Engage to Create!

What is this Project?

"Engaging students through Collaborative Music Creation" or simply "Engage to Create!" is a professional development project to establish collaborative (professional) learning communities of about 4 teachers each. The CLC groups focus on finding ways to engage students in composing or improvising. Teachers accepted into the project are funded for release time to pursue their learning goals and project implementation. This project is funded by KNAER.

How this actually works.

  • A group of four teachers forms through talking with each other or with help from a consultant.
  • The group selects a leader.
  • This group can decide what they would like to "try" with their students to engage them in creative music making through composing or improvising.
  • There is an initial orientation session in each area in September so everyone understands the goals and parameters.
  • Between Sept and November each group gets together on release time to discuss, investigate, explore, learn etc to come up with a specific plan to implement with their students. The group might go and observe another program, read, invite someone to do a workshop for them, in order to first decide what they want to do and then to learn as much about this as possible.
  • The group makes a formal plan by the end of November which will need to be approved by the "Engage to Create" Leadership.
  • Between November and March the teachers in the group "try" their plan while taking careful note of how well it is working. They might go to each other's schools and observe or even work together.
  • At the end of March there will be a "conference" where all the groups will share their plans and results with each other.

Who are the Partcipants

Teachers teaching music in TDSB, WCDSB or WRDSB applied and were selected to be a part of this project. At this point no more applicants are accepted.

Participant Selection

After applications were received at the end of August, Project Leaders selected 36 particpants based on funding available, applicant interest area, prior applicant experience, and geographical grouping considerations.

"Engage to Create!" Sponsoring Partners

University of Toronto, CMRC, Lee Bartel, Project Coordinator
Wilfrid Laurier University, LcMc, Lee Willingham
Toronto District School Board, Diane Jamieson, Program Coordinator - Music
Waterloo Catholic District School Board, Jen Rodrigues, Music Consultant
Waterloo Regional District School Board, Gregg Bereznick, Superintendent

Objectives of the "Engage to Create!" Project

1. Foster student engagement through "real-world" means of collaborative music creation including improvisation, composition, and recording;

2. Develop teacher engagement in research and research application in their professional practice;

3. Develop effective embedded Professional Development practices for music/arts educators;

4. Establish productive connections and relationships between school professionals and pedagogy and community practices and practitioners.

What is KNAER

The Knowledge Network for Applied Education Research (KNAER) was established as a partnership among the Ontario Ministry of Education, the University of Toronto, and the University of Western Ontario.

The establishment and operation of the Knowledge Network will support the Ontario Ministry of Education's commitment to develop and implement policies, programs, and practices that are evidence-based, research-informed, and connected to provincial education goals. Systematic identification, widespread dissemination and consistent implementation of effective and promising practices is critical to meeting these commitments to high levels of student achievement, reduced gaps in performance, and increased public confidence in publicly-funded education.

Announcements

Next events:

March 29, 12:30-3:30 TDSB Wrap-up Sharing Session - West Education Centre, Civic Centre Court (Hwy 427 and Burnhamthorpe Road).

March 30, 12:30 - 4:00 WRDSB & WCDSB Wrap-up Sharing Session. Aird Centre, Wilfrid Laurier
University, Room A510


Please click for more information

Wiegold Lecture and Workshop Videos are now available on the Wiegold page
Recommended Reading:

"Tuned Out: Engaging the 21st Century Learner" by Karen Hume, published by Pearson 2011