I realize this opportunity would never have happened if it wasn’t for technology. We are so lucky to be
educators in Maine with the technology we have at our fingertips. We need to take advantage of this time
and the technology to help it guide our teaching to enhance our students’ learning. This past fall my younger
son spent a semester studying in France. We used our MacBooks and videochatted every Sunday. It was
reassuring to “see” him and “talk” to him, especially at no cost. During my junior year in college I spent a
semester in Denmark studying and my husband (then boyfriend) and I talked on the phone three times dur-
ing the six months I was away and it cost $100.00 each time.
How many of you are high school teachers who have MacBook’s with this capability and have never used
the feature? I would be happy to help you get started. How can we use technology, not to replace what we
do, but to enhance and integrate with what we do? One example is to connect with a musician who would
demonstrate for you and your students electronically using videochat. Please take advantage of the profes-
sional development opportunities that the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) has to offer. The
spring conference will be done electronically this year. The summer institute will take place in Castine dur-
ing July.
The Maine International Center for Digital Learning website will be up and running soon. This site will pro-
vide opportunities around leadership, pedagogy, and professional development practices. You will be able
to adopt ideas and units to use in your classroom. I am looking for visual and performing arts educators who
are willing to share their ideas. If you are interested in sharing, please contact me.
I know you each have teaching and learning ideas that others would benefit from. You can share your ex-
pertise through the arts education blog that will be available starting in February. It will give you an opportu-
nity to join the conversation and collaborate with arts educators throughout Maine. At this time we need to
take advantage of the technology that is available so it benefits arts educators throughout Maine.
And, if you are one of those educators who needs and wants to have face to face opportunities to discuss
and learn more about arts education you are invited to attend the Regional Professional Community (RPC)
meetings taking place in each of the nine superintendents regions in Maine this winter. They are underway
and being held after school so there is no need for a substitute and light fare is being served. If you are un-
able to attend an RPC but are interested please contact me so you can be added to the email list for future
regional meetings. Some of the topics on the agenda for most of the regional meetings are: the state-wide
arts educators conference being planned for next October, high school graduation requirement, gifted and
talented, syllabus work, artwork display at the Department of Education, and the Maine Learning Results. If
you haven’t filled out the statewide census survey that was available last Spring, please attend and we will
assist you in the task.
Outstanding Visual and Performing Arts education programs are a sign of excellence in schooling. “None of
us is as smart as all of us”. Please come together and collaborate to continue improving teaching and learn-
ing in arts education for all Maine students!
Argy Nestor serves as the Visual and Performing Arts Specialist at the Maine Depart-
ment of Education and can be reached by email at
argy.nestor@maine.gov Please
send her a message and let her know about the outstanding work you are doing for
Maine students!
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