--- Forwarded Message from Mark Knowles <[log in to unmask]> --- >In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]> >References: <[log in to unmask]> >Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2000 08:43:32 -0400 >To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]> >From: Mark Knowles <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: #5706 Grant Funding ------------------ >--- Forwarded Message from "Mary Ohno" <[log in to unmask]> --- > > >We are trying to submit proposals and wonder what are the best things to >request from a prospective donor and what is the best way to convince them >that they are worthwhile? What are things we might want to avoid in such a >proposal? Thanks. > >Thanks for any thoughts. > >--Mary Ohno In my experience, equipment funding has been one of the toughest sells. It is not easy to convince a funder that you need equipment because you simply don't have it. If you are going for equipment, have a clearly defined objective of what you are going to do with it, and have some reliable research to back up the claim. You obviously are going from ground zero to wherever people try to get to with new equipment. If you know of research that shows that certain software does, indeed, help students with similar profiles as yours learn faster or better (or certain essential parts of English) and that one of the components of your curriculum will be to concentrate on that aspect of English, then you'll be a lot farther along. It also depends on who the funder is. I remember a couple of years ago, some big money was available for people promoting "American values" in the curriculum. While that may be a somewhat dubious goal for some ESL teachers and therefore turn them away from such funders, by looking under the surface, it may be revealed that the purpose of the funding was not have all that nefarious. And the way a grant is written and administered has as much if not more to do with the whole enterprise than where the money comes from. -- Mark Knowles Director, Language Lab Union College Library 222 Schenectady, NY 12308 (518) 388-6216 (518) 388-6641 (fax) mailto:[log in to unmask]