2022 Learning Engineering Tools Competition
How to Compete
The Learning Engineering Tools Competition has a three-phase selection process in order to give competitors
time and feedback to strengthen their proposal. Proposals will be reviewed at each phase and selected
submissions will be invited to compete in the next round.
Phase 1: Submit a concept proposal
Due Date: November 20, 2022 (11:59pm Pacific Time)
Competitors respond to questions in a brief form describing the concept for their tool or technology, indicating their competition track and 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 educational technology.
We are interested in tools and technologies that enhance learning or improve the education system, 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)
Competitors develop a 3,000 word proposal and budget detailing their tool or technology, its potential for impact and scale, adherence to track requirements, and support of education research.
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 or teachers 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 learners, educators, and families
- 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
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. Specific eligibility criteria also vary slightly by track.
For more guidance on the award that is best suited for each team, competitors can complete the eligibility quiz.
- A detailed description of the new tool or technology
- A detailed execution plan
- Commit to implement an evaluation plan over the year following the grant
- For early childhood education assessment-focused proposals, entrants must provide assurance that their tool or technology will be accessible for no more than at cost to users.
- For Learning Science Research Track:
- An assurance that their tool or technology will be made available to users for no more than “at cost.”
- A detailed description of the new tool or technology
- A detailed execution plan.
- Commit to implement an evaluation plan over the year following the award
- For early childhood education-assessment focused proposals, entrants must provide assurance that their tool or technology will be accessible for no more than at cost to users.
- A minimum viable product with some scale.
- For Accelerated Learning Track, Transforming Assessment Track, and Strengthening Teacher Development Track: An outside researcher who has agreed to partner for the project or evidence that the tool could enable research from multiple external researchers.
- For Learning Science Research Track: An assurance that their tool or technology will be accessible for no more than “at cost” to users.
- A detailed description of the new tool or technology
- A detailed execution plan.
- Commit to implement an evaluation plan over the year following the award
- For Accelerated Learning Track, Transforming Assessment Track, and Strengthening Teacher Development Track:
- An existing platform upon which the new tool would live with at least active 10,000 users.
- An outside researcher who has agreed to partner for the project or evidence that the tool could enable research from multiple external researchers.
- For Learning Science Research Track:
- Partnership with a digital learning platform with at least 10,000 users or access to a comparable dataset.
- An assurance that their tool or technology will be accessible for no more than “at cost” to users.
Are you a Growth or Transform Phase competitor in the Learning Science Research track?
The competition is eager to promote tools that are developed in consultation with practitioners. As a result, Growth or Transform Phase competitors in the Learning Science Research track are eligible to receive a supplemental award of $100,000.
Eligible competitors must partner with a district or consortium of districts with at least 10,000 students of which the majority come from historically marginalized populations.
The district partners would co-design research questions, implement the tool with at least 3,000 students, and incorporate the research findings into district instruction or policy.
SPONSORED BY
“Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation” is a registered trademark of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the United States and is used with permission.
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With the help of our sponsors, the Learning Engineering Tools Competition aims to support new tools that will improve learning and advance the field of learning engineering.