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Professor Emeritus Receives Humanitarian Award at Annual Fundraiser

Like most students his age, 5-year-old Sam, a kindergartener at the Child Development Center, is learning new skills like counting, directions, problem-solving, spatial awareness, and logical thinking.

To teach these kinds of concepts instructors have traditionally turned to tried-and-true manipulatives such as pattern shapes, linking cubes, or base-ten blocks, all developed in the 1960s to facilitate learning and stimulate creativity.

Not at the CDC.  to foster engagement and positively affect learning outcomes. 

Maryam Zolfaghari, Ph.D., assistant professor of Mathematics Education in the School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies (TLCS) in the College of Education, Health and Human Services, said the use of educational robots in the classroom is still relatively new, partly because the integration of technology standards in early education is itself a recent development.

Blue-Bots are small, sturdy robots with clear plastic shells, bulging eyes and big smiles. They can operate on their own or via Bluetooth connection controlled by an Android, iOS, Mac, or Windows device. Bright buttons allow for programming up to 40 steps; the clear casing lets users see all the parts that make them tick.

Over a 10-week period, Tom McNeal, Technology Project Director at the Research Center for Education Technology’s AT&T Classroom, will work with Zolfaghari and the CDC to develop lessons that integrate the CDC’s math goals with Ohio's technology standards. Students are tasked with adding or subtracting to get a particular number, like 10. Command keys are used to program the devices that move sequentially forward, backward, left, or right in six-inch intervals. Those movements correspond with numbers 1 through 12 etched on a cardboard poster. For example, if a bot is coded to move backwards to land on a particular number, the student must subtract that figure from the total to get the correct answer.

“We use Blue-Bots to solve math problems and support our kindergarten curriculum by exploring math and technology concepts through engaging, hands-on activities,” said Zolfaghari. "We want to make learning meaningful, interactive, and fun. Robots offer a unique blend of movement, directionality, and interactivity that adds a new dimension to this type of learning.”

Zolfaghari, who serves as the principal investigator for the project, said the Blue-Bot activities also create opportunities for cross-curricular connections, including literacy and science.

After pausing the project for two weeks educators were concerned that students might forget what they learned but were pleasantly surprised when the sessions resumed.

“The children picked up right where they left off,” said Zolfaghari. “If anything, their understanding seemed even deeper.”

She said the goal of the project is to embed technology standards into a play-based curriculum using robots as another tool to support children’s learning in spatial reasoning, coding, numbers, and more. She’s confident that the next phase of the project will help educators explore long-term integration without overwhelming teachers.

“The Blue-Bots project has successfully engaged kindergartners, sparking interest in math and technology, a major priority in the state of Ohio,” said James Hannon, Ph.D., C.S.C.S., during remarks at the annual Robin McManus Scholarship Benefit at Hobbs Hall Unitarian Universalist Church in Kent. “Projects such as these demonstrate the CDC’s commitment to innovative learning that helps children reach their full potential. Faculty and staff at the CDC go above and beyond to provide outstanding care for children and families from the University and Greater Kent community.”

Zolfaghari is encouraged by the engagement and learning outcomes with the new technology. She believes students are getting more comfortable using robots, and teachers and their assistants are gaining confidence integrating technology into their classrooms.

“Research from other innovative teaching methods and effective strategies has been  in national and international journals,” said CDC Director Monica Miller Marsh, Ph.D., who assisted Zolfaghari in applying for a grant to expand the use of Blue-Bots to other schools. “Data has also been presented at conferences globally, significantly influencing the field of early childhood education. Research on the Blue-Bots will be forthcoming.”

Distinguished professor recognized for advocacy, altruism

Emeritus Professor Martha Lash, Ph.D., Kent State School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies, was presented with the 2025 CDC Humanitarian Award at the annual Robin McManus Scholarship Benefit.

Before retiring from Kent State, Lash served as interim school director for TLCS, and was heavily involved with early childhood teacher education and curriculum studies for over 20 years. 

Lash was also an integral part of national and international teacher education, including leading Kent State work on the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program, the Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching, as well as professional development and cross-cultural understanding.

The Robin McManus Scholarship Benefit raises funds that provide need-based student scholarships and allows more children in the Kent community to access the enriching experience of a CDC education. Robin was a kind, compassionate, and skilled teacher and supervisor who cared deeply about young children, their families, and pre-service teachers. Since the fund's founding in 2013, 45 children have attended the CDC through the McManus Scholarship.

“I was fortunate to know Robin McManus,” said Lash, addressing educators during an emotional acceptance speech at Hobbs Hall. “In her everyday life, she was a true humanitarian, so I appreciate this award. If you ever feel like you’re struggling on your own, just go find some people like the ones in this room and you will boost yourself up.”