Just got this off the SL educators list. The amazing New Media Consortium is offering US$100,000 in prizes to 20 projects that use virtual worlds in innovative ways for learning. Projects must be conducted in Second Life or Sun Microsystem’s new Project Wonderland virtual world platform:
The New Media Consortium (NMC) today announced the call for proposals for the NMC Virtual Learning Prize, 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. (Download the full press release.)…
…As many as 20 NMC Virtual Learning Prizes will be awarded in 2008. 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 inworld services available to awardees to actualize the proposed ideas includes professional building, scripting, design, animation, avatar design, and/or related services.
For further information, see http://www.nmc.org/virtual-learning-prize or send questions to virtual-learning-at-nmc.org.
Also, just a reminder that USC’s Second Life "Community Challenge" grants are open for submissions until June 1st. See the Network Culture Project website for info.