Parallax Education Resources
Curriculum Development:
- Scope and Sequence guide for the ActivityBot - Including reference documentation, tutorials, curriculum adjustment suggestions, and approximate unit lengths.
- Parallax Robotics Standards Matrix Guide - Includes all of Parallax’s small robots: Activity Bot, ActivityBot 360, Boe-Bot, Shield Bot
- UC/CSU Parallax Approved Course List - You must have a login for the UC/CSU website to access the Parallax-approved A-G course articulation
Parallax Educational Class Packs are built for easy ordering and quick start for a new robotics courses.
- ActivityBot 360 12-Pack Plus
- Scribbler 3 (S3) 12-Pack Plus
- Security Project Class Pack for BlocklyProp
- STEM Sensor Class Pack for BlocklyProp
Equipping your students genius sometimes needs more funding outside of school resources and Parallax is driven to provide as much assistance as we can to bring STEM learning to all classrooms, camps, community programs, etc. We believe that it takes a community to support each student and provide the following resources to help you achieve your program goals. Through our funding research and experience, we have found the following guidelines to be the most useful.
Most Common Questions and Answers
- How will the grant funds be used?
- Budget narrative
Writing the Funding Application
Each application or request for funding have their own questions, but here is a general outline to start the process:
Pre-Application Steps
- Obtain administration approval (Principal, superintendent, program director)
- Check to see if there is any limit to the amount of grant you can apply for - some districts have guidelines that the school board needs to be involved if the grant is larger than a certain dollar amount.
- Identify who will be implementing the program once the grant is awarded. Who will do the training? Who will manage the budget?
Letter of Inquiry - Some grantmakers request a letter of inquiry to determine if your purpose fits into their current priorities before you take the time to complete a full proposal. In general this should be 1-3 pages long and contain the following information (keep it brief):
- Overview of organization
- Brief description
- Contact information
- Contact person
- Project or Program
- Summary
- Overview (Purpose, objectives, goals)
- Description of participants
- Implementation
- Cost
- Possible Attachments
- 501(c)(3)
- Mission Statement
- Board of Directors
Elements of a Grant Application:
- Cover Letter - Name of the program, purpose, strategic reason, amount requested, time period of program,name of contact person.
- Purpose of applying - Problem ( need, program goals, program design, how it will be sustained after grant money is spent Problem to address: citing research or books is appropriate
- SMART Goals & Objectives - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time bound Strategies - Program Activities - will there be any usable products as a result of this program?
- Evaluation Plan - How will you measure the effectiveness of your program? Survey participants, families, parents? Questionnaire, interview, Observations Pre and post program evaluation or just post?
Additional attachments to consider:
- Verification of 501(c)(3) status
- Organizational structure
- Report on school district