REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The POGIL Project, a 501c3 nonprofit, educational organization, seeks to support multiple short-term pilot studies of student engagement in classroom settings involving the POGIL pedagogy. The intent of this program is to support Goal 4 of The POGIL Project’s Strategic Plan by developing data regarding student experiences, interactions, and learning.

Goal 4: Gather and analyze data to provide a comprehensive assessment of student learning and of POGIL learning environments.

Although not a requirement for funding, studies that specifically support either or both of the following two subgoals of Goal 4 are desirable:

• Promote the use and refinement of the ELIPSS (Enhancing Learning by Improving Process Skills in STEM) rubrics for assessment and improvement of student process skills.  
• Promote the use and refinement of the OPTIC (Observation Protocol for Teaching in Interactive Classrooms) classroom observational tool to help practitioners document, reflect on, and improve their practices.

Similarly, The POGIL Project is particularly interested in studies that provide insight regarding issues of inclusivity, belonging, and student diversity within team-based learning in support of Goal 3 of the Strategic Plan and consistent with our Guiding Principles.

Goal 3: Increase the diversity and inclusivity of the POGIL community and the students it serves.

The document “Research Themes that Support the POGIL Mission (PNM June 2021)”  provides some suggestions for directions that the research might pursue. This document was developed by one of The POGIL Project Working Groups during the 2021 POGIL National Meeting.

Although publishable research findings as a result of this work are desirable, the main purpose of these pilot projects is to obtain preliminary data and outcomes that could provide a foundation for seeking outside funding for more robust research efforts in these areas.

DUE DATES

Letter of Intent (desirable, not required): February 1, 2023

Full Proposal: March 1, 2023

AWARD DECISIONS

No later than April 1, 2023

AWARD AMOUNTS

Up to $50,000 in total costs may be requested per award. The POGIL Project anticipates being able to award at least one or two grants at this level, and possibly more depending on the amounts requested.

PROJECT DURATION

Data gathering during the 2023-24 academic year with final report due no later than October 1, 2024.

The POGIL Project may be able to provide limited assistance to interested investigators who are seeking instructors or sites with whom to partner. Inquiries should be sent to Jen Perot (jen.perot@pogil.org ) as soon as possible but no later than January 15, 2023.

Proposal Preparation Instructions

The Format of the Proposal should follow the guidelines provided in Section II.B (Format of the Proposal) of the current National Science Foundation PAPPG (nsf22001).

Letter of intent to submit

Preferred, but not required. Awareness of potential proposals will be helpful in identifying reviewers and estimating their workload.

• The letter of intent should include the name, institutional affiliation, and contact information of the lead Principal Investigator and of any co-PIs.
• In less than 200 words, the letter of intent should provide a general overview of the proposed project. A (non-binding) estimate of the total requested budget should be included.
• The letter of intent should be sent as soon as possible as an email attachment to Jen Perot at jen.perot@pogil.org.  Please indicate “RFP Letter of Intent” in the subject line. See Submission Instructions (below).

Budgetary Information

• Maximum request:  $50,000
• Personnel may be compensated for time. This may include the PI and/or co-PIs for summer or academic year release, or supervised postdoctoral or graduate students. Fringe benefits charges are allowed, consistent with each PI’s institutional requirements.
• Graduate student tuition and fees are allowed, consistent with each PI’s institutional requirements.
• Facilities and administrative costs (and any other indirect costs) are not allowed.
• Although a simpler form may be permitted, budgets and budget justifications structured as described in Section II.C.2.g (Budget and Budget Justification) of the current NSF PAPPG (nsf22001) will be acceptable. Contact Rick Moog (rick.moog@fandm.edu ) with any questions regarding the format of the budget.

Proposal Elements

• The proposal is limited to a total of no more than 10 pages, not including References, Budget, and Budget Justification.
• The proposal should include the knowledge base on which the project is built.
• One or more relevant research questions should be articulated and should be aligned with the presented research plan and the expected outcomes.
• Methods of data collection and analysis should be clearly described and should illustrate how the process aligns with and informs the research question(s).
• A description of how the expected outcomes of the project could be used as a foundation for further, more robust research efforts should be briefly articulated (no more than one page).

Additional information

• The study must be accomplished during the 2023-24 academic year, with data analysis continuing through Summer 2024, and final report by Fall 2024.
• There is no restriction on the setting (pre-college or higher education) or disciplinary area.
• Research methodologies may include quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods approaches.
• All responsibilities for research design and methodologies, choice of instructional setting, use of personnel, data analysis, and reporting are the responsibility of the PI.
• Evidence regarding fidelity to the POGIL instructional model in the learning environment proposed to be studied must be obtained.
• The ELIPSS rubrics and OPTIC tool should be considered as potential resources (see Research Themes document) with applicability to be decided by the applicant.
• Appropriate protections for human participants under supervision of local IRB is required.
• The PI is encouraged to seek avenues for presentation and publication of findings (with acknowledgement of funding by The POGIL Project).

Deliverables

• A comprehensive final report, including research scope, setting, study design, data collection process, data analysis, and conclusions.
• Raw deidentified data will be shared with The POGIL Project, and must be provided with full documentation such that the information might be used for other research purposes by The POGIL Project. The study authors may maintain their copy of the database for five years, and may continue to use it for additional studies, with appropriate acknowledgement of funding by The POGIL Project.
• The database will be available for educational research purposes to members of The POGIL Project community upon approval of The POGIL Project Steering Committee as consistent with the obtained Human Subjects Research approval.

Submission Instructions 

 The submission form for proposals will open in late November. 

Awards will be made by The POGIL Project Steering Committee based on recommendations from an appointed panel of reviewers.