Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

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The Art of Technology in Music Workshop

December 19, 2011

Free MLTI music workshop for teachers

Date: January 10, 2012
Facilitator(s): Steve Garton
Location: Mt. Ararat High School, Topsham
Time: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

We were fortunate to have Steve Garton at the statewide arts education conference at USM in October present to all participants. Here is another opportunity that MLTI is offering with Steve. A free workshop for music teachers who are interested in integrating more technology in their teaching practice. The workshop is designed primarily for middle and high school music teachers, but all are welcome.

Agenda:
8:00 – 9:00: Keynote – Steve Garton: The Art of Technology in Music
9:00 – 11:30: Hands-on workshop: Pushing the Limits of Garage Band
11:30 – 11:45: Jim Wells – A Remote Musical Tribute Using Garage Band (A very cool global interactive musical project)
11:45 – 12:45: Lunch (on your own)
12:45 – 1:15: A Different Look at Musical Assessment Using Technology
1:15 – 2:00: Music Notation on the Computer (A comparison and appropriate use of MuseScore, Garageband, Sibelius, and Finale for different scoring needs.)
2:00 – 2:45: Music Educator Round Table: Teaching with Technology (discussion and sharing of current practices, ideas, challenges, needs for PD, etc.)
2:45 – 3:00: Wrap-up and Evaluation

Please bring your MLTI device, head phones. Participants will receive a certificate for 6 contact hours. This session is limited to 25 participants.

A link to online registration can be found at http://www.maine.gov/mlti/events

Steve Garton – Bio:
Steve Garton is the Coordinator of Educational Technology for the Maine Department of Education. He provides oversight and logistical support for Maine’s education technology programs with a primary focus on the Maine Learning Technology Initiative providing 1-to-1 computing for the students in Maine.

He received his bachelor’s degrees in Piano Performance from Eastern Illinois University and Math from Slippery Rock University. His Masters is in Educational Technology from Youngstown State University.

Steve was able to navigate the dual life of a serious musician paying his way through school as a keyboard player in local bands. He was fortunate to be involved in the evolution of music technology as the keyboard players were always pushing the envelope of integration and acceptance. From the humble 16 channels of MIDI that were difficult to synch up, Steve’s studio now runs 512 MIDI channels controlling ten physical keyboards and countless virtual instruments as well as 96 channels of digital audio.

Steve believes that all musicians need to have an understanding of where the technology is today. He also believes that music is in the heart, the soul, and the practice studio. Technology does not make music, it allows us more options and easier ways to create, capture, and share what we do. It would be difficult today to have a career in music that did not involve technology in some way.

Steve has been involved in music in about as wide a range as you can get. From playing the Brahms first piano concerto with an orchestra to having no address for two years as he traveled the country playing top forty tunes five hours a night, six nights a week. He sold pianos and organs in Florida and can play “Somewhere My Love” and juggle at the same time. He was an assistant band director for five years and even assumed the head role for a playoff season that went to the state championship. He even received a few technical fouls with the pep band. He was musical director for 13 plays at Sharon High School and did a lot of arranging for the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra. He likes to sit around the house and play the acoustic guitar while watching amazing musical videos on YouTube.

Come spend a day and share with a like-minded group of people as we talk about the state and proper use of technology in music today.

I just learned from Barbara Greenstone, MLTI technology specialist, that this workshop is full! Soooooooo…. if you haven’t signed up and are interested in this workshop please post a comment below and let us know (include the school district where you teach). If enough teachers are interestred from your region, perhaps MLTI will travel to your region!

Posted in assessment, Curriculum and Instruction, Integration, Professional Development, Technology | Tagged , , | 5 Comments »

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Gridjumper Blog

December 9, 2011

Paul LeBrun’s blog

On December 1st I blogged about Paul’s blog called Gridjimper in a post called Skowhegan High School Students – Virtual Art.  I just learned that the blog has been  nominated for an EduBlog Award – Best Ed Tech Blog.

The listing is at http://edublogawards.com/2011-3/best-ed-tech-resource-sharing-blog-2011/

You can support the work of a Maine arts educator by voiting. To vote there are two pull downs

First pull down under Vote Here:

Pull to: EdTech-Resource / resource sharing blog

Second pull down

Pull to: Gridjumper’s Blog

Here is a link to his Blog http://gridjumper.net/

CONGRATULATIONS Paul and the good work you and your students are doing on Gridjumper!

Posted in Communication, Creativity, Technology | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

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2012-13 MLTI Screen Savers

November 29, 2011

Calling all student artists:

Overview
Over the last three years, the MLTI laptop screen saver image featured forty outstanding student works of art (twenty each year) with over 800 pieces of artwork submitted.

This opportunity once again is available for the 2012-2013 Screen Saver Image. Works of art submitted will be on display in a Studywiz Gallery where students and teachers may vote for and critique the artworks. The two works receiving the most votes (stars) will automatically be entered into the group of 20 finalists. A group of independent judges will score the remaining pieces of artwork. The 18 artworks receiving top scores from the judges, will be submitted to the finalists group as well.

Fashionista, Brandi Jo Shaffer, Gr. 12, Lee Academy

Most schools have active Studywiz accounts for staff and students. Please check with your MLTI Tech Lead for more information. If you do not have a Studywiz account you will be issued an account to post the work. Your Tech Lead can create accounts – please keep in mind it takes 24 hours for a Studywiz account to become active so don’t wait!!

This contest is open to Maine students in grades K-12. MLTI asks that students submit only ONE piece of artwork to be considered for the 2012-2013 screensaver. Please take careful note of the sizing and labeling requirements. Submissions not meeting these requirements or students submitting multiple works will not be included in the judging.

Strings, Patrick Ouellette, Gr. 8, Winthrop MS

The students whose artwork is selected will be recognized at the MLTI Student Conference to be held May 24, 2012 at the University of Maine, Orono. The 20 artists will be receiving free conference registration and will have their artwork projected on the big screen at various times during the event.

Timeline

  • December 23, 2011 – Submissions due. Teachers/Students can vote in Studywiz until January 11, 2012! Don’t forget to remind them to log in and vote!
  • December 24, 2011 – January 11, 2012  Judging by independent judges.
  • January 11, 2012 – Voting and judging ends!
  • January 14, 2012 – Teachers of the students with selected pieces will be notified by this date. A release form will need to be signed by parents and sent back to MLTI before any names are released to the public.
  • January 25, 2012 – Release forms due to back to the MLTI Project Office.
  • February 2012 – Selected artwork information released to the public.
  • May 24, 2012 – Student Conference. Selected students will be invited to join us at the Student Conference free of charge (students will need to complete online registration).

Submitted artworks may be:

  • Photography
  • Photographs of artwork (2 or 3 dimensional)
  • Scanned works
  • Digital art
  • Due to the paperwork involved with identifiable human faces we will not allow any piece which will require model release forms. This means no photographs of recognizable human faces, please.

Submissions must be:

  • Landscape orientation
  • Digital format 1152×870 pixels
  • Without images of people (which would require a model release)
  • Submitted by December 23, 2011

When submitting:

  • Label the files properly with: Title of Artwork_StudentFirstName_StudentLastInitial_School_Teacher Initials
  • Ensure files are the proper orientations/size, as files that are not properly sized will not be judged (see .pdf on sizing)

Artwork that is not properly labeled, sized or submitted on time, will NOT be judged. Students who submit more than piece of artwork will be not be included in the judging.

To view the photographs and have your students view the photographs you need to have a Studywiz account. If you do not have an account please contact Juanita Dickson at juanita.dickson@maine.gov to get account informationNot familiar with Studywiz?

View the MLTI Minute – Episode #122 – How to Join A Global Group in Studywiz. You want to search for the 207 Screen Saver Group in Studywiz.

Once in the Studywiz 207 Screen Saver Group, you’ll find a video that gives step by step directions including:

  • how to submit and/or view artworks in Studywiz
  • how to vote
  • how to resize your image
  • how to label your image

Blue Eyes, Veronica Jones, Gr. 9, Maranacook HS

2011-2012 Selected Screensaver Images

  • “3 Musicians”, inspired by Pablo Picasso, Kara Rawlings, Gr. 8, Skowhegan Area Middle School
  • “Captive”, Moriah Day, Gr. 12, Dexter Regional High School
  • “The Edge of Water”, Hannah Boyce, Gr. 10, Mount Desert Island High School
  • “Crows”, Ann Marie Stanely, Gr. 12, Mount Desert Island High School
  • “An Apple a Day”, Peter Grubb, Gr. 12, Mount Desert Island High School
  • “Fashionista”, Brandi Jo Shaffer, Gr. 12, Lee Academy
  • “White Mouse”, Hunter Tompkins, Gr. 7, Lawrence Jr High School
  • “Color Splash”, Kathleen Murphy, Gr. 8, Tremont School
  • “Sun Lizard”, Jalen Thompson, Gr. 10, Maranacook HS
  • “Native Spirit”, Rebecca White, Gr. 11, Maranacook HS
  • “Blue Eyes”, Veronica Jones, Gr. 9, Maranacook HS
  • “Strings”, Patrick Ouellette, Gr. 8, Winthrop MS
  • “Sleepy Santa”, Jasmine Dostie, Gr. 7, Lawrence Jr High School
  • “Lock”, Alicia Eggleston, Gr. 11, Mt. Ararat High School
  • “A Single Drop”, David Brann, Gr. 12, Mt. Ararat High School
  • “Cornelius the Duck”, Hannah Kuhn, Gr. 12, Bangor High School
  • “Treble Bass Clarinets”, Kayla Fahey, Gr. 7, Westbrook Middle School
  • “Such Great Heights”, Amelia Denney, Gr. 10, Waterville Senior HS
  • “Untitled”, Juan Matthew Lynch, Gr. 12, Waterville Senior HS
  • “Untitled”, Whitney Ruff, Gr. 12, Mountain Valley High School

2010-11 Selected Screensaver Images

  • “All Star” by Lindsey Purpura, Yarmouth High School, Grade 11
  • “Aqua” by Kelly Normand, Noble Middle School, Grade 8
  • “Autumn Bliss” by Lindsey Purpura, Yarmouth High School, Grade 11
  • “Burst of Autumn” by Erick Schadler, Jordan Small Middle School, Grade 8
  • “Collage” by Nate Arbitrario, Lewiston Middle School, Grade 8
  • “Colour Me Beautiful” by Samantha Hall, Yarmouth High School, Grade 12
  • “Dew” by Jonas Oppenheim, Yarmouth High School, Grade 12
  • “Fall” by Emily Drummond, Grade 12
  • “Fire and Ice” by Adrian Baker, Freeport High School, Grade 12
  • “Flower” by Melanie Jackson, Bangor High School, Grade 12
  • “Flowers and Shadows” by Emily Gauthier, Brunswick High School, Grade 11
  • “Golden Umbrella” by Mark Lightbody, Middle School of the Kennebunks, Grade 7
  • “Lyrical Dance” by Dana LaPorte, Skowhegan Middle School, Grade 8
  • “Rain Drops” by Sam Askins, Bangor High School, Grade 12
  • “Reflection” by Rachel White, Yarmouth High School, Grade 11
  • “Star” by Marie Jarowicz, Middle School of the Kennebunks, Grade 8
  • “Sugarloaf” by Catherine Pellegrini, Cape Elizabeth Middle School, Grade 6
  • “The Pool” by Kersti Bayne, Freeport Middle School, Grade 8
  • “Winding Road” by Maggie Ditre, Maranacook High School, Grade 12

Please note: The Maine Department of Education reserves the right to make the final decision.

Posted in Communication, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Media Arts, Opportunity, Technology, Visual Arts | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

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MLTI Fall Meetings

November 6, 2011

Learning in our Digital World

The 2011 MLTI Fall Meetings have been scheduled and online registration is now available. The topic of the meeting is “MLTI – The Next Stage: Designing Classrooms for Learning Beyond School Walls”. Attendees will answer the question: How can we help learners work efficiently, effectively, and ethically in our digital world and learn from each other using social media and social environments?

The 2011 Fall Meetings will best benefit Teachers and Tech Integrators, although Principals, Assistant Principals, Curriculum Coordinators, Librarians and Tech Leads are welcome to participate.

Participants will:
Understand the role of social media in the world of students today;
See how to leverage some forms of social media as learning tools and environments;
Learn techniques for shaping the classroom experience using technology;
Learn techniques for projecting learning spaces beyond the confines of the classroom;
Learn exemplary technology-based assessment practices.

8:00 – Coffee and connectivity. Notebook distribution
8:30 – Introductions and Updates
9:00 – Keynote: Are You a Digital Citizen?
10:15 – Breakout 1
11:00 – Breakout 2
11:45 – Lunch
12:45 – Reset the stage: Social Media Revolution
1:00 – Assessment: How can we use social media to determine what learners know and can do?
2:00 – Breakout 3
2:45 – Debrief, Wrap-up, Evals

Registration can be found at http://maine.gov/mlti/events/index.shtml

November 7:  UMaine at Farmington
November 8: Waterville Grand Hotel
November 9: UMaine Machias
November 10: Northern Maine Community College
November 14: Saco Ramada Inn
November 15: Bowdoin College
November 16: Hutchinson Center, Belfast
November 18: UMaine at Orono

Posted in Communication, Curriculum and Instruction, Professional Development, Technology | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

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WatchMECreate

September 16, 2011

Grade 6 – Now Eligible

Grade 6-12 students from Maine schools which are either participating in the MLTI (this includes all public middle and high schools, as well as those private schools that have chosen to participate), are ACTEM members, or are both, are eligible to win prizes.

With that said, we would encourage all young people from across Maine to consider creating and contributing a video in response to the current challenge, as the need for creativity to support the development of a better classroom, a better school, a better community, a better Maine, knows no bounds.

We are pleased to welcome the Maine Alliance for Arts Education as a partner in WatchMECreate Challenge #4 – WatchMEUseTheArts. This is the first of two Challenges to be issued during the 2011-2012 school year.  MAAE understands the importance of creativity, and hopes students from across Maine will show how they are leveraging the creative skills they are learning and practicing by working with arts professionals in arts classrooms to improve themselves, their schools, their communities, and their state.

The arrival of the MLTI in 2002 sparked a technology revolution in Maine middle schools and this moved on to Maine high schools. Technology is making a difference in every middle and high school. But what are these tech-empowered Maine kids doing on their own?  Making movies?  Creating podcasts? Blogging? You bet. It’s happening, but up to now there hasn’t been a place for these creative Maine kids to apply their abilities to help make Maine as great as it can be.

This is going to be the place for Maine kids to show what they can do when no one is telling them exactly what to do.  Sure, there will be challenges, but they will be like the real world – big, vague, and without a set number of pages that need to be written!

For more information please click here.

Posted in Curriculum and Instruction, Opportunity, Technology, VPA | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

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the kids should see this

September 4, 2011

Some amazing videos

This site is full of very cool videos created by kids and for kids. Since there is a little b. it or a lot of kid in all of us (at least I think so) you will most likely enjoy what is on this site. This link will take you to the kids should see this.

Posted in Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Technology, VPA, YAHOO | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

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Positive Youth Development Institute

July 30, 2011

Arts Workshop

On Tuesday Catherine Ring and I presented a session at the Positive Youth Development Institute at UMaine. I really enjoy this conference because it brings together people from many walks of life. All people who are invested in educating young people. There were traditional school personel including administrators and teachers and educators from community programs and organizations. I saw many educators from the extension/4H programs. I was reminded that “it takes a village” to raise children and it isn’t often that we have the variety of people involved in eduacting young people in one location.

The keynote for Tuesday morning was Tony Wagner whose book “The Global Achievement Gap” is a must read, in my opinion. His Seven Survival Sckills for Teens Today include:

  • Critical Thinming and Problem-Solving
  • Collaboration across Networks and Leading by Influence
  • Agility and Adaptability
  • Initiave and Entrepreneurialism
  • Effective Oral and Written Communication
  • Accessing and Analyzing Information
  • Curiosity and Imagination

As you know many of these skills can be learned through an arts experience and that arts educators tap directly into these topics.

If you’d like to learn more take an hour and watch this YouTube of Tony Wagner speaking on the topic. Tony is the first Innovation Education Fellow at the Technology and Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard.

interesting

Posted in Leadership, Professional Development, Technology | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

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Touch Wood

July 25, 2011

OOOH AAAH!

Not to long ago I shared a YouTube on Touch Wood that shows the equisitely conducted wood structure/instrument created in the forest. In case you missed it the link to that is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_CDLBTJD4M. I wondered how it was created and thought about my visit to Japan and the people who are masters at taking the time for precision, design, and thoughtfulness at most everything they do.

Recently a colleague from Vermont sent me a YouTube that shows the making of the first video. It is a wonderful example of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) and demonstrates the integration of the arts, technology, craftsmanship, physics, and engineering.

Posted in Communication, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, Standards, Technology | 1 Comment »

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ROY G BIV

July 14, 2011

COLOR

There are many online resources on color. Color is a great topic to make connections with Visual Art and Science. Here is a site that has a virtual pinboard to use in numerous ways yourself or with your students http://pinterest.com/about/. That link tells you about the site and of course drop the about and you can see the variety of links to connections including Photography, Film+Music+Books, Science+Nature, to name a few. This is a link to potential art lessons on the site http://pinterest.com/kortneyb/potential-art-lessons/.

And a YouTube on ROY G BIV…

Posted in Curriculum and Instruction, Technology, VPA | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

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Development of an Open Digital Textbook

June 5, 2011

RFP announced

Development of an Open Digital Textbook: State of Maine Department of Education Request for Proposals (RFP 201105090)

Title IID Enhancing Education Through Technology – Open Digital Textbook

The State of Maine, Department of Education is seeking proposals for the development of an open digital textbook to support the integration of technology in teaching and learning. The open digital textbook must be comprehensive enough to serve as a content area’s primary subject matter and redefine the traditional textbook for that subject matter at the identified grade level. This resource will leverage available and supported technology, through the Maine Learning Technology Initiative.  In this context, an “open digital textbook” is a collection of digital educational content that is openly available over the Internet. It is licensed to allow duplication and distribution, in addition to modification of the content. It will include the necessary elements for successful implementation at the classroom level including alignment to standards, learning opportunities, instructional guidance, supporting materials, accessibility to all learners, and integration of technology.

For a copy of the detailed Request for Proposal (RFP), interested parties may contact Department of Education, Attn: Abigail Manahan, Burton M. Cross Building, 5th floor, 23 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333, Email:  abigail.manahan@maine.gov The Request for Proposal and application package may also be downloaded at http://www.maine.gov/education/nclb/tiid/index.html

A Bidders Conference is scheduled for Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 1:00 PM via webinar.

Completed Proposal must be delivered no later than 2:00 PM Local Time, July 15, 2011, delivered to the Division of Purchases, Burton Cross Building, 4th Floor, 111 Sewall Street, 9 State House Station, Augusta, ME  04333-0009. Proposals must be labeled with the RFP number and title.

Posted in Curriculum and Instruction, funding source, Opportunity, Technology, VPA | Tagged | 1 Comment »

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