Project Grant U351C170072

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded a $498,638 National Leadership Grant to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to conduct participatory design research promoting computational thinking skills for blind and visually impaired teens through accessible library makerspaces. Over a three-year period ending May 2025, the University will partner with organizations including the American Printing House for the Blind and local libraries to train professionals in makerspace...

This federal Project Grant award of $149,995 was provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the National Leadership Grants for Museums (CFDA 45.312) program. The University of Illinois Board of Trustees and the Champaign-Urbana Community Fab Lab, in partnership with the American Library Association, Nation of Makers Library Makerspaces Working Group, and Library Makers, will host a forum to leverage current networks, projects, and expertise in library makerspaces...

The University of Oklahoma will research inclusive programming for youth with disabilities in makerspace environments through a $296,685 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services' National Leadership Grants program (CFDA 45.312). The university will conduct a nationwide survey and interviews of librarians regarding current accessibility of makerspace programs for youth with disabilities. Researchers will also visit library makerspaces to identify best practices for...

This $300,000 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program aims to establish an open-source ecosystem for educational computer-aided design (CAD) models. The University of Virginia will develop a clearinghouse and peer-reviewed journal to curate and validate CAD models for use in K-12 maker spaces. Over the one-year period, the International Technology and Engineering Education Association will integrate curated CAD models into its...

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded a $520,048 Project Grant under the Museums for America (CFDA 45.301) program to The Exploratorium, a renowned science museum in San Francisco. The grant supports the development of museum exhibits designed to promote artificial intelligence (AI) literacy among young female-identifying audiences aged 8-18. Using the Exploratorium's established exhibit design principles for engaging girls, the project will create interactive,...

This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program provides $200,000 to support a time-sensitive project that aims to empower teachers to harness the capabilities of large language models (LLMs) to create interactive, personalized STEM learning resources. The project team, led by the Regents of the University of Michigan, will partner with WGBH Educational Foundation to develop a teacher-AI...

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded a $547,371 Museums for America (CFDA 45.301) Project Grant to The TECH Museum of Innovation in San Jose, CA. The award will enable the museum to create educational resources that empower youth from historically marginalized communities to envision themselves in STEM careers. Key activities include: Developing STEM events, project-based mentoring models, and career exploration resources in collaboration with local schools, the Santa...

This National Science Foundation (NSF) Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) Program Project Grant, awarded to the Digital Harbor Foundation in the amount of $1,091,684, will fund the creation of three accessible community makerspaces in Baltimore for youth and young adults with autism. The project will develop technology-rich maker learning activities focused on computer programming, digital fabrication, and computer-aided design, and an educator training program to help out-of-school time...

The Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center will relaunch its Teen Arts Council program to address critical needs in arts education and the social-emotional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth. Funded by a $108,420 project grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the National Leadership Grants program, the Teen Arts Council empowers teens to create and plan arts programs for their peers. It will use strategies such as diversity, supportive staff, authentic work...

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded a $341,278 Museums for America (CFDA 45.301) project grant to Amazement Square to partner with five central Virginia libraries. The project will develop, implement, evaluate, and refine monthly STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) programs designed for at-risk early learners not enrolled in early learning facilities. The goal is to help these children develop the skills needed to enter kindergarten and empower their...