RREV Research and Design (RREV R&D) is the Maine DOE's ongoing version of the original RREV project. The original RREV (Rethinking Responsive Education Ventures) was the result of a $16.9 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Maine was one of 11 states that received funding when it was awarded in 2020. That project and its funding ended in July of 2024. To learn more about the original RREV, please see our History page. We also have a RREV Awardees page, here we share innovative pilot information from each of our 42 awarded pilot districts. In the Spring of 2024, our RREV Team visited over 25 of our pilots while in action. The team captured video footage and audio interviews from those visits. To see and hear the voices of innovation in action, we encourage you to take a look at those clips. We are adding more every week so please check back often.
Through collaboration with the 42 schools awarded pilot funding in the original RREV and with the support of the Region 1 Comprehensive Center, and the RREV external evaluator, ICF, the Maine DOE has learned a great deal about implementing innovative pilots for the purpose of creating and sustaining systemic change. RREV R&D uses tools, processes, and lessons learned from the original RREV thought partners and collaborators to help schools continue to seek systemic change through innovative solutions to various educational challenges.
EnGiNE
One of the primary tools used by RREV R&D is our EnGiNE platform. This online platform was built for Maine educators with funds from the original RREV grant. This platform houses community forums, collaboration groups, resource sharing, and learning opportunities, which are operated through our built-in learning management system. If you are a Maine educator, you can sign up for a free EnGiNE account and become part of the state-wide education collaborative! With over 1200 members, EnGiNE is currently being used by several educators and Maine DOE teams to collaborate and offer opportunities for professional learning.
Innovation Toolkit & Professional Learning
As part of our ongoing RREV R&D professional learning opportunities, we are also offering Innovation Design sessions. During these sessions, we will work with schools/teams to sustain OR identify and design meaningful and unique solutions to those challenges. Innovation is best tackled at the local level, and RREV R&D begins there!
Maybe you desire to create an outdoor learning environment on your school grounds. Maybe you have students that are interested in subjects not offered at your school. Maybe some of your students are expressing an interest in exploring future work opportunities before they leave high school? Maybe you desire to reconnect your students with their school and greater local community? Regardless of your challenge, RREV R&D is ready to engage with you and your team in the innovation process!
Whether you are a former RREV awardee still championing the innovation work that has already begun at your school or someone who wishes to explore innovation for the first time, our team wants to collaborate with you. There is a State Statute that supports innovative work in schools, and our team is here to help guide you in that process
Professional Learning Van
Our Learning Tour Invitation provides an overview of our tours. Are you interested in participating in one of our mobile learning adventures? (We cap each tour at ten educators.)
If so, you can let us know of your interest here OR
- Get your EnGiNE account and/or be logged in.
- Self-enroll in the Learning Tour Group using the Enrollment code: LearningTours!24-25
Here, you can see where we are headed, our conversation topics for each stop, and how to sign up! Click here to see our Learning Tour Calendar in EnGiNE.
Upcoming Learning Tours
October 25th | 9am - 2pm
St George Municipal School
[Career & Technical Education]
Are you interested in seeing Career and Technical Education learning at the Pk-8 level in action? St. George Municipal School was a RREV awardee that has been implementing an experiential, hands-on, minds-on CTE elementary and middle level program for the last several years. The educators and administrators at St. George are welcoming the Maine DOE RREV Team and up to 10 additional educators/administrators to their school on October 25th. During that time, we will observe educators in action with their students in the various learning spaces. We will also have the opportunity to talk with some of those educators during this peer-to-peer professional learning opportunity.
November 13th | 9am - 2pm
Maine Academy of Natural Sciences
[Outdoor Education]
Are you a middle/high school educator interested in providing more experiential learning that is focused on outdoor environments or blacksmithing? The Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (MeANS) was a RREV awardee. Through its innovative pilot, the school has expanded it outdoor and experiential learning with the creation of a Makerspace barn and a blacksmithing shop. At the RREV Learning Tour, you will get the opportunity to see their new Makerspace barn, observe the variety of outdoor experiential learning opportunities available, see blacksmithing in action, and talk to teachers and students.
Contact
Elaine Bartley
RREV R&D Project Director
Phone: 207-816-0268
Email: Elaine.Bartley@maine.gov
Page Nichols
Chief Innovation Officer
Phone: 207-624-6692
Email: Page.Nicholas@maine.gov