Mid-Prairie Elementary students will soon be using robots in school.

As the elementary schools were reconfigured this past year to become grade alike, West Elementary in Wellman converted part of its library into a makerspace. This area is where students can use different tools to be creative. Kindergarten teacher Melissa Rediger stepped into the role of engagement strategist, who works to integrate technology in the classrooms and support students’ engagement in learning.

Rediger will be advancing the makerspace program at Mid-Prairie West Elementary with a $7,316 Washington County Riverboat Foundation grant. She plans on purchasing different robots and tools that the kindergarten, third, and fourth grade students can program and interact with. Rediger shares how these tools benefit the school, “This will be available for any teacher to use at any time. We’re really trying to move forward with some 21st century skills in working together, problem solving, thinking creatively.”

Rediger is consulting with fellow teachers and the Grant Wood Area Education Agency on which makerspace supplies to purchase, and will implement them this spring.