MIT Solve Grant Program Seeks Tech Solutions to Bring Equity to Distance Learning
The Equitable
Classrooms Challenge, a program of MIT
Solve, is seeking solutions that will help bring equity to
students engaged in distance learning in the United States and around
the world. Prizes for selected solutions range from $10,000 to
$250,000.
According to MIT Solve, “All solutions selected for Solve’s
five current Global Challenges will receive a $10,000 grant
funded by Solve. Solver teams will be selected by a panel of
cross-sector judges.”
In addition, a variety of prizes are being offered for solutions that
solve specific problems. These include:
-
The American Student Assistance (ASA) Prize for
Equitable Education will award $250,000 for “digital solutions
tailored to U.S.-based primary and secondary classrooms that provide
career exploration or experimentation,” with
a preference for “solutions that are embedded as part of core
curriculum, utilize project based learning, ensure equitable access,
and have an emphasis on teacher professional development”;
-
The GM Prize will provide up to $150,000 apiece
to up to six winners whose solutions “help create smart, safe, and
sustainable communities around the world”;
-
The Innovation for Women Prize provides $25,000
apiece to three solutions “that use innovative technology to
improve quality of life for women and girls”;
-
The AI for Humanity Prize will provide $200,000
in funding across multiple teams whose solutions leverage “data
science, artificial intelligence, and/or machine learning to benefit
humanity, as well as to those planning to utilize these technologies
to amplify their impact”;
-
The Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee
Inclusion will offer up to $100,000 to up to four solutions “that
advance the economic, financial, and political inclusion of
refugees.” Prizes will be awarded across various Solve challenges.
Other benefits include access to mentors, coaching and expertise;
evaluation and guidance; networking; and in-kind resources, such as
software licenses, from MIT Solve partners.
The program is open to anybody anywhere in the world, including
individuals and teams. The deadline for entries is June 16. Solver
Teams will be announced in August. Further information, as well as an
entry form, can be found on the Equitable
Classrooms program portal.