With support from the Bonner Foundation, Harward Center staff collaborated with Bates College professor Andrew Mountcastle (Biology), as well as IT colleagues from the College, to develop an online platform — BatesConnect — that gives local K-12 teachers easy access to educational resources created by Bates students. These resources are typically created by students as part of their coursework and take a variety of forms. Student-created learning tools are presented on BatesConnect according to academic field, K-12 grade level, and kind of resource. Teachers from all disciplines can peruse the site and select desired products to augment their curriculum. For those in the Lewiston, Maine area, some learning tools will eventually take the form of in-person visits by Bates students — for example, presentations, performances, and demonstrations that teachers can request for their classroom. For now, all BatesConnect resources are digitally accessible tools such as short videos, narrated powerpoint presentations, and whiteboard and stop animation videos, which teachers can access at any time. To learn more about BatesConnect, please see the FAQ section.
Local K-12 educators were early collaborators on the BatesConnect concept and design, and they continue to be important partners in the initiative. The creation of resources for BatesConnect began in 2020. Read our Frequently Asked Questions for more information.