FAQ

How can schools participate in the Maine LearnToMod program?

Participating schools have the following options:

  1. Lead the Maine LearnToMod program as an after-school activity
  2. Lead the Maine LearnToMod program as a classroom activity
  3. Sign an agreement for 2-3 teachers (any combination of math, science, technology) to participate in PAID 20 hours of training and 16 hours of facilitating per semester for up to the end of the project December 2018

How can community after-school providers participate in this program?

Community providers can sign an agreement for trained facilitators to lead the LearnToMod program and specified times during the year through the UMaine Cooperative Extension 4-H program.

What does the site (school/community) need to provide to participate in the program?

  1. Allow 4-H STEM Ambassadors with or without school teacher participation (3 total) to lead the Maine LearnToMod program
  2. Access to a space that will accommodate up to 23 total participants (20 students and 3 facilitators)
  3. Access to 23 desktop or laptop computers that are compatible with Minecraft for the participating facilitators and youths within that space (there is some flexibility with computer equipment and compatibility; please contact the UMaine LearnToMod project for possible options)
  4. An internet connection that can be accessed from those computers
  5. Permission from your site’s IT Department to install the Minecraft Launcher on those computers and access the LearnToMod website

What does the UMaine LearnToMod project provide for the site?

  1. Paid training for facilitators
  2. Required materials to implement the Maine LearnToMod program in the classroom
  3. LearnToMod accounts for all participants for the site to use indefinitely
  4. Minecraft licenses for the site and its participants to use as long as they continue in the program
  5. An educational program in computer science activities at no cost for participating youth
  6. Online support community for both facilitators and youth
  7. Lead STEM educator leadership opportunities
  8. Youth Leadership opportunities

How often do students and facilitators meet, and does it have to be after school or can it be a class during the day?

Generally, students will meet for 2 hours a week over 8 weeks, for a total of 16 hours. This may be flexible depending on the site and after school schedule. Programs will be offered during both the Fall and Spring University semesters, typically running from late September through early December and March - May. Integration into the school day is possible.

What type of stipend is there and how does the training take place?

Training will be within a reasonable distance from participating schools to accommodate the most schools possible. Video conference options will also be available for educators unable to attend in person. Typically, training is held 2 hours a week for 5 weeks for a total of 10 hours of face time. An additional, 10 hours are required to participation in an online Maine LearnToMod facilitator forum, learn the fundamentals of LearnToMod and it’s use of Minecraft as a medium for testing and debugging code.

Facilitators can receive $450 for participating in 20 hours of training and 16 hours of facilitating a LearnToMod program for each semester they participate in the project until December 2018. There is also an opportunity for facilitators to participate as a lead educator in the program and would be reimbursed for travel. We are limited on the amount of facilitators we can reimburse. Currently we have set aside enough for a total of 72 facilitators. Some of these will be 4-H STEM Ambassadors.

Can teachers/facilitators use their personal computer?

Yes! As long as they are willing to install the Minecraft Launcher for the duration of the project, and have access to internet on their computer at the site location.

Please contact Ami Gaspar, UMaine LearnToMod Project Manager

for more information, at MLTM@maine.edu