Download This Version in Microsoft Word format
TO COMMEND ANTIOCH EDUCATIONAL CENTER IN JASPER COUNTY AND THE DESIGNERS OF PEEKA FOR THEIR SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO LAUNCH THE NATION'S FIRST DISTRICT-WIDE USE OF THE PEEKA VIRTUAL REALITY LEARNING TOOL IN THE JASPER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives was pleased to learn that Hunter Stutsman, Alex Comfortes, and Michael Wong, the designers of Peeka, agreed to launch the nation's first district-wide use of the innovative Peeka Virtual Reality Learning Tool in the Jasper County School District (JCSD) in coordination with Antioch Educational Center (AEC) in December 2018; and
Whereas, Peeka, a virtual-reality learning tool that enhances the love and desire to read, as well as the child's comprehension, allows students to read, learn, and play in virtual reality and to be on the cutting edge of the latest innovative learning experiences while challenging their imaginations to higher heights of learning; and
Whereas, because the children's books come to life in virtual reality, Peeka's mobile platform allows the students' favorite stories to happen to them. The mission that the publishers, parents, and schools have for Peeka is that the program will increase students' reading comprehension, retention, and engagement by reading books on Peeka; and
Whereas, AEC first learned of Peeka while escorting some JCSD students enrolled in the Antioch Scholars Program who had excelled in their last school term on a weeklong, all-expense-paid trip to Seattle, Washington, and to Vancouver, Canada; and
Whereas, while visiting the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, students had the opportunity to experience the Peeka tool, and the executive director of AEC, Jackie O'Bannon, began to discuss the possibility that the designers could come to Jasper County; and
Whereas, their interest grew with the director's continued insistence until they finally agreed to bring Peeka to Jasper County. Then a whole new round of talks and contractual agreements had to be entered and agreed upon; and
Whereas, JCSD Superintendent Rachael Anderson joined some of the ongoing Skype conversations with AEC and the designers of Peeka, and when AEC identified anonymous funders to finance the project, the deal was solidified; and
Whereas, over three days, the designers trained the AEC's certified literacy coach, as well as the Hardeeville and Ridgeland Elementary schools' literacy/reading coaches, with the full usage and understanding of the Peeka virtual reality learning tool, and they visited each of the two schools to introduce the program to several classes at each location; and
Whereas, nearly three hundred first graders at Ridgeland and Hardeeville Elementary schools received the Peeka learning tool and were instructed on its use in coordination with the book, Farful Foolong from Oolong Panshoo & the Grey Bubble Goo; and
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives appreciates the remarkable efforts of Jackie O'Bannon and AEC to make the dream of the Peeka Virtual Reality Learning Tool for students in Jasper County an actual reality. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, commend Antioch Educational Center in Jasper County and the designers of Peeka for their successful efforts to launch the nation's first district-wide use of the Peeka Virtual Reality Learning Tool in the Jasper County School District.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Executive Director Jackie O'Bannon.
This web page was last updated on February 21, 2019 at 12:16 PM