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Cool2Career

Posted on March 28, 2014March 28, 2014 by Jill Spencer

Jim Moulton posted this announcement on the ACTEM listserv so we are passing it along to our members…

On May 2, 2014 please plan on coming to NESCom <http://nescom.edu/> and
learn how Maine students, grade 7 – 12 can move their enjoyment of video,
audio production, programming, marketing, or digital imagery forward and
begin to see themselves on a pathway from “Cool2Career!”

Cool2Career registration opened on Thursday March 6 at 10:00 AM. Now, with
over 350 registrations in place, schools are able to increase to, or create
a new registration, with up to 25 students and 5 adults. Registration fee
will be $15 per student or adult participant, and includes lunch and
snacks. As of March 27, approximately 125 seats remained available for
Cool2Career.

Because of this, schools who have previously registered are now able to
register up to 15 additional student participants, and 3 additional adult
participants. New registrations will now be able to register up to 25
student participants and 5 adult participants. (with 1-5 students, 1 adult
required; with 6-10 students, 2 adults required; with 11-15 students, 3
adults required; with 16-20 students, 4 adults required; with 21-25
students, 5 adults required – all in a 5:1 ratio) Capacity for this
initial Cool2Career is a total of 480, and registration will close when
that number is reached. Questions? Please contact Jim Moulton at:
moulton@apple.com

Website: http://cool2career.com/

Promising Middle Level Educator Award

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Jill Spencer

We bet you know an educator who fits the criteria for MAMLE’s newest award–Promising Middle Level Educator:

Basic Criteria:

Nominee has one to five years of education experience
Nominee is currently teaching at the middle level
Nominee is a member of MAMLE (a teacher is a member or his/her school is a member)

The recipient of this award practices the following Core Beliefs of MAMLE:

Meets the developmental needs of young adolescents
Enjoys teaching middle level learners
Participates in professional development
Promotes a healthy learning environment for students and colleagues
Uses research to guide practice and make instructional decisions
Invites participation by students, parents, and/or the community
Incorporates technology effectively to enhance learning experiences

Who in your school meets these criteria? Download the nomination form: PromisingMiddleLevelEducatorAward. The deadline for submissions is June 1, 2014. The award(s) will be announced at the MAMLE Annual Conference in October at Point Lookout. Shhhh….it will be a surprise to the honorees so don’t tell them you are nominating them!

Recognize the hard work of your exemplary new teachers with this award! Questions? Email MAMLE’s Executive Director, Dr. Wally Alexander: wallace_alexander@umit.maine.edu.

Rohan Murphy Keeps Bonny Eagle MS Students Enthralled

Posted on March 22, 2014 by Jill Spencer

Rohan Murphy, an Para-Olympic champion, visited Bonny Eagle Middle School recently. His message of perseverance is truly inspiring. Here’s the complete video of the assembly.

MAMLE Partners With NELMS on 1:1 Digital Learning Institute

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Jill Spencer

MAMLE is delighted to partner with NELMS to offer the 1:1 Digital Learning Institute on June 26-27. 2014 in Kennebunk, Maine. Three expert teams of Maine educators from elementary, middle, and high schools will work with attendees from around the nation and beyond to develop strategies with clear steps to help them move forward with their own 1:1 initiatives.

Complete description of the Institute:

1:1 Learning Experts to Share Best Practices and Practical Advice

Digital 1:1 Learning Summit Scheduled for June 26-27 in Kennebunk, ME

KENNEBUNK, MAINE (March 5, 2014)–Digital 1:1 learning has revolutionized the learning experience, empowering teachers to personalize learning and connect students to the world like never before. An effective 1:1 program goes far beyond the purchase of laptops or tablets—yet, many schools don’t know where to begin.

A team of education experts from the Maine Association of Middle Level Educators (MAMLE) and the New England League of Middle Schools (NELMS) have organized the first annual Digital 1:1 Learning Institute, which will take place at the Middle School of the Kennebunks in Kennebunk, Maine June 26-27, 2014.

Keynote speakers at the two-day event include Senator Angus S. King, Jr., a visionary leader who, as governor of Maine, launched the world’s first and most comprehensive 1:1 initiative to bring learning technology into all Maine middle level schools; and Dr. Mike Muir, a Maine educator and expert on engaged learning for all students. A member of the original advisory team for the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI), Dr. Muir helps lead the nation’s first full primary iPad project in Auburn, Maine.

Organizers say the conference will provide participants the knowledge and confidence to develop a vision and plan for their specific educational setting, as well as practical advice on what to do – and what not to do — from Maine teachers, administrators, and technology education leaders who have been at the forefront of digital learning for over a decade. A panel of students whose learning was transformed by 1:1 will share their experiences.

Participants are encouraged to bring a team from their school that includes teachers, administrators and technology professionals. There will be three tracks from which to choose—elementary, middle school and high school—so participants can learn strategies appropriate to the level they teach.

The cost of the conference, not including accommodations, is $295 per person if registered before May 15; when a five-member team is registered together, a sixth registration is free. Participants will receive 12 continuing education credits for attending this conference. For more information or to register, visit http://www.nelms.org/pages/conferences/1to1learning.html

Contacts:

Chris Toy
christoy.net@gmail.com
207-653-3163

Jill Spencer jillspencer51@gmail.com
207-353-2746

Using Primary Sources

Posted on March 1, 2014March 1, 2014 by Jill Spencer

Susie Simmons is the tech integrator down at Bonny Eagle. She has created a webinar on using primary sources with students. Here is the link: http://www.simmonsclassroom.com/2014/02/webinar-on-aiming-students-to-primary.html

Check it out! Actually, it’s worth checking out her website–Susie has posted many useful tutorials: http://simmonsclassroom.sharedby.co/3f1f2490e4d14bea/?web=c5d913&dst=http%3A//guides.simmonsclassroom.com

Moose Tech: March 14 in Dexter

Posted on February 22, 2014 by Jill Spencer

The Second Annual Moosehead Regional Technology Conference (Curiosity, Learning and You) is being held Friday March 14, 2014 at the Ridge View Community School in Dexter. Registration is $25. They are offering over 100 sessions. Some titles of sessions include:

Making History on the iPad

Technology Petting Zoo

Digital Storytelling with Cut Paper Animation

STEM in Our Communities

They limit 20 participant to a session so it is important to register early. Registrations close March 1. http://www.moosetech.org/

Auburn MS Hosts iPad User Group

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Jill Spencer

Carl Bucciantini from Auburn Middle School reports via the ACTEM ListServ...

On Thursday February 6 from 3:00 – 4:45 PM, please join us at Auburn
Middle School for the initial Auburn Area Middle School iPad Users
Group. This meeting is intended to be an informative, purposeful, and fun
gathering for middle school teachers who are using iPads in their
classrooms.

This will not be formal professional development, but rather a gathering
of practitioners to share ideas and knowledge around how to make the most
of iPad in the middle school setting. It will be a gathering that will be
of value to all levels of iPad users – from the beginner to the advanced.
To make this happen:

• this event will be led by Auburn Middle School teachers who are using
iPads in their classrooms.

• this event will provide time for teacher-to-teacher sharing of ideas
and resources.

Via the Apple Primary MLTI solution and other implementations, iPads are
being used effectively in middle school classrooms across Maine. This
event will be a time for middle school teachers from Auburn and
surrounding communities to share knowledge & experience, successes &
challenges – all with an eye towards making everyone, including your
students, more effective and innovative iPad users.

Topics addressed during this gathering of the Auburn Area Middle School
iPad Users Group (Auburn MSIUG) will include:

Managing the iPad classroom
Flipping the classroom
APPetizers
Managing the workflow

Participants are encouraged to bring their questions and stories of
success.

Please be sure to bring along your iPad and Apple ID information so you’ll
be able to download some of the apps you’ll hear about – wireless access
will be available.

Sixty (60) places are available for this Auburn Area Middle School iPad
Users Group, and registration will close when that number is reached.

Registration is available through the link below:

http://bit.ly/1dQBrgb

Please be in touch with any questions – Jim Moulton – moulton@apple.com

Where Is The Learning Technology Puck Headed Next? Glass Anyone?

Posted on December 12, 2013December 12, 2013 by Chris Toy

12 Years ago the laptops came to Maine middle schools and quickly changed how teaching and learning happened in the 7th and 8th grades and throughout the K-20 spectrum. I’m reminded of, then Governor, and now Senator Angus King describing how Wayne Gretzky dominated ice hockey by skating to where the puck was going rather than where it already was. It appears that the decade of laptops may be making way for mobile cloud-based devices such as tablets and smart phones. In less than half the time it took for laptops to displace desktop computer labs, tablets have been adopted by more than half the schools in the MLTI project, and that’s in addition to several elementary schools and high schools who have also “followed the puck” in a similar direction. So, an interesting question is, “What direction might the learning technology puck be pushed next?” One possibility is something called Google Glass, a portable, wearable, connected digital device that allows the user to interact with it using voice commands and hand gestures. It also has the ability to snap digital images and record audio-video clips hands free from the perspective of the user. As in the past, Google has rolled out a pilot program inviting a limited number of users, or Explorers, to experiment and engage in conversations about their experiences. After proposing to make “First person cooking videos” on YouTube I received an invitation to order Google Glass. You can view the early results here. It’s been very interesting and convenient. I no longer need to schedule creating videos around family and friends who are patient enough to point and shoot, shoot again, and reshoot multiple takes. I can do it myself! Google recently provided the first group of Explorers with three invitations to share with colleagues. If you’re interested in exploring the possibilities of Glass just post a reply with your ideas of how you might use Google Glass in your work, and I’ll forward an invitation to the first three responses. The idea is that you’re interested enough to purchase Glass for $1500. Feel free to post questions and to visit the Glass website here. Whether or not you are interested in buying Google Glass you can follow the conversation by joining the Glass group here. There are some great ideas and challenges being shared. And whether or not you are up for buying, where do you think the puck is going next?

Lindsay Mahoney Honored!

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Jill Spencer

Lindsay teaches math and science at Messalonskee Middle School in Oakland (Also a MAMLE Board Member). Recently she was honored by B98.5 Radio Station as their Teacher of the Month. http://b985.fm/saluting-b98-5s-teacher-of-the-month-lindsay-mahoney-of-messalonskee-middle-school/ Needless to say, her students were really excited when representatives of the station came to their classroom to present the award. Congratulations Lindsay!

Messalonskee Middle School was also recently honored. It was named one of the top 38 elementary and middle schools in the United States to visit becasue of its innovative practices. Way to go Messalonskee! Read all about it at http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/on_innovation/2013/11/38_elementary_middle_schools_worth_visiting.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2

Do Your Students Study the Civil War? Check Out These Fabulous Resources!

Posted on October 19, 2013October 19, 2013 by Jill Spencer

Ernie Easter from the New Sweden School presented his integrated unit on the American Civil War at the MAMLE Annual Conference at Point Lookout. Here’s the description of his presentation from the Conference program:

The Civil War, an integrative unit, is taught through History, English Language Arts, Music, and Art. Making extensive use of photographs by Civil War Era photographers as well as resources from the Library of Congress, Maine Memory, and the National Park Service, students spend time analyzing photographs and creating their own photographs in the style of Mathew Brady. Also, students read primary and fictional sources to develop their own role-playing character to help them appreciate what is going on as they keep their own diary and react to the events that lead up to and events during the Civil War. A formal research paper and student presentation round out the unit.

Naturally Joshua Chamberlain plays a role in the unit.

from Maine Memory Network

Literature, art, music, research, historical content are all integrated into this engaging unit. Role playing is always a popular activity with middle level students; Ernie’s kids create the persona of a person who might have lived through this catastrophic time in our history and write letters and diary entries that reflect the realities of their lives. Below is an image of the graphic organizer they use to bring to life their “person”.

Ernie put all of the materials for his presentation in a Google Drive document and has very generously allowed MAMLE to publish it here so everyone can access these terrific resources: