me arts ed

Pictures Sounds Numbers Words… Teaching with Technology

This online conference will take place May 4-7, 2009. Completely online, this conference will feature former Governor of Maine Angus King as the keynote speaker, as well as 28 engaging and inspiring workshop sessions conducted by, and for, educational professionals interested in teaching and learning with technology… all right from the comfort of your own computer.

Using web-based technologies to communicate and collaborate, this event is for educators interested in conversation around teaching and learning with technology, and will offer an opportunity for sharing and discussing examples of best practice using technology to creatively teach and inspire.

Participants will interact and share ideas with both presenters and peers in a live, virtual environment. A broadband Internet connection, a web browser, and a phone are required for live participation. Every workshop will be recorded and made available for viewing after the live event has concluded so that you won’t miss any of the sessions. For both live and recorded sessions… you will be able to join in on the conversation, and workshop presenter resources will also be mace available for download.

Please join in on this GREAT opportunity! For more information click here.

Bangor High School Student Represents Maine in Recitation Finals

At 9AM on Monday, April 27, 2009, William Whitham, from Bangor High School, will compete against 52 other students in the national finals of Poetry Out Loud in Washington, D.C. The Poetry Out Loud competition is organized nationally by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, and at the state level by each state’s arts commission or council.

In February ten students, out of an incredible beginning total of 2700, from high schools across Maine competed in the state finals of Poetry Out Loud at the Camden Opera House.

The final, organized by the Maine Arts Commission, was a closely contested event that highlighted the exceptional talents of Maine’s students. At the end of the evening, William Whitham was selected as state champion. He now goes on to represent Maine in the national finals with the hope of securing the first prize of a $20,000 college scholarship.

Highlights of the Maine State Finals, that included extended interviews with the students, can be seen on YouTube at this link.

Extending the Dance Map: A Northern New England Rural Dance Project

Extending the Dance Map has been providing professional development for dancers interested in working in rural schools. And to develop a network for communication and information-sharing that links dancers, resources and opportunities throughout our region.

Extending the Dance Map is a program of the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire, presented in partnership with the New England Consortium of Artist-Educator Professionals, the Vermont Arts Council, the New Hampshire State Council on teh Arts, the Maine Arts Commission, and in cooperation with the Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont Departments of Education. The project is funded by the Dana Foundation’s Arts Education Rural Initiative and by the state arts councils.

The program started with training sessions to prepare dancers to teach dance in K-12 schools. At the conclusion of the initial training dancers were placed with schools for short residencies.

This past week I had the opportunity to visit Ella Burr School in Lincoln, ME to observe the “program in action”. Dancer Helena Melone worked with teachers at the school as part of a 5-day residency. On the last day four classes of 4th graders staged their performances. I was very impressed with what Helena had accomplished with the students in a short time. They have retained their positions, moves and the story line and were eager to practice over and over. Helena connected the dance with their Maine studies unit on the ocean, forest, fresh water and bog. All of the students were engaged and offered suggestions on changes to bring their dance to a different level. I could see the transformation including improvement and pride right before my eyes.

In Maine additional partners were the Maine Alliance for Arts Education, Dance Education in Maine Schools, Husson College and Dance Resources, LLC.

Nancy Salmon has done an excellent job facilitating the program in Maine. Her years of experience as a dance educator were immeasurable in the success of the Extending the Dance Map program. Congratulations to all who have contributed to the success!

You can view more pictures of the dance residency at Ella Burr School by clicking here.

Thank you to Nancy Salmon for the information for this post.