DC+Meeting

=Grant Directors & Evaluators Meeting= Washington DC, USDOE, October 28-31, 2008 Attended by: Mara Linaberger, Jamie Kasper, and Rosemary Omniewski

Below are some thoughts and ideas we would like to share with you. They came out of discussions we had with one another, and through presentations we listened to during our grant directors and evaluators meeting.

=Clarifying Grant vs. Project=
 * Arts Educator 2.0 is one of only 20 funded PDAE grants in the US for 2008-2009 - what does that mean?
 * IU1 is the recipient of the grant award - that means IU1 tracks everything
 * USDOE is watching IU1's //program// to see if it is effective (meeting specified goals and outcomes)
 * IU1 must keep records to show changes in participants (increase in knowledge and possibly student achievement)
 * Our work must be of the highest quality
 * The USDOE reports back to Congress, who in turn approves or rejects future appropriations for funding for arts programs
 * That means our project impacts other projects down the road (positively we hope)
 * Dr. Omniewski, our evaluator, will use your assessments, anecdotal notes, your projects for both courses, and possibly interviews, to gather data to go into our final report on the impact of the project
 * Our budget is already approved by the USDOE - the steering committee created that budget before you applied to participate, and budget lines were set for particular expenses (originally for 20 participants, now spread out to serve 25 participants)
 * We created the 2 CPE courses to make the 150 hours of work we had planned into something more valuable to you (certification, tenure, salary, etc.)
 * Your engaged participation in both courses helps us to meet our goals for the program
 * The Unit Planning course - is based on what we already know and successfully do at the Governor's Institute for Arts Educators (see Unit Planning Course checklist)
 * The PPDP course was created to let you decide what you need and want to learn - this is very cutting edge - just starting to appear in the professional development research literature (see PPDP Course checklist)
 * Technologies are here to serve the project - not drive the project - so we will accommodate your needs no matter your comfort level or knowledge level
 * We would love to have you share your knowledge in helping others in the project - let us know if you can help to facilitate the upcoming technology portions of our workshops
 * We'll plan to show you a LOT, and will support you as you continue to explore what you can do with it
 * Once you learn about Skype, consider using the tool to connect with other participants, in addition to your mentor and your co-directors - its a way for you to share what you know with our network

=New Information & Opportunities=
 * ImagineNation Project - http://www.theimaginenation.net/
 * Data and resources related to public opinion about the arts and imagination in education
 * Kennedy Center - www.kennedy-center.org
 * Performing Arts Series (see handout)
 * ArtsEdge - http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/ (see handout)
 * GlobalWrites Project - www.globalwrites.org
 * virtual poetry slam events via videoconferencing equipment
 * Currently connecting students in NYC with Chicago students as part of another USDOE grant
 * Would Arts Educator 2.0 Participants like to create an arts show at IU1?
 * Are you interested in applying to send artwork to the USDOE for display? (see handout)

=Final Thoughts=
 * Speaker Eric Booth said, "80% of what we teach is who we are"
 * We'll continue to inundate you with ideas and opportunities - choose the ones that best fit you - you are not expected to "do it all"