This is the webinar presentation from May 9, 2012 to inform potential applicants about the Learning Labs in Libraries and Museums program.

1. Learning Labs in Libraries and Museums
Webinar for Grant Applicants
May 9, 2012

2. Connecting to the Webinar
• Be sure you can hear through your speakers,
headset, or phone.
• Dial in: 1 877 568 4108
• Access Code: 296-490-896 (PIN code)
• You will remain muted during this session.
• Please type questions into the question box.
• Questions will be saved and answered.
• To ensure confidentiality, attendee list is blocked.
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3. Agenda
• Program Description
• Applying for a Grant
• Award Timeline
• Questions
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4. Learning Labs Program Partners
• Joint initiative funded by the John D. and
Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
• An-Me Chung, Associate Director of Education
• Urban Libraries Council (ULC) and Association of
Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) are partner
cooperators
• Amy Eshleman, ULC
• Margaret Glass, ASTC
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5. Program Description
“Grants support the planning and design of learning
labs in libraries and museums intended to engage
middle-and high-school youth in mentor-led,
interest-based, youth centered, collaborative
learning using digital and traditional media.”
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6. IMLS and MacArthur Foundation
 Public/private partnership: “Educate to Innovate”
 Goal to create a national network of Learning
Labs in libraries and museums
 Learning Labs will be spaces for experimentation
and creativity for teens and pre-teens around
digital and traditional media based on research
 Grants – to support planning and design
 Community of practice – to support sustainable
network
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7. Program Goals
• Promote libraries and museums as innovation
hubs for middle and high school youth
• Use current research, design and programming
principles to develop 21st century skills
• Build capacity of library and museum
professionals
• Produce model, replicable plans for the field
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8. Desired Outcomes
 A national network of Learning Labs distributed
across libraries and museums
 Increased connection of museums and libraries to
community networks of learning
 Libraries and museums placed at the forefront of
21st century learning for youth
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9. Target Audience/Setting
• Middle- and high-school aged youth
• Out-of-school time learning actively managed by
a library or museum
• Accessible program settings
• Applications encouraged from libraries and
museums serving populations across a broad
range of social, economic, and geographic
contexts
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10. Overview of Grant Activities
Awardee Support
• Up to $100,000 for planning and design of a
Learning Lab
• Technical assistance and support for staff through
in-person meetings and online events
• Access to the most up-to-date research about
youth learning and digital media
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11. Overview of Grant Activities
Awardee Expectations
• Budget resources and time for professional
development meetings and events
• Formulate and carry out evaluation for proposed
Learning Lab
• Develop a feasible plan for implementation and
sustainability of the Learning Lab
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12. Program resource: www.youmedia.org
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13. Applying for a Grant
www.imls.gov
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14. Grant Basics
• Eligible Institutions: Museums, Libraries
• Application deadline: June 15
• Awards up to $100,000 each
• Cost sharing of at least one-third is encouraged
• Up to 14 Learning Labs will be awarded for 2013
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15. Program Guidelines
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16. Eligibility - General
• Learning Labs will be in Libraries and Museums
• Criteria for organizations identified by IMLS in
Learning Labs program guidelines
• Either a unit of state or local government, or a
501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, whose primary
mission is to serve libraries, archives, or
museums
• Located in one of the 50 states or territories
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17. Application Components
A competitive application will demonstrate:
• Knowledge of the research on youth learning
and digital media
• Support of leadership: institutional and
community
• Capacity to create physical and online spaces
that follow research-based design principles
about youth learning and digital media
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18. Narrative Components
• Statement of Need
• Project Goals and Impact
• Project Design
• Project Resources: Personnel, Time, Budget
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19. Submitting Your Proposal
• Submit through Grants.gov.
• Register with Grants.gov at least two weeks
prior to the grant program deadline.
• Need a D-U-N-S® Number to register with
Grants.gov. You may need additional time to get
this number.
• Applicants need Central Contractor
Registration (CCR). User’s guide at
www.bpn.gov/ccr/doc/CCRUsersGuide.pdf. CCR
registration must be renewed annually.
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20. Apply through Grants.gov
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21. Selection Process
• Competitive process
• Peer review with field and panel reviewers
representing museums, libraries, digital media
and learning science professionals
• Final award decisions made by IMLS
• All applicants will be notified of their proposal
status in late Fall, 2012
• Up to 14 Learning Labs will be awarded for 2013
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22. Award Timeline
• June 15: Final day for proposals
• July – September: Peer review process
• Late Fall, 2012– New Learning Labs announced
• January 1, 2013 – Award start date
• June 30, 2014 – Award end date (18 months)
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23. Questions?
• Please type questions into the question box.
• Check out FAQ on Learning Labs Technical
Assistance tumblr:
http://learninglabswebinar.tumblr.com/
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24. Contact Us!
For program information:
Margaret Glass, mglass@astc.org
202.783.7200 x 129
Amy Eshleman, aeshleman@urbanlibraries.org
312.676.0958
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25. Thank you!
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