Hopefully I'll get all your grant feedback to you by tonight. In the meantime I'm compiling a list of common things for you to check for in your grants. This information applies to many of you (some of the items apply to all of you) so check your grants:
Do not put in information to identify your school (either by name or circumstance).
The need is for a skill, the need is not for the product. To support this skill/need you are recommending a product to help with it (and need money or it).
Narrative should be about a 100 words.
Somewhere specifically mention if you are getting discounted pricing and from where (mention REMC if you used it).
Budgeting in your school is not so relevant, I think it's implied you don't have the money hence the request. (This "tip" I'm not so sure on but the wording from a few of you made me add this. I'd probably change my mind if you were making a request to a foundation of something like that).
Somewhere you need to put in why these particular items are in the grant (materials/equipment section) but maybe in the small space for the budget.
To me it looks like you will be doing a bit of repeating from section to section. If each section mentions the same thing in the rubric, then I'd mention it briefly again.
In the objectives section - just about every needs specific examples of how to measure between objectives and need; also needs how this will have a sustainable impact on students. (Many of you have this info, it's just not in this section).
Capitalize and define (first use) acronyms: DVD CD MACUL.
Pay attention to grammar and punctuation. Just because it spell-checks...
Mention curriculum: Is this a state standard, district, etc.
You might want to tie this to specific GLCEs that are relevant for your grant.
Mention (and reference) METS standards that you are meeting.
Budget for a book or two on whatever tech you are using (assuming you're under budget).
Remember there is NO Formatting when you submit your grant (no font, no bullets, no bold). I generally use capital letters for words/phrases I'd normally bold/italicize.
Add a timeline to the grant, even if it seems unnecessary. It's not optional. Give specific dates (I'd probably list the date and then what we'd be doing) and put one item per line and summarize (or preface) with a paragraph. If it's a project that will be repeated then do it once and then mention something like "this 10 week project will be repeated each semester".
Equipment/Materials - Be specific on what/how these will be used, many of you just listed the materials. What does that software do? Why are you buying CD-ROMs? Why are you getting camera bags?
Be sure to read this page at the MACUL site.
It really does look like they want you to present your project at the conference AND submit a journal article, this is new I think. So be sure to mention both (you could mention the title of the article and the presentation?). Specifically mention what you will be showing/doing at the presentation.
If you are putting info on-line for the public, mention that you will list the URL in the article and presentation.
Evaluation: Many of you need to make sure your grants shows "clear indicators for improved learning" and "relates to project goals" and "focuses on measurable outcomes" in the eval section.
If submitting, be sure to pay your membership on-line before submitting...
Read the Rubric. Apply it to your grant (section by section). Try looking at the grant in reverse order, from the last section first (just a thought) so you're reading parts out of context.
Remember the assignment is for this to be a MACUL grant (whether you submit it or not) so the feedback is specifically for this grant.
Bring two copies of your grant again this week.
Thanks! This level of detail is helpful.
Many of your tips will be helpful for this grant and others in the future. Thank you!