PCA and the Maine Learning Standards  

PCA Offstage events and activities are designed to support the Maine Department of Education’s Learning Standards. The knowledge and skills described in the Maine Department of Education Regulation 132 support Maine students in achieving the goals established in the Guiding Principles. These guiding principles are compatible with PCA Great Performances’ mission to contribute to the cultural, social and economic well-being of our community by presenting an array of high quality performing artists from around the world and creating diverse educational experiences that bring the enjoyment and arts enrichment to patrons of all ages.

PCA Great Performances support the goals of The Maine Department of Education to create a love of life-long learning and an appreciation of the arts.

The guiding principles for the Maine Learning Standards grades pre-Kindergarten through diploma:

  1. A clear and effective communicator who:
    1. Demonstrates organized and purposeful communication in English and at least one other language;
    2. Uses evidence and logic appropriately in communication;
    3. Adjusts communication based on the audience; and
    4. Uses a variety of modes of expression (spoken, written, and visual and performing including the use of technology to create and share the expressions);
  2. A self-directed and lifelong learner who:
    1. Recognizes the need for information and locates and evaluates resources;
    2. Applies knowledge to set goals and make informed decisions;
    3. Applies knowledge in new contexts;
    4. Demonstrates initiative and independence;
    5. Demonstrates flexibility including the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn;
    6. Demonstrates reliability and concern for quality; and
    7. Uses interpersonal skills to learn and work with individuals from diverse backgrounds;
  3. A creative and practical problem solver who:
    1. Observes and evaluates situations to define problems;
    2. Frames questions, makes predictions, and designs data/information collection and analysis strategies;
    3. Identifies patterns, trends, and relationships that apply to solutions;
    4. Generates a variety of solutions, builds a case for a best response and critically evaluates the effectiveness of the response;
    5. Sees opportunities, finds resources, and seeks results;
    6. Uses information and technology to solve problems; and
    7. Perseveres in challenging situations;
  4. A responsible and involved citizen who:
    1. Participates positively in the community and designs creative solutions to meet human needs and wants;
    2. Accepts responsibility for personal decisions and actions;
    3. Demonstrates ethical behavior and the moral courage to sustain it;
    4. Understands and respects diversity;
    5. Displays global awareness and economic and civic literacy; and
    6. Demonstrates awareness of personal and community health and wellness
  5. An integrative and informed thinker who:
    1. Gains and applies knowledge across disciplines and learning contexts and to real life situations with and without technology;
    2. Evaluates and synthesizes information from multiple sources;
    3. Applies ideas across disciplines; and
    4. Applies systems thinking to understand the interaction and influence of related parts on each other and on outcomes

From Chapter 132: Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction, Maine Department of Education 8/14/07 pp. 1–3.

PCA Great Performances are most directly tied with the visual and performing arts standards; however, there are many interdisciplinary connections for specific events to one or more other standards through our PCA Offstage events. Here is a sampling of some of the connections to the MLS content standards:

English Language Arts

Career and Education Development

  • Job-shadow PCA Staff
  • Volunteer opportunities
  • Special projects for interns

Health and Physical Education

Social Studies

Science and Technology

Visual and Performing Arts (skills-based)