The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Learning Through Technology Team is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2027 Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) Maine Winter Classic, scheduled for March 1-5, 2027.
This week-long, asynchronous event offers an engaging, game-based learning experience for students across Maine. Participants “travel” across the state on a virtual gameboard, completing tasks, earning tokens, and exploring topics such as computer science, digital citizenship, digital design, and gamification. The content is leveled to accommodate elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as various ability levels. The flexible format enables educators to participate at their own pace, while providing students with meaningful opportunities to develop digital skills in a fun and collaborative way.
Since the MLTI Maine Winter Classic replaced the Virtual Student Conference in 2024, more than 100 schools have participated, with many returning for multiple years. Last year, we had nearly 6400 participants in grades 3 through 12 from across 73 schools. The event brings together students from across Maine, including fifth graders from Shapleigh Elementary in Kittery, seniors from Forest Hills in Jackman, sixth graders from Fort Fairfield Middle School, and third graders from Lubec and Princeton in Washington County. Last year, students from these communities and many others participated while wearing T-shirts featuring a design created by a sixth-grade student from Camden Regional Middle School.
Registration for the 2027 MLTI Maine Winter Classic is now open, and your school can register for this exciting statewide event here.
Key Details and Registration
- Registration window: now through January 5, 2027
- Cost: free
- Who can participate: grades 3-12 in MLTI school administrative units
- Note: Please register by January 5, 2027, to ensure that your classroom receives its event materials, including MLTI Maine Winter Classic T-shirts for all participants, before the event week. Later registrations are accepted, but materials cannot be guaranteed.
Educators who are interested in learning more before registering are invited to peruse overview materials and support resources from past events to get a sense of what to expect and the kinds of classroom connections available.
Office Hours
Educators planning to participate in the 2027 MLTI Maine Winter Classic are encouraged to attend a live office hour session or watch a recorded session prior to the event.
- Friday, November 20, 2026, at 7:45 p.m. – MLTI Maine Winter Classic 101 (Preparation Kickoff) – Zoom link
- Tuesday, December 1, 2026, at 7:45 a.m. – newcomer session (recorded) – Zoom link
- Tuesday, December 1, 2026, at 3:45 p.m. – returning participant session (recorded) – Zoom link
- Thursday, December 3, 2026, at 7:45 a.m. – for all participants (non-recorded) – Zoom link
- Thursday, December 3, 2026, at 3:45 p.m. – for all participants (non-recorded) – Zoom link
- Tuesday, December 8, 2026, at 4 p.m. – for all participants (non-recorded) – Zoom link
T-Shirt Design Competition
Students who would like to participate are invited to create a design for the official T-shirt that will be distributed statewide to thousands of students during the MLTI Maine Winter Classic, scheduled for the week of March 1, 2027. This will be the 10th student-designed T-shirt for an MLTI student event. Participants can learn more about the history of MLTI t-shirts going back to 2003.
You can review eligibility and submission guidelines for the T-shirt design competition here. Please submit your entry using this T-Shirt Design Competition Submission Form.
Competition Timeline and Important Dates:
- Nov. 2, 2026: competition opens
- Dec. 23, 2026: T-shirt designs due (no late entries accepted)
- Finalists will be selected, and a winner will be notified by the end of January 2027.
If you have questions about this contest or need assistance, please contact MLTI Project Manager Bethany Billinger at bethany.billinger@maine.gov.
For more information about the Maine Winter Classic and/or the in-person MLTI Student Conference later in the year, please contact the Maine DOE Learning Through Technology Team at doe-ltt@maine.gov.
