Westwood Elementary students follow directions using the HearBuilder Software program.
Students in Kathleen Cooey’s high school math classes are riding Boogie Boards to better learning. Not the watery kind. These Boogie Boards are paperless LCD writing tablets created by Kent State students.
Cooey received a grant from WEDGE, the West Geauga Educational Foundation, to try them in her classroom. WEDGE is a non-profit that has awarded $500,000 in grants for innovative and enriching techniques and technologies in West Geauga Schools during the past three decades.
When asked how the Boogie Boards are working, Mrs. Cooey stated, “The boards are fantastic! The first time we used them, it was like Christmas. The kids were interested in how they worked and thought it was really cool that Kent State students invented them. I have to say that the difference in effort and focus is noticeable as opposed to just doing paper and pencil problems….Thanks for the money to purchase these. It has been great!”
The Boogie Boards not only provide students with the opportunity to use electronic writing tablets to complete problems in class, they are also an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional paper that allow for quick formative assessments.
Speech-Language Pathologist, Denise Gaskell also received a grant last fall for the HearBuilder Educational Software. HearBuilder is a SMART Board compatible, research-based software program that not only helps students to improve listening skills, such as sequencing, auditory memory, and phonological awareness, but also provides teachers with individualized progress monitoring.
Mrs. Gaskell states that the program is working wonderfully and that, “very often we start with programs like this in a special education setting and they work so well they are carried over into the general education setting helping many, many more students…That is definitely the case with the HearBuilder programs.”
The West Geauga Educational Foundation awards money for innovative and creative programs in the West Geauga School System. WEDGE helps those interested in finding better ways to teach and learn to try new approaches.
Please visit the programs page on our website for more information on approved programs and how to apply for funding. The primary qualifications to apply? A willingness to try new ideas, experiences, technology and programs with West Geauga students in and outside the classroom.
None of this is possible without financial support from the community. We thank those who attend our Thanksgiving Day Pancake Breakfast at the Chesterland McDonalds and our Spring fundraiser as well as those who contribute directly.
To learn more about the West Geauga Educational Foundation, please visit our website at https://wgef.org/. If you would like to help, attend one of our events or make a donation, please contact WEDGE President, Jerry Pignolet at 440-338-5196
