Note: The information provided here refers to past Digital Media and Learning Competitions, and is provided for archival and reference purposes only. If you are seeking the current Digital Media and Learning Competition, please navigate to dmlcompetition.net
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COMPETITIONS

The Research Competition is now closed. Click here to view the winners.

RESEARCH COMPETITION FAQ

Skip to topic: Applying to the Research Competition | General Questions | Post-Award and Fulfillment

Applying to the Research Competition

How do I apply to the Research Competition?

First, create an account on FastApps. Then, click the application link for the grant or prize you are applying for:

List of FastApps programs with Research Competition programs circled in red.
Fill in the requested applicant information and attach your application documents.

How do I submit my application documents?

Research Grant: Please enter your proposal outline (up to 1000 words) in the free text box entitled “Proposals”. Then attach your working group, or workshop outline (up to 250 words), and your budget and budget narrative (for both your proposal and working group) by using the attachment/upload spaces provided.

Doctoral Student Grant: Please enter your proposal outline (up to 1000 words) in the free text box entitled “Proposals”. Then attach your letter of support and a list of two additional references using the attachment/upload spaces provided.

Student or Faculty Prize: Please attach your dissertation, paper, or book using the attachment/upload space provided.

What do I need to submit to apply for the Badges, Trophies, and Achievements: Recognition and Accreditation for Informal and Interest-Driven Learning Digial Media and Learning Research Competition?

You will have to submit different supporting documents depending on which grant or prize you are applying for. Please see below for details:

Research Grant

  • Proposal outline (no more that 1000 words)
  • Working group or workshop outline (no more than 250 words)
  • Budget and budget narrative for proposal
  • Budget and budget narrative for working group

Doctoral Student Grant

  • Proposal outline (no more that 1000 words)
  • A letter of support from your dissertation advisor
  • A list of two additional references

Student Prize

  • Dissertation or paper on the theme

Faculty Prize

  • Paper or book on the theme

Are the budget/budget narrative, working group outline, or letter of support included in the Project Proposal 1000 word limit?

No.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

What are the educational/credentialing eligibility requirements for primary applicants to the Research Competition?

Primary applicants to the Research Competition should hold the terminal degree in their field or must earn the terminal degree in their field during the course of the grant.

Is there an age restriction?

The primary applicant must be at least 18 years of age when the application is submitted; however, personnel working on the project may include students and others under the age of 18.

Will I be required to describe my project to the public?

Yes.

Can individuals apply?

Principal applicants are organizations or institutions. Individuals must apply through an organization or institution.

I am a former Digital Media and Learning Competition winner. Can I apply?

No, not as a primary applicant. You may contribute as a team member to a project seeking Competition funding.

I am already receiving funds from the MacArthur Foundation. Can I apply?

Yes, but only if you are not or have not been a Digital Media and Learning Competition winner.

I am already receiving funds from another source. Can I apply?

Yes, however, any award you receive from the Competition should be applied to the part of the project that is not being funded by other sources.

Can I apply as a primary applicant in both the Badges and Research Competitions?

No.  You can apply to both Competitions, but can only be a primary applicant for one of them.

Can more than one individual from the same institution apply?

Yes, as long as the proposals are different.

What should be included in my budget?

Awardees whose projects involve any human subjects research or testing are required to set aside funds for the review of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to be approved by a commercial IRB. Awardees are also required to set aside funds for the winners' event to be held in conjunction with the 2013 Digital Media and Learning Conference. Participation at the event is a requirement of the award. Institutional indirect cost is limited to no more than 15 percent of the requested budget.

Will the public be able to comment on Research Grant and Doctoral Student Grant Proposals?

Yes, each submitted proposal will be posted on the DML Competition website under the Research Proposals link. The general public will be able to comment on the posted proposals using the comment box provided.

Disqus comment form

How do I comment on a Research Grant or Doctoral Student Grant Proposal?

Go to the Research Competition page and click the Research Proposals link. From there you will be able to select any of the submitted proposals. Below each proposal you can enter your comments into the comment box provided and click "post".

Will the public be able to comment on the Student Writing Prize or Faculty Writing Prize submissions?

No.

Using FastApps

How do I create an account on Fastapps?

Go to FastApps and click the link that says “register.” Provide your full name and email address where prompted and click “submit.” An activation email will be sent to the email address provided-- log in to your email and open the Fastapps activation message. Then click the “Activate Account” link.

How do I edit or update my Fastapps submission?

After logging into your Fastapps account, click the “My Accounts” link in the upper left-hand corner. You should now see your application table (see image below) under the “Your Applications” heading. To edit, click the pen icon in the “Edit” column.

POST-AWARD AND FULFILLMENT

How will licensing and intellectual property of awardees' projects be handled?

See Intellectual Property and Privacy Policies.

How long is the grant term?

The grant term is one calendar year beginning April 1, 2012.

Are there restrictions on how the money can be spent?

Yes, all funds are to be used specifically for the awarded project and according to proposed budget.

Do I need to spend all of the money during the grant term? What if I do not?

Yes. Exceptions will be granted only in very unusual circumstances. Awardees should not assume extensions will be granted. If funds are not spent at the end of the grant term or permitted extension period, they must be returned.

How and when will the award be distributed?

Awardees will receive a check on a quarterly basis, the first at the beginning of the grant term.

Will taxes or indirect costs be applied to the amount received?

Taxes will not be withheld by HASTAC. Indirect costs will be permitted at a maximum of fifteen (15) percent only if documented by the primary applicant's home institution or organization. Applicants' budgets should allow for this.

Will I be required to submit spending reports? Other reports?

Yes, you will be required to submit quarterly financial reports as well as a mid-year progress report and final report.