Technology Grants for Teachers
Technology can help learning to happen more smoothly and even give your students the chance to connect with others around the world. For students with disabilities, it can greatly enhance learning. Fortunately, many grants are available to support instructional technology programs.
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Grants for Instructional Technology Programs
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Grants for instructional technology programs can provide everything from computers and Smart Boards to curriculum development. They sometimes support professional development as well---after all, technology is only as good as the teacher who uses it. The U.S. Department of Education offers numerous grants for instructional technology in the K-12 classroom. The Global School Net Foundation funds programs that link kids in different areas of the world. And numerous companies in the field of technology, such as IBM and AT&T, offer grants for programs that use technology in education as well. See the resources below for many grants that provide funds for incorporating technology into the classroom.
You may also want to contact the National Technology Recycling Project (www.ntrp.org) and the Computers for Learning Program, which donate computers to schools (http://computersforlearning.gov/).
Grants for Assistive Technology
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Technology can make a huge difference in how students with disabilities learn. The U.S. Department of Education lists grants to support assistive technology, such as a grant from the Center on Accessible and Supported Electronic Text to Improve Mathematics Achievement for Students with Disabilities. It offers a forecast of similar funding opportunities, and other technology grants, that will be opening in the future.
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Grants for Research
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Maybe you've been leading innovative efforts in using instructional technology in your school for years, and you feel you have something to contribute to the research in the field. In that case, you might be interested in a research grant. The Institute for Education Sciences offers an Education Technology research grants program to expand knowledge in the teaching field about how technology can influence learning.
Learning to Use New Technology
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Some instructional technology grant programs support professional development, helping teachers learn how to use the new technology. Some grants also exist for this purpose, such as the Teacher Quality Partnerships Program and the RGK Foundation's grants program (see "Got Grants?" and Teacher's Network in Resources section). The International Technology Education Association's Maley/FTE Scholarship supports professional development. The International Society for Technology in Education also provides workshops and other initiatives for helping teachers learn how to use new technology.
Finding the Right Grant
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Ask yourself how much funding you need to achieve your goals. Then you'll have a better idea of what grants to apply for. Check the grants databases listed below regularly, as well as the Department of Education's Forecast of Funding Opportunities, and start writing your proposal early. That way you'll have time to let others review it before you turn it in.
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