Partner Meetings - Meeting Notes

AAM DIRECTORS MEETING
March 19-20, 2004
Washington, DC

Present

Present at the meetings were Chris Dennen, Karin Hedberg, Michael Strange, Sandi Estep, Pat Pecoy, Elizabeth Ridgway, George Daves, Margo Tomaras, Marita Decker, Bob Pettis, Rhonda Clevenson, Chesley Huskins, Mark Newman, Ed Shearin, Jodi Huggins, Wendy Fusco, Michael Brna, Barbara Kirby, Amy Wilkinson, Cindy Rich, Pam Johnson, Beth Coulter, Sarah Harrison-Burns, Bob Ervin, Barbara Marson, and Peggy O’Neill-Jones.

Jerry Hostetler and Joy Rogers were unable to attend.

March 19 Professional Development Activity

At the December 2003 Directors Meeting, it was decided to include a professional development activity at all meetings that focuses on creative methods of implementing primary resources into the learning and teaching processes. At this event, Rhonda Clevenson led an activity entitled “Explore American Treasures” in which participants engaged in a critical thinking exercise using articles from the LOC’s American Treasures exhibit. Grouped in teams of two, participants were asked to answer several questions as they reviewed the exhibit:

• Choose an object. What might have happened if this object was absent from American history?
• Find an object that caused a change in America. How does that change affect you today?
• Choose an object that you like. Is there something that has happened in your own life that this object makes you think of?
• Turn your back to the showcase; try to draw the objects or shapes that you remember most clearly. Why do you think you remembered what you did?
• Describe an object that could be used to show a pattern in American society.
• How do the items that you chose represent an Adventure of the American Mind?
• At home, think about your own primary resource treasures. What objects could you place in this treasure box to represent your own American Adventure?

In the wrap-up discussion, participants agreed that this activity 1) caused them to pay more attention to the details and features of primary historic articles and documents than they normally would in a museum; 2) challenged their thinking about primary sources and their place in history; 3) encouraged curiosity and further research into certain aspects of the exhibit; 4) could be incorporated into AAM training activities; and 5) was effective in promoting team building and positive group dynamics.

March 20 Directors' Meeting

Introduction

Chris Dennen welcomed everyone. He thanked the members of the Directors Meeting Planning Committee for organizing this new meeting format: Mark Newman (chair), Beth Coulter, Rhonda Clevenson, and Amy Wilkinson.

Chris discussed the transition process through each phase of the AAM program and summarized the many challenges and opportunities being faced by established partners transitioning from Phase I to Phase II. At this point, we are in the midst of the most difficult part of the transition, but in the long run this can and should result in a cultural change in the AAM program. He said that during the transition to Phase II, the goal for most established partners is to train at least 350 teachers per year. Some new programs which started in Phase II are ahead of that: USC already has 367 teachers registered for workshops this year. Other programs that will probably exceed that goal are Northern Virginia and Eastern Illinois University. On the other end of the curve are programs like Montreat, which was the first established program to move from Phase I to Phase II. Due to several factors, Montreat staff has had to work hard to get teachers registered and trained. Despite these obstacles, that program is still reaching 250 or so teachers per year.

Home School Program

Pam Johnson, Home School Program Director, demonstrated the online home school curriculum, “From Myth to Millennium: Investigating the Tar Heel State,” that has been upgraded. The lessons are more dynamic and interactive than the original version. They are designed to accommodate many different grade levels and are completely self-guided and self-paced. Content is all database-driven, so the format can be customized to any content. The lessons have been piloted with 500-700 students over the last two years. An online pre- and post-test is also given. Depending upon the skill level of the individual student, lessons are usually completed between one and four hours. The online curriculum is designed to be used by any classroom teacher as well as home school educators.

Phase III – Faculty Education

Mark Newman, Director of the FIICU program, reported. The Phase III goal is to prepare higher education faculty to integrate LOC primary resources into college-level courses. This is not a K-12 focused program. In the initial phase, this partnership comprises five campuses of the Federation and each campus is developing their own distinct program. During this first year, FIICU will be entirely involved with program development; implementation will occur during the second year at the earliest.

Committee Activity

Mark Newman facilitated. He said we are ready to develop guidelines for our program. The group separated into focus groups to address program planning, new partner orientation, and Executive Committee activities.

Directors' Meeting Planning Committee

Mark Newman reported for the committee with the following proposals. All director meetings should include activities on developing expertise in the use of the LOC resources, professional development, community-building, and problem-solving. The group suggests all meetings take place in Washington, DC, at a location within walking distance of the LOC. Concurrent sessions on various topics may be introduced. A professional development activity should be included, possibly at LOC, but not necessarily. The number of meetings per year needs to be decided, in addition to who should be included in those meetings (i.e., directors only, directors and select staff, etc.). Selection of new committee members will take place today; each member will serve for two program meetings.

Mark asked the group to vote on some of these proposals. Results were:

• Two national meetings per year
• One committee member from each of the four regions; two new appointees each year, two rotating off [Directors’ Meeting Planning Committee only]
• Suggestion for a topic for next meeting: evaluation and dissemination

Results of voting on committee members were:

• Western Group 1: Mark Newman (to rotate off after fall 2004 meeting)
• Western Group 2: Peggy O’Neill-Jones (to rotate off after spring 2005 meeting)
• Eastern Group 1: Beth Coulter (to rotate off after fall 2004 meeting)
• Eastern Group 2: Barbara Kirby (to rotate off after spring 2005 meeting)

The other meeting issues will be discussed by the committee and put forth to the AAM staff and other directors in future communications. Mark Newman will continue to chair the committee.

Executive Committee

Bob Pettis reported. The committee purpose was revised. He explained the committee membership, rotation, and meeting schedule.

The group voted on the new Executive Committee membership:

• Western Group 1: Marita Decker (2-year term)
• Western Group 2: Cindy Rich (1-year term)
• Eastern Group 1: Wendy Fusco (1-year term)
• Eastern Group 2: Bob Pettis (2-year term)
• Western At-Large: Margo Tomaras (1-year term)
• Eastern At-Large: Ed Shearin (2-year term)

Officers will be Bob Pettis (chair) and Marita Decker (secretary).

Orientation for New Directors

Elizabeth Ridgway reported on the focus group meeting with the following proposals for new director orientation to be accomplished in this order:

• LOC Orientation (two days, a few weeks after director is hired)
• AAM orientation (about two to three weeks later), two full days, visit three partner locations (each half a day), then a half-day at AAM to meet with staff for debriefing and review of preliminary business office procedures. An AAM orientation can also be regional (such as in Illinois), not always WNC.
• Video conference between partner director, partner business office/accounting staff, and Kelly Vreeland to review details of AAM business office procedures (about six weeks after director hire).

The group accepted this proposal.

Lesson Plan Database and Related Issues

Rhonda facilitated a group discussion. The Blackboard discussion is up and running; however, there was insufficient participation to draw a clear conclusion on a committee purpose and direction. She asked the group to provide additional feedback by first suggesting favorite or successful lesson plans and why. Smaller groups then developed ideas to define the purpose of the lesson plans database. Purposes selected as the most important for the group were:

(Number of votes for each item is shown in parentheses)

Share ideas/inspiration (10)
Replicable (7)
Help new directors and participants get started (7)
Pool of educational materials and ideas on all grade levels (26)
Provide publication recognition as a teacher incentive (14)
Improve teaching and learning (9)
Promote AAM, LOC, and American Memory (9)
Model instructional methods/good teaching behavior (8)
Use of technology (2)

Chris indicated there will be a need to finalize these definitions in time to include them in the July 2004 semi-annual report.

Next Meeting

The next directors meeting is tentatively scheduled for September. Directors will be notified of more details in the coming weeks.

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