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Expression of Interest GuidelinesASISTM Expression of Interest Offline Template Expressions of Interest for ASISTM funding are to be submitted via the online Expression of Interest Form. A template of the form may be downloaded above, to assist applicants in preparing their answers offline before submitting them using the online form. Applicants experiencing difficulty completing the online application form should contact the ASISTM Help Line on (03) 9657 9748 or asistm@curriculum.edu.au to make alternative arrangements. Prior to completing the Expression of Interest it is advisable to view the Project Selection Criteria. Please note that the two criteria relating to quality assurance, and research, theory and/or practice, will be addressed at the Project Proposal stage of the application process, and do not need to be covered by the Expression of Interest.
Project informationProject titleProjects should be allocated a short title of no more than 8 words. It is recommended that your project title is kept brief. Project OverviewThe Project Overview is a short description of projects that can be used as a ready reference and for communications about ASISTM, possibly including ministerial announcements and project descriptions placed on the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) or ASISTM websites. The Project Overview should work to the following basic structure:
Limit: 200 words
PersonnelAlthough every ASISTM cluster is different, there are certain key roles in each project that need to be filled. The diagram below shows the structure a typical ASISTM cluster model (numbers of schools and non-school partners may vary): ASISTM Cluster Model
Cluster information from About the project: The size of clusters is not prescribed, but is likely to consist of between 4 and 12 schools and organisations. Initiatives which show genuine collaboration between schools and non-school organisations are the most likely to be successful. School-based Project Coordinators are encouraged to seek opportunities to collaborate with non-school organisations able to contribute expertise or resources to their project. Such organisations may include, but are not limited to:
Project Coordinators based in non-school organisations must identify specific schools contributing to the project in their applications, and ensure that their project includes meaningful collaboration with the schools named. ASISTM clusters may incorporate government and/or non-government, primary and/or secondary schools. They need not be geographically defined, and may operate in more than one State or Territory, provided cross-jurisdictional issues are adequately addressed. Online or other communication may be used to enable collaboration within ASISTM clusters which are widely dispersed geographically. Clusters may be formed around a common need, shared interests or the opportunity for mutual enrichment through collaboration. Initiatives which include practical plans for involving schools facing special challenges (eg rural/remote schools, or schools with high proportions of Indigenous or disadvantaged students) will be especially highly regarded. Individual schools and non-school organisations may be part of more than one ASISTM cluster simultaneously, either within one funding round, or between multiple rounds. Project CoordinatorOne person should be nominated as the Project Coordinator for the school cluster project. Project Coordinators may be employees of one of the schools or organisations in the cluster, or may be engaged by the cluster to administer the project on behalf of the cluster using a proportion of the project funding. In consultation with partner schools and organisations, this person will be responsible for:
Deputy Project CoordinatorA second contact person should be nominated as Deputy to the Project Coordinator. This person will assist the Project Coordinator in administering the project, and will assume the responsibilities of the Project Coordinator in the event that the Project Coordinator is unable to continue in their role. The Deputy Project Coordinator may be from the same school or organisation as the Project Coordinator, or from another partner within the cluster. Partner organisationsDetails must be provided for all schools and organisations in the cluster, including those named for the Project Coordinator and Deputy Project Coordinator. Project Coordinators are responsible for contacting cluster partners to obtain the required details, and confirming their willingness to participate in the project. It is required that partner organisations named in the project application are aware that they have been nominated to participate in the proposed project, and have endorsed their involvement. SchoolsThe names and a number of details about each of the partner schools in the school cluster are required. It is required that Project Coordinators have made contact with all schools listed and received their endorsement of the proposed project. Where exact figures are not available for the required fields, a best-guess estimate should be provided. Curriculum Corporation reserves the right to seek verification of any information provided. The following definitions have been provided to assist applicants in answering this question: Special challenges facing a school This question is optional, and information should only be provided for a school with a significant population of any of the student groups listed. A text box is provided for further explanation if required. Limit: 60 words Non-school partnersIt is necessary to provide the name of any non-school partner organisations in the cluster and, where appropriate, the name of the department or division that is directly involved. For example, the partner organisation may be a local council, and the department may be the Department of Parks and Gardens. The Successful Projects section of the ASISTM website provides examples of possible partner organisations from previous ASISTM projects. It is required that Project Coordinators have made contact with all organisations listed and received their endorsement of the proposed project. Applicants also have the opportunity to note any other initiatives their non-school partners are undertaking that complement or support the proposed ASISTM project. This question is optional. Teacher AssociatesTeacher Associates are an integral part of successful ASISTM Projects. On average, two or three Teacher Associates are expected to be engaged for each project. Teacher Associates may be engaged for limited periods, over part or all of a project's duration, and may be paid or voluntary. Teacher Associates are intended to work with students, acting as role models and helping teachers to inspire and motivate students by bringing their ‘real-life’ experiences using Science, Technology or Mathematics into the classroom. They might be tertiary students studying for a degree in a related discipline, researchers, science/technology/mathematics professionals, or others who can provide examples of how these learning areas relate to a wider context beyond the classroom. Their subject-related knowledge will help inform and shape students' Science, Technology and Mathematics learning experiences through an ASISTM project. Teacher Associates do not need to be named at this stage of the application process, and only a brief general description of their role in the project activities should be supplied. The Project Coordinator will be required to coordinate all aspects of the sourcing, screening, payment, task allocation and supervision of Teacher Associates involved in their project. Screening must be consistent with current requirements for government or non-government schools in States and Territories. The appointment of all Teacher Associates and any other personnel engaging with students will be subject to an Australian Federal Police criminal history check (as well as other statutory screening requirements), with the results of any adverse checks reported to DEST, and subject to final DEST clearance. (Read more…) Results of Australian Federal Police checks will only be required from projects which are selected to receive ASISTM funding, and do not need to be completed at this stage of the application process. Consultants (if applicable)A project may also choose to engage various other personnel to assist with such matters as quality assurance, professional development or project planning. Any personnel fulfilling additional roles in the project should be described under Consultants, with a separate entry made for each role. Please note that the role of a consultant differs from that of a Teacher Associate, in that consultants typically do not work directly with students. Including consultants in an ASISTM project is optional.
RationaleAlignment with ASISTM aimsApplicants must identify how their project is aligned with the aims of the ASISTM Project. A complete list of aims is provided below. Applicants may choose to address as many of these as are relevant to their project. 1) Encouraging innovation in Australian schools
2) Promoting world class teaching and learning
3) Teacher attraction and retention
Limit: 100 words Connections to complementary State/Territory and/or Australian Government initiativesThis should not only list any complementary government initiatives the project supports or which will provide support for the project, but should also clearly explain how the project will enhance the achievement of the purpose or aims of the initiatives listed. Applications should be focused more on quality of the explanation, than the quantity of initiatives listed. Click here to view examples of initiatives which are complementary to the ASISTM Project. Verification may be sought for any initiatives cited which are not on this list. Limit: 100 words Subjects/learning areas in which innovation will occurASISTM projects are to promote innovation in one or more of the key learning areas of Mathematics, Science and Technology. The learning area selected should reflect the content being taught through the proposed project. Applications will be assessed on their relevance to the learning area(s) identified, not the number of learning areas ticked. Applicants should explain what the cluster sees as innovative in the initiative itself or the approach that is proposed, or how innovative thinking skills and culture are being engendered as a result of the project. The following definitions have been provided to assist applicants in answering this question: Limit: 100 words Meeting teacher and student needsASISTM projects should be motivated by clearly identified needs, and involve the implementation of a well-considered strategy to address them. Applicants should outline the specific student and/or teacher needs in their cluster schools which motivated their project, and why they feel their project will address these needs successfully. Limit: 100 words Indigenous focusThe project may be categorised as Indigenous if it does one or more of the following:
Making a sustainable differenceChanges and improvements to Science, Technology and Mathematics education arising from an ASISTM project should be sustainable beyond the life of the project, and should foster a lasting commitment to innovation in the cluster schools. This may include a lasting change in the culture or practices of the cluster schools, an embedded change in curriculum for the learning areas specified which will ensure that innovation continues to be promoted, ongoing professional learning in identified areas, or the intended continuation of project activities made possible by resourcing from other sources. Limit: 100 words Collaboration within the clusterCollaboration between cluster partners is an important aspect of the ASISTM Project. This should go beyond simply the delivery of a centrally-developed resource or program to cluster schools. Projects should clearly show partner schools and organisations working together and sharing expertise to achieve the project's aims. This should briefly describe the roles and relationships between all partners in the cluster. Applicants should outline how the project will build partnerships between schools and any other organisations in the cluster. Limit: 100 words Benefits beyond the clusterIt is expected that ASISTM projects will have significance in the wider educational context, as models of best practice which can be adopted by, or otherwise benefit, other schools in Australia. Applicants should explain how the new knowledge or resources developed within the cluster as a result of the proposed project can, or will be, disseminated to other schools and organisations in the region and nationally. The ASISTM Project will support this dissemination by displaying case studies of successful ASISTM initiatives on the ASISTM website. However, Project Coordinators should also explore other opportunities for actively disseminating information about their project. Limit: 100 words
PlanningStart and finish datesThe start date for activities to be funded should not occur before the month after final selection of ASISTM projects is made for this round (see Timetable for applications). A typical ASISTM project will be carried out over a period of 12–18 months. Projects over 18 months in duration will not be considered. Project activitiesThis should summarise the main project activities to be undertaken, who will be involved in each one, and approximately when in the project timeline each one will occur. It may take the form of a list of short statements or paragraphs, providing a clear picture of what will be happening in the partner schools, and what the non-school partners will contribute to the project, including Teacher Associates. Details, including timing, of all major project milestones should be included. Supporting activities for all ASISTM projects Limit: 300 words Main budget itemsMain budget items should be listed, and a round-figure estimate allocated to each item. These should relate clearly to the proposed Personnel and Project Activities. Budget items may include:
Applications which include costs above the recommended limits are unlikely to be considered favourably. The cost of the project will be totalled automatically as budget items are entered. The total project budget should fall between $20,000 and $80,000, with most successful projects expected to be in the middle of the funding range. Projects exceeding $80 000 will not be considered. No single project may apply for more than one grant per round of applications. The overall cost-effectiveness of projects will be taken into account. Projects which deliver strong outcomes at a modest cost will be especially well regarded. If any costs for the project are to be covered from another source or through in-kind support, a zero value can be entered next to the appropriate budget item, with a short explanation given in the budget item description.
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