, parents, businesses, local government); university and school partnerships; satellite, cable, service providers and public utilities; museum networks; multiple topics such as energy and environment, physics, microbiology, and nutrition. Testbed projects, in turn, have designed software for particular projects, advanced capabilities and networks, and for enhancing student understanding of science and math for you to use--today. This site is updated regularly as new grants are awarded. (Check it out at least 3 times a year.) (Click on Focus Area, then Directorate for Education and Human Resources for k12. The special links icon leads to good stuff,such as the whyfiles at Wisconsin's Center for Science Education, too.)
For policy-makers NSF promotes National Science and Technology Week annually (to the above URL add /od/lpa/nstw/start.html).One theme was Webs, Wires and Waves to give you an idea of the general yearly schedule).Activities include mini-experiments, such as codes and bouncing ping-pong balls, to illustrate the theme.
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The NSF grant process is so thorough and competitive that the quality of their offerings is outstanding. Even if you are unable to participate now, keep your eye on this prize.
Involve your school administrators, parents and policy-makers in National Science and Technology Week so they will be knowledgeable about the benefits and limits of technology. Teachers often post notes of lamentation about the difficulty in gaining support for technology. This special event is an authentic magnet.
