Futurelab are seeking exciting ideas about new ways of learning with technology related to the Call’s current themes. Their aim is to develop your idea further so that it can be showcased, perhaps modelled in a way that lets people try it out, or that possibly help prepare it for a larger stage of development. Ideas are sought from absolutely anyone in the UK. If selected by our expert panel, we may either help you develop it, or support the idea and help it finding funding via their network.
They are particularly keen on receiving ideas that:
- stimulate ideas about the future direction of education and technology
- push the current boundaries of how technology is used for learning
- challenge assumptions about how teaching and learning happen.
Why send your idea?
They can help you move your idea forwards and closer to becoming a reality – and they can help to showcase it to the education and technology sectors using events and the media. They have an experienced team of experts who are skilled in R&D, researching and developing ideas and prototypes and in collaborating on projects. For the right idea they will provide funding to cover the development costs of turning your idea into a reality or if more appropriate they will support the idea and work with you to seek funding via their network.
If you are successful, they will either
- support your idea and help you present and showcase your idea via our networks to development partners and/or funders
Or
- invest funding and time and effort of the Futurelab team to help develop your idea further and showcase it to the outside world. This could involve bringing in other external experts or brokering partnerships where needed. Work is carried out in partnership with you, the originator of the idea, and also with learners, the end users.
Who can apply?
Whatever your background, whether you are applying as an individual, as a teacher or learner, as a developer, as a school or university, or as a company, they welcome all idea submissions from anyone within the UK. They work with a diverse range of people and we can provide you with skills and support to fill any gaps in skills and knowledge to take your idea forward: for example, a games developer may need learning research and children’s input, a teacher may need assistance with design or programming skills to bring an idea to reality, or a young learner may need guidance developing their idea into a concrete proposal. They particularly welcome ideas from young people, whether in formal education or not.
Please see their projects section (http://www.futurelab.org.uk/projects) for an idea of projects they’ve been involved with.
The call closes on Thursday 8 October 2009 so please send your idea by that date using their application process.
Tags: Funding, games, knowledge, media, Research
