Program overview
The SMARTer Kids Research program supports action-based research projects conducted by educators. Action-based research allows educators to assess the effects of technology on teaching and learning, explore and test new ideas in the classroom, and investigate and practice new teaching styles. Completed studies may be published on the research page of SMARTer Kids Foundation of Canada’s website.

Project duration
Over a minimum of six months, each participant conducts a study of a learning environment that uses either the SMART Board interactive whiteboard, a Senteo interactive response system or a combination of the two. The project concludes with a final research paper detailing the study's findings.

Call for proposals
Educators are invited to submit a two- to three-page proposal indicating their research question, projected timeline and research strategy, and the project’s objective and detailed methodology. Potential areas of study include, but are not limited to, the following:

		Curriculum development			Coaching
		Students with disabilities			Collaboration
		Gender and technology			Teacher training
		Distance learning			Learning theories
		Literacy programs			Students’ participation in class

While the use of a SMART Board interactive whiteboard or Senteo interactive response system must be a component of the project, technology should not be the primary focus of the research. Instead, applicants should investigate the learning environment, learning outcomes or changes in students' behavior and attitudes.

To be successful, proposals will include the following:

		A specific research goal
		A description of technology as a tool, not a subject
		A sound, rigorous research methodology
		A focus on learning, teaching or professional development outcomes

Proposal requirements
Please submit one copy of your proposal by mail or e-mail. Electronic submissions will be accepted in Word, Word Perfect or Text/ASCII formats only. All files must be uncompressed – please do not send files in ZIP, ZOO or SIT or other compressed formats.

Structure
The cover page of the proposal should include the following information:

Project title

First and last name, and job title

Associated school name

Address, city, state/province, zip/postal code, country

Workplace phone number and e-mail address

The body of the proposal should meet the following requirements:

		Maximum of two to three pages in length
		Double-spaced
		Titles – bold 12-point Arial font
		Body text – 10-point Arial font

Please use the following categories below as subtitles and ensure the proposal addresses all questions.

Purpose	What specific learning outcome is your research addressing? What is the objective of your project?
Background	Why is this project important from a pedagogical perspective? What previous education experience or published research is relevant?
Research methodology	What is your research strategy? How will it help you test your hypothesis? How will you control variables? How will you collect data? You may want to refer to other researchers who have used similar research methodologies.
Results and evaluation	What results do you expect your project to produce? How will you evaluate your results? Please reference your institution’s standardized testing or evaluation criteria as part of your evaluative process.

All proposals must fulfill the above requirements and address the category questions in order to be considered by the committee.

Research background
Research information is available online from several education research organizations. Some examples are listed below.

No Child Left Behind website
www.nclb.gov/start/facts/whatworks.html

What Works Clearinghouse (supported by the U.S. Department of Education)
www.w-w-c.org

Provincial departments of education in Canada
www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/relsites/oth_prov.html

Eligibility
North American pre-service and in-service teachers, graduate students, college and university instructors and professors are eligible to apply. Applicants may apply as individuals or as teams. Teams must designate a team leader.

Applicants must have a computer and digital projector.

Deadline
Submission deadlines are as follows:

Applicants will be notified within two weeks of the corresponding evaluation period.

Successful proposals
The SMARTer Kids Foundation will loan successful applicants a Front Projection SMART Board interactive whiteboard and floor stand and, if it’s appropriate to their research, a Senteo interactive response system to enable them to conduct their studies.

		A detailed, step-by-step outline of their research strategy (two to three pages)
		A progress update, which may include preliminary findings (one to two pages)
		A final paper summarizing their research conclusions (not less than 10 double-spaced pages)

When all program requirements have been completed, the loaned product will be donated to the participating school at no charge. Participants' names, topics and final papers may be posted on the SMARTer Kids Foundation’s website or SMART’s website, or used or referenced in other SMART materials.

For more information and to submit a proposal, contact
Program manager, SMARTer Kids Research
SMARTer Kids Foundation
1207 - 11 Avenue SW, Suite 300
Calgary, AB  T3C 0M5
CANADA
Phone 403.228.8565
Fax 403.228.2500
E-mail: info@smarterkids.org