Teachnet Grant FAQ
Teachnet Grant: Home
What is the Teachnet Disseminator Grant? top
Teachnet grants are awarded to public and charter school teachers in grades pre-K through 12 who design outstanding curriculum units that integrate the Internet into an original project for the classroom.
Who is eligible to apply? top
All New York City public school and charter school teachers,
in all five boroughs, in grades pre-K through 12. Currently, we
are not offering grants to teachers in other locations, but check our
grants page often for new opportunities.
Are there any specific rules? top
- Applicants must currently be teaching.
- Projects and all materials must be free from copyright.
- Units of study must be original work.
- Units must include at least one assessment.
- Units must include at least one culminating project or assignment.
How do I apply? top
To be considered for a Teachnet grant, teachers must either
complete our online
application, which leads applicants through the information
required step-by-step, or fill out our Word template, and email
it as a completed document to
Sandy Scragg or Jill Williams
at teachnetnyc@gmail.com.
Do you accept applications via US mail? top
No. If you have supplemental materials that might be difficult
to email (such as student videos), please contact
Sandy Scragg or Jill Williams
at teachnetnyc@gmail.com to
discuss options for delivering those materials.
When is the application due? top
All applications must be completed by the due date, January 20, 2009. If you are using the online application, all work
must be uploaded and posted by January 20th; access to your grant
will be closed after the due date. If you are applying via the
Microsoft Word template, all work and attachments must be emailed
on or before January 20th to Sandy Scragg at teachnetnyc@gmail.com.
What format should I follow when writing my grant
application? top
Our online form prompts you to provide specific
information, both about the project in its entirety and also four lesson
plans written in a traditional format. To preview the questions asked,
download our application as a word document. If you
have created a project that can be viewed online (ie, school web site,
blog, wiki, etc.), you are not required to provide lesson plans;
instead, post the link and provide an overview of your work, answering
only the general unit questions on the application.
Where can I find examples of Teachnet
Grants? top
Glad you asked! We suggest first reviewing some prior
grant winners published on our Teachnet Database to see examples
of the kinds of projects which have won in the past. You can visit our
main grants page to see a list of recent winners, or visit our
main Teachnet page to search over 700 past grant-winning curriculum
units.
How many lessons must be part of this
unit? top
Units must be comprised of at least four lessons with
related learning objectives united by a common theme. You may include
more if you like. Lessons do not have to include each day the unit
was actually taught; if your unit is lengthy or complex, pick just
key days or essential content to present.
Can teachers apply as a group or a team? top
Yes, but only one grant and one check will be awarded.
Each teacher will receive credit for the grant, and all applicants'
bios and photos will be published alongside the curriculum unit.
Can I submit multiple units for consideration? top
Yes, you can apply as many times as you like.
When will I find out the status of my
application? top
We notify winning applicants via email one month after
the due date; we also publish a list of the winning grants on our
web site after we notify the successful applicants.
What is the review process? top
All completed applications are passed along to our curriculum
review committee. Our review committee is comprised of master teachers
and former Teachnet grant winners, all currently teaching in NYC
public schools. Each application is reviewed by two different members
of the committee. Teachers Network staff members tally all scores,
and make final decisions on grant recipients based on committee
recommendations. Unfortunately, because of the large numbers of
applications we receive, we are unable to provide specific feedback
to applicants.
On what basis will my application be
evaluated? top
The review committee uses a teacher-designed rubric to evaluate all
applications. The rubric covers the following aspects: project
description, use of assessments, standards met, teacher adaptability,
demonstrates student usage of technology, use of current educational
technology, creativity and originality, skills taught, a clear list of
learning objectives, and the overall quality and writing of the
application.
How should technology be used in my unit? top
Curriculum must include use of the Internet as integral
to its content. Any software programs mentioned should be widely
available, or links to software tutorials should be included. Specific
web sites must be cited and should be free and accessible to all
with an Internet connection. Technology should be used as a tool
to teach classroom content, not the other way around.
What will I receive as a Teachnet Grant
recipient? top
Grant winning teachers will receive a check in your own
name for $500. Grant-winning projects will be published on our
premier education web site, http://teachersnetwork.org,
and will be entered into our online database of curriculum units.
Teachers will receive full credit for their work, their photo and
bio will be published alongside their project, and they will also
be recognized at our annual Teacher Awards Ceremony in November 2009.
Do I have any obligations as a grant
recipient? top
Grant winners will work with our consultants and editors
to revise and refine their projects for publication. A professional
bio and photo must accompany all grant applications. Grant winners
will also obtain necessary permission to publish student photos
and/or student work on the Internet, if applicable. You will be
invited to attend our Awards Ceremony and other events throughout
the year, but attendance is optional.
Do I need to submit receipts? top
The grant check is written directly to you, and you may
use that money in any way you see fit--we do not need to see receipts
or proof that the money will be used for your classroom, etc.
What is Teachers Network? top
Teachers Network is a non-profit organization-by teachers, for
teachers-dedicated to improving student learning in public schools for
over 25 years. Using the power
of our award-winning website, video, and print resources, we leverage
the creativity and expertise of a national and international community
of outstanding educators. Teachers Network is unique in its focus
on the teacher as key to improving student achievement in public
schools. Through its leadership, Teachers Network empowers teachers
to transform public schools into creative learning communities
so every student will succeed and contribute to the public good.
Over the years, we have directly impacted over 1.5 million teachers
and nearly 40 million students. For more information about Teachers
Network, see http://teachersnetwork.org .
Any last bits of advice? top
Demonstrate a creative and effective use of technology
as a tool, and present a project that other teachers will easily
be able to understand, use, and adapt to their own needs.
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