Learning through Creation with Generative AI

Learning through Creation with Generative AI

Request for Proposals 

The Stanford Accelerator for Learning and the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence invite research proposals advancing learning through creation with Generative AI.

The Stanford Accelerator for Learning seeks to accelerate solutions to the most pressing challenges facing learners. Housed at Stanford Graduate School of Education, the Stanford Accelerator for Learning is the first university-wide initiative connecting scholars across disciplines and with external partners to bridge research, innovation, practice, and policy, and bring quality scalable and equitable learning experiences to all learners, throughout the lifespan.

The Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence’s vision for the future is led by the commitment to promote human-centered uses of AI, design for it using human-centered methods, and ensure that humanity benefits from the technology and that the benefits are broadly shared. In support of these goals, our research falls into three key focus areas: Human Impact, Augment Human Capabilities, and Intelligence.

Nearly two years after the launch of ChatGPT, many applications of GenAI aim to automate current teaching & learning models and promote efficiencies in education. Yet, GenAI offers a far bolder opportunity to transform the very way people learn: through creation. GenAI now presents learners with the exciting possibility of creating their own virtual worlds, simulations, chatbots, and other expressions of their developing knowledge.

The Stanford Accelerator for Learning and HAI invite proposals exploring GenAI’s potential to support learning through creative production, thought, or expression. This includes research on how genAI influences learning-by-making, imaginative exploration, or the development of creative abilities. Projects may target a wide range of creators, such as students, teachers, adults, or families, across various domains including STEM, arts, humanities and social sciences, and in diverse settings such as workplaces, museums, classrooms, and homes. Priority is given to proposals emphasizing creation or creativity in service of learning. 

Funding covers early-stage work with scaling potential. We accept three types of proposals: (1) empirical research that investigates questions of GenAI and creation (2) design proposals that produce a working prototype of an AI-based tool or intervention or (3) a combination of design and empirical research.

ELIGIBILITY & AWARD AMOUNTS

Faculty Seed Grants

• Up to $100,000: For cross-disciplinary collaborative proposals that include either (a) two or more Stanford PI-eligible faculty from different departments, schools, or other academic units or (b) one Stanford PI-eligible faculty member plus an external partner (e.g. school, community-based organization, ed tech firm, non-profit, etc.)
• Up to $50,000: for projects run by Stanford PI-eligible faculty that do not include cross-disciplinary collaboration (as outlined above).
• See guidelines on PI Eligibility in the Stanford Research Policy Handbook Chapter 2.1.

Academic Staff Seed Grants 

• Up to $10,000 for full-time academic staff, including lecturers
• Staff will need approval from their supervisors

Student and Postdoc Grants

• Up to $5,000 for current Stanford postdocs, graduate students, undergraduate students 
• Postdocs will need approval from their faculty supervisors
• Students should not apply if they will graduate before summer quarter of 2025

Accelerator Studio Support Services

The Stanford Accelerator for Learning offers additional support through the Accelerator Studio. Staff at the Accelerator Studio offers consultations in the following areas:

• Technology support. Ideation, storyboarding, prototyping, interface design, instructional design, app development and testing, cloud services, and media production.
• Research support.  Research conceptualization and measure design, execution of quantitative and/or qualitative research in the lab or field, data use agreements and storage, guidance for working with Stanford’s Institutional Review Board.
• Science and design of learning. Evidence-based strategies for improving learning experiences.
• Partnership support. Guidance for working with partner organizations and populations outside of Stanford (e.g., middle school students, community garden partners, tech companies, etc.). 

Accelerator Studio support is available to all grantees upon request, allocated separately from grant funding. Do not include these services in your proposed budget.

TIMELINE

• Proposals Due: Oct 23, 2024, 11:59 pm PT
• Awards Announced: Dec 20, 2024 - Jan 10, 2025
• Grant Period: Feb 1, 2025 - Jan 31, 2026 (12 months or until graduation for student-led grants)

REQUIREMENTS

• ESR and IRB approval required before fund release, for applicable projects 
• Participation in 3-4 seed grant recipient meetings/workshops
• A short interim report and a final report

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Proposal format:

• Max 5 pages (including proposal narrative, ESR, references, and budget plan)
• Single-spaced, 11-point font, 1-inch margins
• PDF format

Pages 1-2: Proposal narrative

• Proposal title
• Key project personnel (name, school, role/title)
• Project abstract
• Background and problem statement
• Design and/or research plan with timeline
• Potential for intellectual contributions and broader impact
• Contributions & roles of all project personnel, including any external partners.

Page 3: Ethics and Society Review (ESR) statement. 

• The ESR process encourages teams to consider the potential ethical dilemmas and societal challenges that could follow from their work. As part of the ESR process, the panel may ask for more detail in response. 
• Please use the ESR statement template and consult these ESR Instructions to learn more 

 Page 4: References 

• Citations for works referenced in the proposal narrative

Page 5: Budget plan

• Include total requested award and budget items (e.g., 25% RA for 2 qtrs, travel $3K, equipment $4K). 
• Must include an 8% infrastructure charge
• Capital equipment ($5k+) and faculty effort/salary will not be funded
• Support for student RAs is encouraged
• See budget templates for faculty and students/postdocs/staff applicants

Proposals may be submitted via the Stanford Seed Funding website. 

SELECTION CRITERIA

Proposals will be evaluated on:

• Potential for positive and broad impact on learners and/or education
• Novelty/innovation of approach, method, or design
• Intellectual merit 
• Interdisciplinarity
• Team credentials & qualifications
• Alignment with Accelerator focus areas (early childhood, learning differences, equity, adult & workforce learning, policy & systems change)
• Impact on marginalized, underserved, or neurodiverse learners

MORE INFORMATION

Optional information sessions will overview the grant program and answer applicant questions.  Info sessions will be held via Zoom on:

• October 2, 12:00pm - 1:00pm PT
• October 9, 2:00pm - 3:00pm PT
• Sign up for information sessions here. 

General questions? Contact Cathy Chase (cchase@stanford.edu), senior research scholar at the Stanford Accelerator for Learning. Questions about ESR process? Contact Betsy.Rajala@stanford.edu