Maine Solutionaries Project

 

 

"Our collaboration with the Maine DOE to educate a generation of Solutionaries will use best practices in teaching and learning to help students develop the agency, optimism, and skills to solve problems they care about in their schools and communities."

Zoe Weil - Cofounder and President of The Institute for Humane Education

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Cohort	Focus Topic	Kickoff Event and Location All kickoff events run from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM	Zoom Meeting
Cohort 1 Apply by 3/26	Climate Change	Tuesday, April 2 Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick	Wednesdays 4:00 PM (4/10, 4/24, 5/8,5/22)
Cohort 2 Apply by 3/26	Food System & Waste	Tuesday, April 2 Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick	Tuesdays 4:00 PM (4/9, 4/23, 5/7,5/21)
Cohort 3 Apply by 6/20	Human Rights & Equity	Thursday, June 27 Jeff's Catering, Brewer	Tuesdays 9:00 AM (7/2, 7/16, 7/30, 8/13)
Cohort 4 Apply by 6/20	High School Mixed	Thursday, June 27 Jeffs' Catering, Brewer	Tuesdays 3:00 PM (7/2, 7/16, 7/30, 8/13)
Cohort 5 Apply by 7/2	Water Quality	Tuesday, July 9 Sugarloaf, Carrabassett Valley	Tuesdays 9:00 AM (7/16, 7/30, 8/13, 8/27)
Cohort 6 Apply by 7/2	Middle School Mixed	Tuesday, July 9 Sugarloaf, Carrabassett Valley	Tuesdays 3:00 PM (7/16, 7/30, 8/13, 8/27)
Cohort 7 Apply by 7/31	Climate Change	Wednesday, August 7  Augusta Civic Center, Augusta	Tuesdays 4:00 PM (8/13, 8/27, 9/10, 9/24, 10/1)
Cohort 8 Apply by 7/31	Plastics Pollution	Wednesday, August 7 Augusta Civic Center, Augusta	Wednesday 4:00 PM (8/14, 8/28, 9/11, 9/25, 10/2)

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In 2024, the Maine Solutionaries Project will be developed through a collaboration between the Institute for Humane Education and the Interdisciplinary Instruction team at the Maine Department of Education. 

The Institute for Humane Education (IHE) leads programs that empower educators to take a solution-focused approach to teaching about real-world issues concerning the environment, humans, and animals. IHE does this by offering graduate programs, professional learning, and free resources and workshops for educators and changemakers looking to create a more just, sustainable, and humane future.

The partnership between IHE and the Maine DOE seeks to inspire and support educators to cultivate a generation of Solutionary change-makers capable of effectively addressing and resolving real-world problems. The expanded Maine Solutionaries Project will provide high-quality cohort-based professional learning opportunities for teachers to learn how to facilitate inquiry-to-action projects with their students and make available resources to support real-world, transdisciplinary, project-based learning.

Use this link to learn more about Solutionary Learning.

 

 

• Add Solutionary teaching to effectively facilitate Think Global, Act Local projects with your students.

• Access resources from the Maine DOE to expand your pedagogical toolkit when developing student agency, optimism, and transfer of knowledge and skills.

• $1000.00 stipend upon completion of the course.

• Network with other educators who want to teach their students to be changemakers and join the growing number of Solutionary teachers here in Maine.  These networks will focus on the topics of climate change, food waste, and human rights and equity.

• Earn a respected credential from the Institute for Humane Education. Contact hour certificates can be obtained by the Maine DOE for 30 hours upon completion of the Solutionary Micro-credential. CEUs can be obtained from Antioch University for an additional fee. Sorry, no partial hours will be granted.  Use this link to learn more about Solutionary Micro-Credentialing.

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What topics will the middle and high school mixed cohorts focus on?

The Middle School Mixed cohort is for middle school teachers who teach a variety of content areas and might be planning curriculum jumping-off points/exploration of issues that are not covered by the other cohorts OR for middle school teachers for whom the timing of the mixed cohort is most convenient even though they plan to work with their students on topics covered in other cohorts. All of the examples used will be middle school examples. Many resources will be based on the UN SDGs to maximize the topics being supported. Coaches will work with participants to find resources on topics unrelated to any of the SDGs or any of the other cohort topics. The High School Mixed Cohort is basically the same as above but all of the examples will be high school examples.  

Are the resources from other cohorts available to everyone?

Yes, there will be access from the Maine Solutionaries page on the ME DOE website.

What if a topic I am interested in pursuing isn't offered?

Join the Middle or High School mixed groups cohort, depending on your student's grade level(s). You can also join whichever cohort you would like—just know that the resources and examples will be focused on that cohort's topic.

How can non-traditional educators participate in this project?

Educators teaching in the community/outside of traditional classrooms can certainly participate. Just know that the materials are geared for classroom teachers, and the examples will need to be translated for out-of-classroom/community education settings.

What if I can't make a scheduled Zoom meeting?

If you miss a session, you are responsible for listening to the recording and completing the work on the learning board that is due for the next session. If you already know that you are going to have to miss more than one of the Zoom meetings, please consider choosing another cohort that better matches your schedule. 

What are the logistics for the day-long kickoff event?

Please plan to be there for the whole day: 8:30 to 3:30. Please plan to be at the venue no later than 8:20 so you can get your materials and we can start on time. Lunch will be provided, and there will be two short breaks. You will be able to get reimbursed for mileage. If you live more than 2 hours from the event site, you can speak with Josie Cameron, and we will reserve a hotel room for you for the night before if you would like.

What is the time commitment?

There is a daylong in-person kickoff followed by four one-hour Zoom meetings. In between the Zoom meetings, you will complete work on the Claned learning board (reading, viewing, creating examples, working on your plan). Plan to spend about 2.5 hours per week. Between Zoom meetings 3 and 4, you will have a 30-minute 1:1 meeting with your facilitator or coach to review and get feedback on your project idea.  

What do I get if I complete the course?

• You get your Solutionary Micro-credential, which shows you know how to design and plan solutionary inquiry to action projects.
• You get a $1000 stipend.
• You get 30 contact hours from the Maine DOE and can also pay $20 to get 3 CEUs from Antioch University, which you can use toward the accumulation of graduate credits.
• You join a community of educators throughout Maine and worldwide who are committed to educating a generation of Solutionaries -- free resources, free professional learning sessions, and ongoing support.
• You can apply for $400 in project funds to use when you implement your solutionary inquiry-to-action project with your students.

Why are there 5 Zooms listed on the form for cohorts 7 and 8?

There are only four required. For cohorts 7-8, alternate dates are listed for the last session because we can't confirm which of the last two dates the Zoom will occur.

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I'm excited to bring this to my students.  Often our students feel disconnected from what goes on at school. Teaching them to become solutionaries and guiding them through the process gives them real-life experience in making a true, positive impact on the lives of those around them.  That positive contribution to the student's community builds self-efficacy in a way that no purchased/adopted school curriculum can.    

 Maine High School Teacher

 

The Maine Solutionaries Project funds received from the US Department of Education(USDOE) support the implementation of this project. The project has an award totaling $719,500, of which 100% is federally funded and directly attributed to project implementation. The contents are those of the Maine Solutionaries Project and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by the USDOE or the U.S. Government.