me arts ed

Setting Sail-Technology Conference

For three days almost 150 educators were engaged in a great technology learning opportunity at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine. The conference opened with supper followed by the keynote given by Chris Lehman, founding principal of the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia. Three-3 hour workshops took place which gave participants a block of time to learn, explore and create with new ideas. In between there was good food and great networking opportunities in a variety of settings. The sun even came out on Thursday which was a treat!

Sarah Sutter-photo taken by Jeff Beaudry w/Sarah's new camera

Many arts educators attended and a handful facilitated workshops. Thank you to the following arts educators for sharing their knowledge. Sarah Sutter, Wiscasset High School art teacher presented SCRATCH: Really? But I don’t teach computers and Inquiring Minds Want to Know: Multimedia products of interviews. Tom Coolidge, Telstar Middle School music teacher presented Navigating and Thinking Your Way Through Garage Band. Ann Marie Hutton, Winslow Jr. High School Art Teacher, presented Edusim and SketchUp Meet. Massabesic High School art teacher Bethany Dunfee-Pierce teamed with English teacher Cori Modisette to present Virtual Art Museum Tour and Analysis of Fine Art. Middle School art teacher from Thornton Academy Amy Goodness teamed with Social Studies teacher Heidi Brewer to present Social Art: How do you create opportunities for students to become creative probalme solvers in order to be able to make change in the world?

It was great to catch up with arts educators like Debi Lynn Baker and meet for the first time other educators from throughout Maine.

Imagination Station, an open room where folks can wonder in and out of to ask questions, work on ideas or to obtain general help with the “technology experts” was available throughout the conference.

Captain Dana from the Maine Maritime Academy took 30 participants on a harbor tour. It was a great opportunity to connect with participants in a relaxing environment. The weather was perfect for a late afternoon boat ride, the colors were beautiful.

Bethany Dunfee-Pierce and Cori Modisette

Following the harbor tour was a cookout and we were treated by a performance by the Atlantic Clarion Steel Band, along with the traditional distribution of many great door prizes.

Thank you to Juanita Dickson and Bob McIntire for their work on making the conference a success! If you were unable to attend this year, mark your calendars for the last week in July 2010, for the next summer Setting Sail MLTI Technology conference. If you did attend please post comments. Those of you using Twitter, comments at #MLTIcastine.

Atlantic Clarion Steel Drum Band

Great video!

Here is a 22 minute video that is well worth watching. No need for a long explanation, the title says it best. Please click here.

Gifted and Talented Program in the Bath/Brunswick area

Many school districts are looking for options to meet the educational needs of their Gifted and Talented students for arts education. Here is a model that you can look at more closely. In the Brunswick area for the last 10 years at the high school level, and three years for the middle school level, they have been offering workshops in Music (instrumental and vocal), Creative Writing, Visual Arts, Dance and Theater.

The high school program covers five weeks in Oct./Nov. and March/April – once a week for four hours. The middle School program is seven weeks in Jan/Feb – once a week for four hours. Participating schools pay $10,000 each year for both programs.

You can find a description of the program on the webpages at the Maine Department of Education by clicking here. If you have specific program questions please email Susan Weems, coordinator of the program, @ susanweems@gwi.net.

Apprentice for the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium

Photo by Noah Kleiner

Miles Chapin was selected to be an apprentice for the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium. Miles grew up in Arrowsic, ME and went to school in Putney, VT where his passion for sculpture began while learning to sculpt Vermont marble.

Miles starts his senior year this fall at College of the Atlantic (COA) in Bar Harbor. During this past spring he did a residency with sculptor Jesse Salisbury in Steuben. Miles has been behind the scenes working with Jesse who is the Project Coordinator for the symposium and has even helped design the website which you can access by clicking here.

Miles learned about using blacksmithing tools for granite carving, splitting and drilling. He also gained experience in moving large stones and helped carve the sculptures. He worked on his own granite and basalt sculpture and gained experience with a large array of stone working tools and techniques.

Miles recently finished his first commission and had one of his sculptures in a show. During the symposium Miles will assist the sculptors in all phases of their work.

In a future blog I will share more information on the symposium which takes place August 1 to September 12, 2009.