Grant Writing: 0 for 1

Well, the grant proposal I wrote for EdTechTalk.com in the HASTAC / MacArthur Foundation Digital Media and Learning Competition
wasn’t accepted. No big surprise given that we had a 1.68% chance (17
awards given to 1,010 applicants). However, like all sore losers I am
more than a bit let down, especially as I review the bios of some of
the winners in our category. I believed that the Digital Media and
Learning Competition’s Knowledge Networking award category was
there to throw a bone ($30,000 to $70,000) to grassroots upstarts like
EdTechTalk.com who were outside the realm of big U.S. institutions. As
the award description notes:

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

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

On
second thought … I guess it did hit the mark, but where we differ
from several of the winners is (a) we actually EXIST and (b) we aren’t
affiliated with a major U.S. University. One winner with a proof of
concept that looks especially intriguing is from Howard Rheingold from Standford University who won $61,000 to support his vision
for “an online community for teachers and students to collaborate and
contribute ideas for teaching and learning.” That is a fantastic vision of what could be possible!
What looks even more impressive is the concept for his prospective web
site which includes .jpg mockups of a chat room, discussion forums, and
social bookmarks to help facilitate the online community. Wow … toss
in some audio … heck, maybe even live interactive webcasts and he
would really have a blockbuster proof of concept!

[Update:
Even though I am disappointed, I should get beyond snarky comments and
point out that some VERY interesting projects were selected. To that
end, check out YouthActionNet.]