Knightly News

“What’s old has been made new again.” Brandi Bergeron, Academic Technology Coordinator

Hundreds of 2X2 whiteboard hexagonal tiles are creating a buzz among teachers and students. The tiles tell the story of collaboration, creativity and Fab Shop capabilities among the Episcopal faculty. The ultimate goal is to help students of all ages make connections.

When Upper School History teacher Jenn Vu requested a brainstorming session with Academic Technology Coordinator Brandi Bergeron and Library Director Tiffany Whitehead, she wanted ideas on how to digitize a student review assignment. Vu joined the meeting with a stack of hand-cut paper hexagons. “This really began as a way to review with my World History students,” she recalls. “On the written portion of the test and really with just any type of writing that they do I wanted them to focus not just on the single term but on how the terms actually connect with one another.” Vu planned to write terms on the hexagons and ask students to align the shapes based on their connections to each other. Digitizing the shapes would allow for easier repurposing.

Bergeron and Whitehead loved the concept, and the trio discussed ideas for implementation. Bergeron, who has 26 years of teaching experience, was reminded of the early years when teachers made their own worksheets and tools. As the school’s Academic Technology Coordinator, she also recognized an opportunity to lean on the modern resources available at Episcopal.

FRAME Club Brings the Vision to Life

“FRAME is a club for students interested in a variety of things from engineering, to coding, to robotics, to building interesting things,” says Upper School science teacher and FRAME advisor Dr. Jeff McLean. “FRAME is an acronym for Fabrication, Robotics, Automation, Maker-space, Engineering.” The hexagon planners asked McLean if their vision could be achieved in the Episcopal Fab Shop. “I thought it would be a great introductory project for students in the club,” says McLean. Using the shop’s Rabbit Laser Cutter, club members Kate Lyons, Abigail Landry, Ainsley Ebey, Tripp Veillon and Caden Duff produced the new learning tool.

While the hexagons started as a tool for history learning, the project has far-reaching applications. McLean points out that FRAME Club members have already benefited from the experience. “First, the students learn how to build things and use the tools,” he says. “Second, building a project for someone else seeds them with ideas of projects of their own. Finally, this sort of project gives students from different grades and friend groups an opportunity to work together on a team.” The group has already discussed using the tiles in math, vocabulary practice and more. “The possibilities are endless on how you can make connections with them,” says Bergeron.  

As for Vu, she’s already seen the tool’s positive impact in the classroom as her students review for tests using her original prototype. “The biggest advantages are it makes the students consider how the terms connect and forces them to discuss the material with one another,” she says. “As teachers one of the things that we know is the best way to learn is to teach it and explain it ourselves.” The review process is still evolving as students suggested that the assignment be a game with points earned for connections made. “I’ve been really surprised with how much this idea has really taken off,” says Vu.

Tactile Learning Makes the Lesson Click

As Bergeron reflects on the brainstorming and development process, she sees the benefits of this type of tactile learning. “It breaks up the monotony,” she says. “They still need movement, and physically moving clicks better.” Bergeron points out how the project teaches students collaboration, higher-order thinking skills and executive functioning. She looks forward to seeing other Episcopal educators use this new teacher tool, and she’s pleased with how the history review turned out. “The end result was the students studied for their test and created a memory.”

Episcopal faculty and staff are known for creating engaging lessons that allow students to dig deeper and process information fully. Experiential learning, project-based units, small class sizes and tried-and-true teacher tools, such as the hexagonal whiteboard tiles, nurture a lifelong love of learning that will serve students well now and beyond their time at Episcopal.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2025-2026 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.