Participants in this hands-on institute will explore uses of visual art and its applications to writing across the curriculum. They will examine and analyze two- and three-dimensional examples of visual art and respond through writing prompts related to a range of content areas -- social studies, science, math – in the genres of poetry, drama, fiction, essay, personal narrative, reflective and transactive. Mini-field trips during the Institute include the National Quilt Museum, and attendance at a play at Market House Theatre. The culminating activity will be to develop a unit of learning that incorporates visual art with writing activities in content areas as determined by individual participants. Once the school year begins, participants will have the opportunity to invite Ms. Alexander to work with their classes as a writer-in-residence, a portfolio consultant, a professional development facilitator or to provide online support for writing activities.

Participants will explore a wide range of topics and gain competence needed to implement the technology “Big Ideas” mandated by the Kentucky Program of Studies as teachers/administrators. Participants will actively explore a wide variety of software/resources and identify ways to integrate their use into instruction and learning. They will explore current issues, policies, and trends in instructional technology as they relate to the Kentucky technology standards for teachers/administrators. A variety of instructional activities will be employed in this course including face-to-face instructional media such as lecture, discussion, and group work as well as electronic media. Participants will develop materials that can be used effectively in their classrooms, schools or districts.

Participants in this institute will develop an engineering outreach activity that can have a broader impact on our regional middle and high school science teachers.  The participants will design, build and test projects.  These projects are fairly low cost and would be very manageable for middle and high school students and teachers.  Also participants will learn of the developed Racers' Engineering Challenge. The Racers' Engineering Challenge is an engineering outreach activity that will enable teachers to take one or more real-world projects back to their classroom in the form of a design competition.  Top teams from participating schools will then be invited to Murray State for a regional competition.  Participants in the workshop will receive the primary materials to construct the projects in order to defray costs.