In 2008, Intermediate Unit 1, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, was awarded a Professional Development for Arts Educators grant from the United States Department of Education. Twenty-four arts educators in Washingon, Greene, and Fayette Counties participated in the first year of ArtsEducator 2.0 project (AE 2.0). The teachers worked to develop standards-based unit plans and were introduced to a variety of educational technologies. In addition, teachers developed a Personal Professional Development Plan that described a self-selected area or topic for professional growth, and worked towards those goals with the help of a project faculty mentor.

Based on participant and faculty members’ feedback from the first year, the second year (2009-2010) of AE 2.0 adopted a collaborative inquiry model. In addition to continued funding from the U.S. Department of Education, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation awarded AE 2.0 an additional grant for the second year of the project. The increased funding made it possible for forty-two teachers to participate in the second year of AE 2.0.

Teachers currently involved in year two of AE 2.0 are participating in one of six collaborative inquiry groups (CIGs). The CIGs are supported by an AE 2.0 faculty member acting as a group facilitator. Each CIG is currently investigating a self-selected line of inquiry in order to improve their teaching practice.

A third year of AE 2.0 is currently being visioned. For more information about AE 2.0, visit http://artseducator20.wikispaces.com or contact either of the project co-directors.

Mara Linaberger, Ed.D.Intermediate Unit 1

1 Intermediate Unit DriveCoal Center, PA 15423-9642

(724) 938-3241 x 267

History

Jamie KasperPA Department of Education

333 Market St., 8th FloorHarrisburg, PA 17126-0333

(717) 525-5058

promoting excellence in arts education

through high quality professional

development

http://artseducator20.wikispaces.com

ArtsEducator2.0 is a partnership between Intermediate Unit 1 and the Pennsylvania

Department of Education, with grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education and the Claude

Worthington Benedum Foundation.

Who We Are

We believe that professional development that happens outside the local school context must seek to provide or partner with necessary in-context supports; therefore, ArtsEducator2.0 commits to and supports faculty work within partnering school districts to help teachers translate new learning into their own classroom and district contexts.

About

Collaboration

Inquiry

Community

Artistry

TechnologyWe believe that technology can significantly enhance student learning, teacher learning, and

collaboration; therefore, ArtsEducator2.0 commits to providing teachers with necessary technology equipment and training.

We believe that arts-based inquiry is an important way for arts educators to work in collaboration and to critically reflect on group inquiry processes.

We believe that teachers have valuable knowledge that, when shared, benefits others; therefore, ArtsEducator2.0 commits to honoring teachers' knowledge and providing teachers significant amounts of time to collaborate.

We believe that collaborative inquiry is a framework for professional development that yields meaningful teacher learning that might be demonstrated by pedagogical documentation, shared learning experiences, reflection, and communicating experiences/learning.