NMC Virtual Learning Prize

The NMC Virtual Learning Prize is a $100,000 competitive program of awards intended to create a collection of innovative open-source learning experiences that make use of the unique attributes of a virtual learning environment. As many as 20 NMC Virtual Learning Prizes will be awarded in 2008. (See Press Release )

Each of the US$5,000 awards will provide a cash incentive paid to the awardee of $500 as well as $4,500 in expert development assistance from the NMC Virtual Worlds team to create the learning experience. The range of in-world services available to awardees to actualize the proposed ideas includes professional building, scripting, design, animation, avatar design, and/or related services.

The New Media Consortium (NMC), a 501(3)c not-for-profit, is committed to pushing the boundaries of how we collectively view teaching and learning in virtual space. The NMC Virtual Learning Prize is envisioned as a way to surface and realize creative ideas for how to make optimal use of a virtual setting, using a process that provides recognition, financial incentives, professional development services, and a return for education as a whole.

Projects funded under the program will be distinguished by the ways in which they make learning fresh or novel, or by the ways they illuminate topics or concepts that are normally very difficult to teach. Immersive learning experiences are especially encouraged, as are tools or devices intended to support the craft of teaching. The most competitive project proposals will not be limited to a single course or discipline, but will rather have broad applicability.

The competition is especially meant to encourage creative thinking among educators at any level from K-12 through post-graduate learning, but anyone may submit a proposal, regardless of institutional affiliation.

As a requirement of funding, all materials and content produced as part of the program will be licensed for broad use under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. Proposal authors will retain full copyright to finished products, and all funded materials will be made available to educators and educational institutions at no cost via either the NMC’s Educational Resource Center on Learning in Second Life or via the NMC’s website, as applicable.

For the 2008-9 award year, funded ideas will be limited to those that can be implemented in the virtual worlds of Second Life or Project Wonderland . In future years, the program may be expanded to other virtual world platforms.

How to Apply

Proposals should be detailed enough to fully communicate the vision and ideas behind the proposal; images or sketches may be included if they will help the reviewers visualize the experience or product.

Please download the Virtual Learning Prize Application Form to complete your submission. Your application must include the following information, as specified in the form:

• 100-word abstract;
• Title and description of the learning experience or teaching tool/resource;
• Essential characteristics or features that make this idea especially suitable within a virtual space;
• Key outcomes for the participant in this experience or the user of this tool;
• Discussion of the applicability of the experience or tool to a variety of disciplines and courses; and
• Author contact information — name, title, institution, email, address, phone, and avatar name.

Proposals will be accepted at any time until all funds are disbursed for the 2008-9 award year, but proposals received by June 16, 2008 will have the greatest chance of being funded, as that is the date upon which the review of proposals will begin. Proposals should be submitted electronically to virtual-learning@nmc.org. Questions should be directed to the same address.