Gates Foundation launches $20M fund for tech ventures to improve education

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The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced on Monday a $20 million project to fund Internet and other high-tech ventures aimed at boosting the nation's troubling college graduation rates. Through the use of the Web, social networks, games and gadgets, the foundation said technology provides new opportunities to keep students engaged in their studies and provide more flexibility to attend classes online. At stake is a brewing educational and economic crisis, the foundation said. Only half of Americans at age 30 have a college degree. But in eight years, about 64 percent of all jobs will require more than a high school diploma.

The Gates Foundation will accept applications for initial awards of $250,000 to $750,000 for the following:

  • Increasing the use of blended learning models, which combine face-to-face instruction with online learning activities.
  • Deepening students' learning and engagement through use of interactive applications, such as digital games, interactive video, immersive simulations and social media.
  • Supporting the availability of high-quality open courseware, particularly for high-enrollment introductory classes such as math, science, and English, which often have low rates of student success.
  • Helping institutions, instructors and students benefit from learning analytics, which can monitor student progress and customize proven supports and interventions.

Gates Foundation launches $20M fund for tech ventures to improve education