Laferriere Chair David Rosen Enhancing Technology for Academy Students
The Laferriere Chair of Excellence in Teaching is a faculty professional development award presented every three years at Bridgton Academy. The role of Laferriere Chair is certainly one that provides opportunity and growth for the chair holder. When Mr. David Rosen was awarded the role of Laferriere Chair at Commencement this May, he understood and embraced the responsibility, but he also wanted to ensure that his work as Laferriere Chair impacted all three years of classes during his tenure. “I want to make an immediate difference for students and see the process all the way through,” noted Rosen. “I want to roll out each piece (of the project) and see how it plays out.”
Rosen’s plan, initially referred to as Next-Gen Wolverine, is coming to shape in several phases. Phase one includes Reflexion Edge, which is “a light-based cognitive training tool that presents randomized LED stimuli on a touchscreen panel, prompting users to respond quickly with touches to test and train visual and brain skills like reaction time, peripheral vision, memory, and coordination.” The Reflexion Edge is also used as a concussion assessment and tracking tool. The Edge is being used by multiple professional and collegiate sports teams to measure eye-hand coordination, reaction time, inhibition, prioritization, and tracking. “Every Bridgton Academy student will get an initial score,” noted Mr. Rosen. “Then, we’ll do a series of drills based on performance to track their progress.” As of now, there are 15 drills, or “gamified activities” available through the Edge used to train both primary and secondary cognitions.
As phase one gets implemented with Reflexion Edge, phase two is not far behind. Soon, virtual reality goggles will be available for instructors and their students in Academy classrooms. “The intent is to have a direct impact on students in every class, all three years,” noted Rosen, who appears well on the way to meeting his goal and honoring the responsibility that comes with being the Laferriere Chair at Bridgton Academy.
