Opportunity Information: Apply for NNG09AZ32R
Apply for NNG09AZ32R
- The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DESIGN AND USAGE OF MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER ONLINE GAMES AND PERSISTENT IMMERSIVE SYNTHETIC ENVIRONMENTS" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 00.000 Not Elsewhere Classified.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 3, 2009 and posted on Jun 3, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 10, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Learning Technologies Project Office (LTPO) issued this Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) to fund research, development, and evaluation focused on how Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) and persistent immersive synthetic environments (virtual worlds) can be designed and used for NASA STEM education and training. The core idea is to move beyond simple "educational games" and instead study and build credible, research-informed learning experiences inside large-scale online game environments, using authentic NASA science and engineering content as the backbone. The opportunity emphasizes practical work that both improves how STEM material is delivered and generates usable evidence about what actually works in these environments.
The CAN is looking for proposals that demonstrate the right mix of educational research grounding, game/virtual world design understanding, and evaluation capability. Projects are expected to contribute to wider research initiatives across NASA, other federal agencies, industry, and academia, with a clear focus on strengthening STEM learning approaches that support the nation's future workforce and mission needs. Another major priority is that activities should be grounded in education research or use evidence-supported methods, tools, and techniques, rather than relying on untested assumptions about motivation or engagement. The solicitation also highlights the importance of creating connections between secondary education, higher education, and informal learning communities, essentially using the game context as a bridge that helps learners move across different educational settings while engaging with NASA content.
NASA anticipated making three awards under this CAN, each serving a distinct purpose over a period of up to three years. First, one larger award of up to $350,000 per year was planned for a partner who would work directly with LTPO and the MMOG developer to infuse educational content and learning-focused design into the NASA MMOG. Second, one award of up to $100,000 per year was planned for an independent evaluation effort, separating evaluation from development so that effectiveness claims are credible and methodologically solid. Third, another award of up to $100,000 per year was planned for broader-based research into how educational gaming applies across diverse institutions and populations, which points to questions like transferability, accessibility, adoption barriers, and differential impacts among different learner communities.
In terms of eligibility, the solicitation targets domestic institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3)s), and consortia of eligible organizations and institutions serving students. A key requirement is partnerships that ensure participation by underserved and underrepresented minority populations in STEM, including involvement of minority-serving institutions. NASA also notes that only one funding category can be awarded to any single organization, meaning applicants need to choose whether they are pursuing the content/design partnership, the independent evaluation role, or the broader applicability research role.
Administratively, the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally signals substantial involvement by NASA compared to a typical grant, consistent with the planned collaboration with LTPO and the MMOG developer. NASA expected to make awards under the authority referenced in the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Handbook (noted as 1260.12(d)) and under Title 14 CFR Part 1260 for educational and nonprofit institutions. Proposals were to be submitted electronically through NSPIRES (NASA's Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System) or through Grants.gov, with the CAN expected to be available in the second week of June 2009. A Notice of Intent to propose was requested (submitted electronically). The proposal deadline was August 10, 2009 at noon Eastern Time, and submissions were required to include, by the deadline, the cover page, proposal summary, and budget summary through the electronic system.
The opportunity details identify this as a discretionary program in the science and technology and other research and development activity area, with an expected total of three awards and no cost sharing or matching requirement. The official funding opportunity number is NNG09AZ32R, posted June 3, 2009, with an original and current closing date of August 10, 2009, and an archive date of June 3, 2010. For questions, NASA directed applicants to contact James L. Harrington, Jr. at NASA Goddard (Learning Technologies, Mail Stop 606.3, Greenbelt, MD), with contact by email and phone provided in the announcement, and also referenced NAIS/NSPIRES support for access issues.
FAQs: NASA GSFC LTPO Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) for MMOGs and Virtual Worlds in STEM Education
What is this funding opportunity about?
This Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Learning Technologies Project Office (LTPO) supports research, development, and evaluation on how Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) and persistent immersive synthetic environments (virtual worlds) can be designed and used for NASA STEM education and training.
What is the core goal of the CAN?
The goal is to move beyond simple "educational games" by creating and studying credible, research-informed learning experiences inside large-scale online game environments, using authentic NASA science and engineering content as the backbone. The CAN emphasizes producing practical improvements in STEM delivery and generating usable evidence about what works in these environments.
What kinds of environments does NASA want to focus on?
The opportunity focuses on MMOGs and persistent immersive synthetic environments (virtual worlds), especially where learning can occur within large-scale online game contexts rather than through stand-alone instructional mini-games.
Does this solicitation emphasize research, development, evaluation, or all three?
All three are emphasized. NASA described the effort as research, development, and evaluation, with a strong preference for work grounded in education research and evidence-supported methods, tools, and techniques.
How is this different from typical educational game projects?
NASA explicitly signals interest in designs that go beyond untested assumptions about motivation or engagement. Proposals are expected to be research-informed and to produce credible, methodologically sound evidence about effectiveness in MMOG/virtual world learning contexts.
What capabilities should a strong proposal demonstrate?
Proposals should demonstrate an appropriate mix of (1) educational research grounding, (2) understanding of game and/or virtual world design, and (3) evaluation capability.
What broader communities or initiatives should projects connect with?
Projects are expected to contribute to wider research initiatives across NASA, other federal agencies, industry, and academia, with a focus on strengthening STEM learning approaches that support future workforce and mission needs.
Is there a priority around bridging different learning settings?
Yes. The solicitation highlights creating connections between secondary education, higher education, and informal learning communities, using the game context as a bridge that supports learners moving across these settings while engaging with NASA content.
How many awards did NASA anticipate making?
NASA anticipated making three awards under this CAN.
What are the three funding categories (distinct purposes) NASA planned to support?
The CAN described three distinct purposes: (1) a larger award to partner with LTPO and the MMOG developer to infuse educational content and learning-focused design into the NASA MMOG; (2) a separate award for an independent evaluation effort; and (3) a separate award for broader-based research on how educational gaming applies across diverse institutions and populations.
What is the planned funding level for the content/design partnership award?
NASA planned one larger award of up to $350,000 per year for up to three years for a partner working directly with LTPO and the MMOG developer.
What is the planned funding level for the independent evaluation award?
NASA planned one award of up to $100,000 per year for up to three years for an independent evaluation effort.
Why does NASA separate evaluation from development?
The CAN states that separating evaluation from development helps ensure effectiveness claims are credible and methodologically solid.
What is the planned funding level for the broader applicability research award?
NASA planned one award of up to $100,000 per year for up to three years for broader-based research into educational gaming across diverse institutions and populations.
What kinds of questions fit the broader applicability research category?
The announcement points to topics such as transferability, accessibility, adoption barriers, and differential impacts among different learner communities.
How long can projects run under this CAN?
The CAN describes awards serving their purposes over a period of up to three years.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include domestic institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3)s), and consortia of eligible organizations and institutions serving students.
Are partnerships required?
The solicitation includes a key requirement for partnerships that ensure participation by underserved and underrepresented minority populations in STEM, including involvement of minority-serving institutions.
Is involvement of minority-serving institutions (MSIs) specifically mentioned?
Yes. The CAN specifically notes involvement of minority-serving institutions as part of the requirement to ensure participation by underserved and underrepresented minority populations in STEM.
Can one organization apply for more than one of the three funding categories?
No. NASA notes that only one funding category can be awarded to any single organization, so an applicant needs to choose whether it is pursuing the content/design partnership, the independent evaluation role, or the broader applicability research role.
What is the funding instrument?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates substantial involvement by NASA compared to a typical grant, consistent with collaboration with LTPO and the MMOG developer.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The official funding opportunity number is NNG09AZ32R.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted June 3, 2009. The original and current closing date was August 10, 2009.
What was the proposal deadline time zone and time?
The proposal deadline was August 10, 2009 at noon Eastern Time.
When was the CAN expected to be available?
The CAN was expected to be available in the second week of June 2009.
Where were proposals submitted?
Proposals were to be submitted electronically through NSPIRES (NASA's Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System) or through Grants.gov.
Was a Notice of Intent required?
A Notice of Intent to propose was requested, and it was to be submitted electronically.
What components had to be submitted by the deadline through the electronic system?
By the deadline, submissions were required to include the cover page, proposal summary, and budget summary through the electronic system.
What program type and activity area is this opportunity categorized under?
The opportunity is identified as a discretionary program in the science and technology and other research and development activity area.
How many total awards were expected?
The opportunity details state an expected total of three awards.
What is the archive date listed for this opportunity?
The archive date is June 3, 2010.
What legal/administrative authorities are referenced?
NASA expected to make awards under the authority referenced in the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Handbook (noted as 1260.12(d)) and under Title 14 CFR Part 1260 for educational and nonprofit institutions.
Who was the NASA point of contact for questions about the CAN?
NASA directed applicants to contact James L. Harrington, Jr. at NASA Goddard (Learning Technologies, Mail Stop 606.3, Greenbelt, MD). The announcement provided email and phone contact details.
Who should applicants contact for NSPIRES access issues?
The announcement referenced NAIS/NSPIRES support for access issues.
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