What I’ve Noticed....
By Argy Nestor, Maine Department of Education Visual and Performing Arts Specialist
I am continuously reflecting on what I see, hear and learn about the arts education programs in Maine. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to visit with you, communicate by email, skype or in person. I learn a great deal by seeing you in action in your classrooms and in meetings with your colleagues. During the last few months while I have been connecting with you I have noticed some similarities that I think are key to suc- cessful arts education programs in Maine. As we transition to a new Governor and administration at the state level I hope that we can work together for more of this to happen.
WHAT I’VE NOTICED
• When arts teachers collaborate the conversation goes deeper and the message is stronger I have met with arts staffs in 3 regional school units in the last month who are having discussions, planning, engaged in curriculum work, and implementing ideas, PK-12. At the table is also an administrator who is
helping to guide the work and communicating with the other administrators about the work. • Accepting that the work is not standing still The work needs to be ongoing, continuous. We are never going to reach “the perfect place” in education be-
cause the world is changing and the needs of students change. • In this tough economical environment focusing on the successes, promoting the programs, the work, the opportunities for kids No one can deny that this is a difficult time to be a teacher. I have noticed that instead of only putting out
fires that educators are uniting and advocating takes on a different twist. Attitude has a great impact! • Utilizing research
Looking at the work at the state level, Maine census project conducted
http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/vpa/news.html and national studies like Arts Education Partnership Critical Links
http://aep-arts.org/publications/info.htm?publication_id=10 provides a platform to support the
work. • Incorporating technology
Utilizing technology to engage students in their learning is a natural for arts educator. There are many oppor- tunities for professional development in this area and in many cases there are arts educators leading the
way. • Teachers have shifted from being the disseminator of information to the “guide on the side” or the “facilitator of information”
This is a huge shift and sometimes the one most difficult for teachers since it means giving up control. • Where there are outstanding programs there is also best practices in assessment
Teachers are using assessment to view their practices as well as to inform students and parents. ASSESSMENT WORK
This leads to the arts education assessment work that is taking place in Maine. If you’ve been following the blog posts on assessment
http://meartsed.wordpress.com you are aware that arts educators Rob Wester- berg and Catherine Ring have been collaborating with me on a plan for Maine. We have informed Maine Art Education Association, Maine Music Educators Association, the arts rubric development team, and Maine
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