Two Airline High School teachers were recently awarded Marketing Education Retail Alliance (MERA) grants.
DECA teacher Melissa Hall, received a grant from MERA worth $3,000 and Winona Boswell, business teacher, was awarded a $2,081 grant .
With her grant, Hallwas able to purchase technological tools to help better education in her classroom. The students were able to complete and present their work through the use of some of today’s smart technology. MERA’s generous grant was used to purchase the following: a classroom Smart Board, DELL laptop, ink, workbooks for Entrepreneurship classes, and other basic but necessary classroom supplies.
These new additions to the classroom have become a contribution to the students’ classwork, benefitting them greatly in various assignments, projects, and other class work. With the newly purchased technology, students learned how to use Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. They were then able present their work to their peers using photos, educational videos, and PowerPoint presentations relating to the current chapters studied in class. The workbooks also came in handy when a great deal of time was spent constructing business plans for the semester final.
Boswell's grant provided an opportunity for students to conceptualize a plan for a business. Airline High School students participated in a simulation creating a business. Students participated in business, marketing, and management activities. The students were able to perceive the reality of skills necessary to become a successful business person and by hands on learning using software and materials purchased through the MERA grant. Items purchased include: QuickBooks Pro 2013, presentation materials, and various classroom supplies to enhance the project creativity.
MERA was created in 2000 and is administered by the Louisiana Retailers Association. MERA grants are funded through the Louisiana Department of Economic Development.
