Orientation

	How should I move through the tutorial?

• Navigation bars: The bars in the left-hand column show the outline of the tutorial. We encourage you to follow the sequence of topics in the outline, since each element builds on the previous one. However, you are free to choose the topics that are the most interesting to you.
• Navigation tabs: You will also find tabs at the top of each page for the following:

Orientation (this section): information about navigating through the tutorial, leaving and returning to it, how much time it takes, where to direct your questions and comments, and organization of the tutorial
Notices: legal notices related to participation in the tutorial, acknowledgement of support, security, and privacy
Feedback: e-mail link for you to send comments on the tutorial
Glossary: definitions of key project planning terms used in the tutorial
Resources: tools to supplement the tutorial's content, as well as a list of selected books, articles, and Web sites


• Terms and phrases in bold green are defined in the Glossary.
• Terms and phrases in bold black highlight the content of a bullet point or a paragraph and the titles of tutorial phases, units, and tasks.

	How can I leave and return to the tutorial?

When you are ready to stop the tutorial, you can mark the page you want to return to:

• In Internet Explorer, choose Favorites from the menu, then Add to Favorites. Click OK if any dialog boxes appear. To return to the tutorial, go to Favorites from the Menu, and then choose the name of the page. It should be towards the bottom of the list.
• In Netscape, choose Bookmarks from the menu, then Bookmark This Page. To return to the tutorial, go to Bookmarks from the Menu, and then choose the name of the page. It should be towards the bottom of the list.

	How much time should I allow for the tutorial?

The amount of time you spend on the tutorial depends on your needs and interests. Define the Project and Plan the Project include reading material, examples to illustrate the content points, exercises, and templates that you can download and complete. At a minimum, we estimate that it will take three hours to go through the tutorial thoroughly, reading the text and the examples, and doing all of the exercises. This estimate does not include the time it will take you to complete the templates for your project.

	When should I take the tutorial?

If you are considering writing a National Leadership Grant application, plan to get started on this tutorial as soon as you have some ideas about your project. The tutorial is organized in self-contained units. As explained above, you can bookmark your work and return to it.

We suggest that you estimate approximately how much time you will actually spend on each of the first two phases: Define the Project and Plan the Project. Take into account IMLS' deadline for submission of your application and create a timeline.

	What if I have questions or comments about the tutorial?

• Contact: nlgtutorial@imls.gov

	What if I have questions about one of the NLG programs?

	How is this tutorial organized?

The first phase, Define the Project, is comprised of Organizational needs analysis, Target audience needs analysis, and Project goals. The second phase, Plan the Project, includes Activities, Evaluation approach, and Schedule and resources. Each unit contains these components:

• Tasks are the activities that you need to perform to accomplish a particular component of starting or planning your project. Each task builds on the previous one. In the last task of each phase, you will conduct a reality check of the decisions you have made up to that point.
• Examples of completed templates representing several categories of National Leadership Grants funding are included in each unit. For instructional purposes we are using fictitious projects developed by organizations in the fictitious state of West Dakota. Brief background descriptions of each of the West Dakotan projects are included in the Resources tab. Keep in mind that these examples are simplified or partial for the purposes of this tutorial.
• Exercises are included in all the units except for Organizational needs analysis. The purpose of the exercises is to reinforce the main points in the text and the examples. You can complete the exercises on-line and receive immediate feedback.
• Templates are available in HTML, MS Word, and PDF for you to download or print, then complete off-line.

The last two phases are Write the Grant Application and Do the Project.

• Write the Grant Application provides basic information about the NLG application process and links to useful resources about effective proposal writing. This phase is not covered in detail in this tutorial.
• Do the Project includes a brief description of the steps you will take to implement and evaluate your project if it is funded. It also briefly describes what happens after the project is evaluated and your organization is responsible for sustaining the results of a successful project. This phase is not covered in detail in this tutorial.