2022 DARPA AI Tools for Adult Learning
How to Participate

DARPA’s AI Tools for Adult Learning has a phased selection process in order to give
participants time and feedback to strengthen their proposal and build a team.
Proposals will be reviewed at each phase and selected submissions
will be invited to participate in the next round.

 

Phase 1: Submit a concept proposal

Due Date: December 18, 2022 (11:59pm Pacific Time)

Participants respond to questions in a brief form describing the concept for their tool or technology, indicating their award level, and introducing their team. The total length of responses is approximately 2 pages.

What is a tool?

Tools and technologies that would be eligible for the competition could include an app or platform, software, algorithm, or other similar technology.

We are interested in tools and technologies that enhance learning, collect and generate data that supports learning science research and continuous product improvement, and can be scaled. This is core to the learning engineering objectives of the competition.

 
 

Phase 2: Submit a detailed proposal with budget

Due Date: February 24, 2023 (11:59pm Pacific Time)

Participants develop a 3,000 word proposal and budget detailing their tool or technology, its potential for impact and scale, adherence to requirements, and support of education research.

Participants must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residence status. See the official rules for more details.

Finalists will be notified if they advance by late April 2023.


Phase 3: Pitch with a panel of judges

May 2023

Finalists pitch before a panel of expert judges and have the opportunity for support and feedback in crafting their pitch.


Winners Notified

July 2023

Winners are announced and receive the first installment of their award. Winners receive coaching, the opportunity to connect with leaders in the field, and the ability to present to researchers and other leaders to refine their tool.


Product Review Day

Fall 2023

Winners present on their progress to date and receive feedback from other winners and leaders in the field. Winners making sufficient progress by Product Review Day will receive the second installment of their award.


Demo Day

Spring 2024

Winners will demonstrate their tools at a live public event and network with other leaders in the field.


 

HOW ARE PROPOSALS EVALUATED?

Each proposal will be evaluated on six criteria in addition to the eligibility requirements for the given award level:
  • Potential impact and likelihood to improve learning
  • Attention to equity to support learning of historically marginalized populations
  • Demand from adults, employers, and communities
  • Ability to support rapid experimentation and continuous improvement
  • Ability to scale to additional users and/or domains
  • Team passion, and readiness to execute

 

ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARD LEVELS

To encourage both new entrants as well as developing and established platforms, participants can enter in one of three award levels based on the scope of their proposal and the scale of their existing platform.

Eligibility requirements increase as the size of the award increases. Growth and Transform award levels will be subject to greater scrutiny around risk potential, capacity to contribute to learning science or learning engineering research, and capacity to scale.

For more guidance on the award that is best suited for each team, participants can complete the eligibility quiz.

These awards are designed for participants including students, teachers, civic technologists, or those who need that initial spark of support to get started. Participants requesting a Catalyst Phase award need not have pre-existing users. Proposals for Catalyst Phase awards require:
  • A detailed description of the new tool or technology.
  • A detailed execution plan.
  • A commitment to implement an evaluation plan over the year following the award.
These awards are designed for teams that have a minimum viable product with some users upon which their new idea will build. Proposals for Growth Phase awards require:
  • A detailed description of the new tool or technology.
  • A detailed execution plan.
  • A commitment to implement an evaluation plan over the year following the award.
  • A minimum viable product upon which the new tool can build.
  • An outside researcher who has agreed to partner for the project or evidence that the tool could enable research from multiple external researchers.
These awards are designed for established platforms with more than 10,000 users. To be competitive for a Transform Phase award, teams must have:
  • A detailed description of the new tool or technology.
  • A detailed execution plan.
  • A commitment to implement an evaluation plan over the year following the award.
  • An existing platform upon which the new tool would go live with at least 10,000 active users.
  • An outside researcher who has agreed to partner for the project or evidence that the tools could enable research from multiple external researchers.

 
 
 

Questions?

Read the DARPA AI Tools for Adult Learning FAQs.

Email: DARPATools@the-learning-agency.com

 

SPONSORED BY

 
DARPA