L-R Mark Lunt (St. George), Izza Drury (Vinalhaven), Blake Riedy (Vinalhaven) broadcasting live their very own "all iPod" show

WHAT'S NEW

 Career Exploration Day
On March 21, nearly 60 CREST students and teachers spent the day visiting 11 IT-related businesses from West Boothbay to Camden. From architects, veterinarians, marine researchers, boatbuilders, engineers, digital filmmakers, online journalists and other professionals, CREST participants learned about the many rewarding careers that demand IT skills.

 Innovative Education Program to Get Two-Year Boost

 New Resource - Advanced Web Set-up Guides

 View photos of the 2007 Summer Institutes!

 View the individual CREST school websites

 New Resource - Jackson Labs Student Program

 CREST heads back to class

WHAT IS CREST?

A three-year, $1.2 million grant to the Island Institute from the National Science Foundation (NSF), a U.S. government agency. The grant has been made under NSF’s “ITEST” (Information Technology Experiences for Students & Teachers) program. The project that has been funded is called “CREST” (Community for Rural Education Stewardship and Technology), and in addition to the Island Institute, involves 11 island and coastal high schools and middle schools, and a number of academic institutions. Island communities will benefit from this grant in the form of technology equipment and stipends for students and teachers to attend CREST career fairs, college campus visits, and summer institutes.


Ethnography consists of the description of a culture or community based on firsthand accounts and observations. In the context of CREST, digital cameras, camcorders and voice recorders will be used to describe particular communities and activities that will be the focus of individual school projects.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a tool that relates information to place. With GIS, students can study the Earth and their community in a whole new way. They can arrange, display, and analyze information about place (including communities, natural resources, etc.).
Web design is an excellent way to prepare students for the real world by giving them experience in digital communication. By integrating web design into existing curriculum, students can create a personalized web site while learning valuable skills.