NSF's Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings
NSF's Informal Science Education (ISE) program is one of several grant programs in the Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL). DRL is part of the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR), which is also responsible for graduate and undergraduate education. NSF encourages those interested in the ISE grant program to become familiar with other DRL grant programs, which may also apply to their work.
DRL invests in projects to enhance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning for people of all ages in both formal and informal learning settings. Its mission includes promoting innovative and transformative research and development, and evaluation of learning and teaching in all STEM disciplines. DRL's role is to be a catalyst for change by advancing theory, method, measurement, development, evaluation, and application in STEM education.
The Division's programs offer a set of complementary approaches for advancing research, development, and improvement of practice. Each of these programs is supported by a center (like CAISE), as follows:
The Informal Science Education (ISE) program supports innovation in anywhere, anytime, lifelong learning, through investments in research, development, infrastructure and capacity-building for STEM learning outside formal school settings.
The Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program invests in projects designed to address the growing demand for professional and information technology workers through the design, implementation, scale-up, and testing of technology-intensive educational experiences for students and teachers, and through related research studies.
The Discovery Research K-12 (DR-K12) program enables significant advances in preK-12 and teacher learning of the STEM disciplines through research and development on innovative resources, models, and technologies for use by students, teachers, administrators and policy makers.
The Research and Evaluation on Education in Science and Engineering (REESE) program advances research at the frontiers of STEM learning, education, and evaluation, in order to provide foundational knowledge for improving STEM teaching and learning at all educational levels and in all settings.