{"id":1144,"date":"2008-02-21T14:39:37","date_gmt":"2008-02-21T14:39:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.designedtoinspire.com\/blog\/grant-writing-0-for-1\/"},"modified":"2026-11-11T22:04:36","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T03:04:36","slug":"grant-writing-0-for-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.designedtoinspire.com\/blog\/grant-writing-0-for-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Grant Writing: 0 for 1"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n Well, the grant proposal I wrote for EdTechTalk.com<\/a> in the HASTAC \/ MacArthur Foundation Digital Media and Learning Competition<\/a>
\nwasn’t accepted. No big surprise given that we had a 1.68% chance (17
\nawards given to 1,010 applicants). However, like all sore losers I am
\nmore than a bit let down, especially as I review the bios of some of
\nthe winners in our category. I believed that the Digital Media and
\nLearning Competition’s Knowledge Networking award category <\/a>was
\nthere to throw a bone ($30,000 to $70,000) to grassroots upstarts like
\nEdTechTalk.com who were outside the realm of big U.S. institutions. As
\nthe award description notes: <\/p>\n

“Knowledge-networking is ‘do-it-yourself’ field building<\/strong><\/u>, collectively matchmaking across communities of those who have and those who seek information, so that each can teach and learn from each other<\/strong><\/u> … Knowledge-Networking Awards will go to proven communicators<\/u><\/strong>. Applicants will already be networking with others<\/strong><\/u>
\nand are dedicated to digital learning through blogs, social networking,
\nsocial bookmarking, podcasting, world-building environments, or other
\nonline communities.” <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/em>
\n
Gosh … I
\nactually think I might “borrow” that in the future to help describe
\nEdTechTalk. Anyway … we were up for $30,000 to pay for our annual
\nserver costs and web site maintenance … a lot of money to us, but
\nmaybe not much in the greater edugrant world. Therefore, I just assumed
\n(you know what happens when you ass-u-me) that funding at that level
\nwouldn’t entice “the big guns”. Further, I really did believe from the
\naward description that the spirit of the competition was to recognize
\nthe little guy out there trying crazy and new things with digital media
\nto support teaching and learning. Unfortunately, I was naive and wrong
\nto think that EdTechTalk’s application (for an organically grown<\/em><\/strong><\/u> and thriving<\/u><\/strong><\/em> online community engaging in the latest media and technology to support learning) would hit the grant’s bulls-eye. <\/p>\n

On
\nsecond thought … I guess it did hit the mark, but where we differ
\nfrom several of the winners is (a) we actually EXIST and (b) we aren’t
\naffiliated with a major U.S. University. One winner with a proof of
\nconcept that looks especially intriguing is from Howard Rheingold from Standford University<\/a> who won $61,000 to support his vision<\/u><\/strong><\/em>
\nfor “an online community for teachers and students to collaborate and
\ncontribute ideas for teaching and learning.” That is a fantastic vision<\/u><\/em><\/strong> of what could be possible<\/em><\/strong><\/u>!
\nWhat looks even more impressive is the concept for his prospective web
\nsite which includes .jpg mockups of a chat room, discussion forums, and
\nsocial bookmarks to help facilitate the online community. Wow … toss
\nin some audio … heck, maybe even live interactive webcasts and he
\nwould really have a blockbuster proof of concept<\/strong><\/em><\/u>!<\/p>\n

[Update:
\nEven though I am disappointed, I should get beyond snarky comments and
\npoint out that some VERY interesting projects were selected. To that
\nend, check out YouthActionNet<\/a>.]<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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