The Spectrum Institute for Teaching and Learning (SITL) is providing mini-grants of $1,500 to Spectrum of Teaching Styles advocates who are presenting at an International level conference where submitted presentation abstracts are peer reviewed. The presentation must be specific to the Spectrum of Teaching Styles, practical or research-based.
These mini-grants are available to help defer the costs associated with presenting at an International conference (i.e., conference registration, travel, accommodations, etc.). If presenting online, only the conference registration fee will be covered. The purpose of this mini-grant program is to promote and enhance scholarship specific to the Spectrum of Teaching Styles.
The awarding of the mini-grants will occur through a competitive process. Applications are open to master and doctoral degree students, university faculty, teachers, and coaches. One $1,500 mini grant may be awarded per abstract submission. Individuals are limited to receiving one SITL mini grant per calendar year.
To apply, complete the Application Packet as per the instructions provided. If your Application Packet reviews favorably (i.e., accepted by the SITL review committee), you must forward a copy of the conference organizing committee’s official letter of acceptance before the date of the presentation.
The financial award associated with each successful mini-grant application will be made payable to the principal presenter’s university/institution/school. Because of this, recipients will have to include proof that their university/institution/school is a non-profit organization. For U.S. based institutions, that is the EIN (Employer Identification Number). For institutions based outside of the U.S., we will require documentation with the institution’s letterhead stating that it is a non-profit institution.
Download Application FormWe are currently accepting Application Packets for International conferences.
Please note the following requests from all SITL mini-grant award recipients:
•Award recipients must send a copy of the official letter of acceptance (abstract accepted for presentation) from the international conference organizing committee once received. Your award will be contingent upon the SITL receiving this information.
•Award recipients must include in their presentation the following statement (acknowledgement):
“This presentation was supported by funds received from the Spectrum Institute for Teaching and Learning.”
•Award recipients must forward a headshot (picture) for posting on the SITL Website and social media pages.
•Award recipients must also include proof that their university/institution/school is a non-profit organization. For U.S. based institutions, that is the EIN (Employer Identification Number). For institutions based outside of the U.S., we will require documentation with the institution’s letterhead stating that it is a non-profit institution.
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$5,000, $10,000, $15,000, and $25,000 Grant Award Categories
The Spectrum Institute for Teaching and Learning (SITL) funds multiple research grants annually specific to research conducted around the Spectrum of Teaching Styles. Each recipient of a SITL research grant will receive a financial award to conduct a proposed research study. The purpose of these research grants is to promote and enhance scholarship in relation to the theoretical constructs of the Spectrum of Teaching Styles. Studies may be conducted in any school subject-matter area (e.g., physical education, elementary classroom, secondary mathematics, etc.). The selection of the grant recipients is a competitive process. All application materials must be completed in English.
$5,000 Awards (FIVE grants available)
Complete the Application Packet as per the instructions provided in the Application Packet.
Download Application Form
Applications re-open on November 1st, 2026. The deadline to apply is March 30, 2027.
Indirect Costs
The SITL grant program will allow a MAXIMUM of 10 percent of the budgeted funds to be allocated to indirect costs. Gant applicants must be aware of their institution’s policies related to indirect costs prior to applying for a SITL research grant. Therefore, any indirect costs must be factored and included in the applicant’s proposed budget. The SITL is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a goal of funding small grants which may subsequently lead to application of larger federally funded research grants.
Are you interested in videotaping a sample Spectrum episode in teaching style A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, or K for posting to the Spectrum of Teaching Styles Website, YouTube page, and/or used in the SITL Educational Curriculum? If yes, continue reading!
We are now accepting videotaped episodes/lessons of Spectrum teaching styles within FOUR separate categories:
CATEGORY 1: Landmark Teaching Style Episodes
This category is reflective of what we have been inviting individuals to submit over the past four years. However, now we will only accept submissions of landmark teaching style episodes that are delivered to school-aged learners. Example: Style C episode with a class of 3 rd grade school children.
CATEGORY 2: Combining Teaching Styles in an Episode
This category is new. When combining teaching styles in an episode, you merge the primary objectives of two (or more) styles to create a new learning experience. These episodes may be delivered with PETE majors/students or school-aged learners. Example: Episode A/E Combination – Students perform the modeled task in unison to the teacher’s cues/commands (style A) while choosing the level of difficulty at which to perform the task, levels presented to them by the teacher (style E).
CATEGORY 3: Design Variation Episode
This category is new. When implementing a design variation within a landmark teaching style, you expand the learning objectives within the primary decision structure of that teaching style by emphasizing different attributes on the developmental channels (physical, cognitive, social, and emotional). The design variation episode then falls under the canopy of the particular landmark style. Example: Style B Episode with Paired Learners – Students perform the modeled task at their own pace and rhythm (decisions about location, starting time, stopping time, task order, among others, may also be made by the students) in pairs while receiving individual feedback from the teacher. This example emphasizes the attribute of working together (social developmental channel). Within this design variation, the episode now falls under the canopy of style B because the learners are no longer working individually which is an element of a landmark style B episode.
CATEGORY 4: Episodic Teaching Lesson
To reach the intended objectives of a lesson, a variation of teaching styles is often necessary to accommodate the complexities of the lesson’s subject matter presentation. A lesson can be planned and executed as a series of Spectrum episodes. Teaching that incorporates a series of purposefully planned Spectrum episodes is termed episodic teaching. A great deal of teaching experience and expertise with the Spectrum teaching styles is a requisite for developing a lesson reflective of episodic teaching. Your series of purposefully designed episodes (must have at least three episodes in the lesson developed) may be delivered with PETE majors/students or school-aged learners. For more information about episodic teaching, we refer you to Mosston and Ashworth, Teaching Physical Education, 2008, pages 204-209.
SITL $500 Spectrum Episode Mini Grant Awards are available to those interested in submitting a videotaped episode that falls within Category 1, 2, or 3 (see above), or $1,000 for a lesson (series of at least three episodes) that falls within Category 4 (see above). All submissions will be reviewed to determine acceptance. Those that meet the criteria for acceptance will be posted to the Spectrum of Teaching Styles Website, YouTube page, and/or used in the SITL Educational Curriculum. Submissions are open to those knowledgeable in the Spectrum of Teaching Styles, including physical education teachers, classroom teachers, coaches, university faculty, and pre-service teachers (i.e., college/university students). An individual may receive no more than one SITL Spectrum Episode Mini Grant Award per calendar year. The purpose of this initiative is to promote and enhance the implementation of the Spectrum of Teaching Styles in the instructional setting worldwide.
To submit, please complete the Submission Form. If the Videotaped Episode assesses favorably (assessed by a Spectrum expert), you will receive a SITL $500 or $1,000 Mini Grant Award. All appropriate permission documents to share your work for educational purposes with the SITL, a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational foundation, must be included.
After accepting the grant, SITL is responsible for the use of the material for educational purposes described in the submission form.
*Also, it is possible for us to blur the faces of the any of the participants in the video. If you would like us to do this, please indicate this in your submission email.
Download Application FormWe are currently doing an open call for submissions.
Please note the following requests from all SITL mini grant award RECIPIENTS:
• Permission documents to share your work for educational purposes with the SITL, a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational foundation, must be included.
• The financial award associated with each successful mini grant award application will be made payable to the principal presenter’s university/institution/school. Because of this, recipients will have to include proof that their university/institution/school is a non-profit organization. For U.S. based institutions, that is the EIN (Employer Identification Number). For institutions based outside of the U.S., we will require documentation with the institution’s letter stating that it is a non-profit institution.
• No other compensation will be provided by SITL apart from the above-mentioned amount of money.
• Award recipients must forward a headshot (picture) for posting on the SITL Website and FaceBook/Twitter Pages.
Permission from parents/guardians for any underaged video participants for the video to be recorded and posted online. (We can blur any of the participants faces if that is a concern).