Archive for May 5th, 2010

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Student Art Marketplace: Arcadia Agora

May 5, 2010

My friend Joanie Share in Phoeniz, AZ

In 2000 I met art teacher Joanie from Phoenix while on a 3-week educational excursion to Japan with the Fulbright program. We became instant friends, perhaps because of the art teacher connection. I could tell immediately that Joanie is a fabulous teacher, the in-depth conversations we had about teaching sometimes went on and on. Since then we’ve seen each other only twice but communicate by email and sometimes even snail mail.

Recently Joanie sent an email telling me about the work she is doing with her students who have created an Art Gift Shop. They are calling the shop Arcadia Agora. Arcadia is the high school where Joanie teaches in Phoenix and agora which is a Greek word for market. The overall purpose is to raise awareness around drinking water. The three points they are making is:

  1. To provide EVERYONE on our campus with stainless steel water water bottles so that we eliminate plastic water bottles.
  2. Have water filters attached to the school water fountains to have better drinking water.
  3. Raise money for Potters for Peace- an organization that helps people around the world build their own water filters that purify their water.

Joanie would like to challenge arts teachers from around the country to help. Perhaps after you see this news clip you might want to consider this idea. I invite you to email Joanie @ j.share@cox.net and ask her questions, get more information so you as well can step up and take on this idea with students.

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Combining the Passion with Learning

May 5, 2010

Boston Arts Academy

At least half the day students are in their arts block at the Boston Arts Academy. Students use their artistic power and learn in an environment that has high standards. The Arts are a powerful tool to keep students engaged in their learning. We often hear that statement but you can see this in action in this video. Please click here to see the video from Edutopia.

The entire article from Edutopia can be found by clicking this link.

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Navigating the Real World

May 5, 2010

Interesting new publication

About two weeks ago in the Maine Sunday Telegram I read an article about a new publication called Navigating the Real World that intrigued me. I emailed the writer to learn more. I found out that Tom Tracy is the Executive Director and creator of the publication. Tom will be conducting a Lunch and Learn session tomorrow at the Department to share information about his work.

Tom dropped off a few copies of the newspaper looking publication for me to share. Navigating the Real World is not only online but also on Facebook so you can check it out and learn more.

Online you can hear the interviews that are published in the paper copy from a variety of people, mostly in their 20’s. The main idea is to build a collection of peoples’ experiences with colleges and other programs, with the military and alternative paths, and with entering the post-schooling world. The next step is to create new editions and distribute them to all high school students in Maine.

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Digital Citizenship-MLTI 2010 Summer Institute

May 5, 2010

July 28-30, Castine

Art Teacher Sarah Sutter presenting at Castine 2009

Interested in sharing your knowledge and expertise with other educators in a wonderful setting on the Maine coast? Here is your chance…

Call for Proposals and “Save the Dates”
Mark your calendar for the summer’s most reasonably priced, high quality professional development opportunity.  Present to colleagues and come for free!
If you are interested in attending, keep watching our website for updates on sessions and registration information.  You can more information online at http://maine.gov/mlti/events/institutes/.  Registration will be available the week of May 10, 2010.

If you are interested in presenting at the Institute, then please keep reading!

Workshop topic proposals should include:

  • Hands-on, creative, and imaginative professional development opportunities;
  • Activities and resources that will help educators construct an answer to the question:            How can we model and promote ethical, responsible, and productive behavior among all members of our digital society?
  • A connection to one or more elements of digital citizenship: etiquette, ethics, safety, savvy, presence, and productivity.
  • Examples:

o   Blogging Best Practices (etiquette, ethics, presence)
o   It Must Be True – I Read It On the Internet! (savvy, safety)
o   Getting Things Done – Time and Task Management (productivity)
o   No Need to Pirate – Make Your Own Music and Images (ethics, productivity)
o   Digital Communications: Talking, Texting, Tweeting (etiquette, ethics, productivity)
o   Finding What You Need on the Internet (savvy, productivity)
o   Reaching Out to Parents and Community (ethics, safety, savvy)
Collaborative presentations are encouraged! Please consider teaming with a colleague from another content area (e.g. Visual arts and Math, World Languages and Social Studies, etc.) to develop integrated activities.
Important information:
· Sessions will be half-day sessions including a mid-point break.
· The major focus is on 7-12 educators but all are welcome.
· Participants are required to have a laptop, preferably a Mac with the current MLTI image or similar software.
· Registration, food, lodging are waived for presenters.  Mileage is reimbursed and 24 contact hours awarded for presenters.

Email proposals and questions to Juanita Dickson at juanita.dickson@maine.gov.  Proposals need to be submitted by May 22, 2010.  Presenters will be notified by June 1, 2010.
Proposals must include ALL of the following information.  If you are submitting a collaborative presentation proposal, please ensure you include the name, email, role etc for the additional presenters.
Presenter(s) Information
·        Name of presenter
·        Email addresses – school and summer
·        SUMMER contact phone number
·        Position – i.e. teacher, grade level and subject
·        School name
·        A short statement about your qualifications to present on this topic
Session Information
·        Title of session
·        1-2 sentence overview of session
·        Brief description of session (approx.100 words)
·        Presenter biographical information (50 words max)
·        Equipment needs, room arrangement required for session