The School’s infrastructure supports global learning and access to state-of-the-art applications and tools. We believe that technology should be readily accessible, transparent when not in use, and used in an appropriate manner. To enable this we has implemented a laptop-based computing approach. 1-1 in grades 2 through 8 and a 2-1 ratio in grades K -1 . The School does not teach formal computer classes, technology is integrated into the curriculum in all subject areas. Educational Technologists work collaboratively and team teach with content specialists to push technology appropriately into all subject areas.
The Technology team at The School consists of the Director of Information and Communications Technology who oversees all aspects of the School’s academic, instructional and administrative school technologies. The technology team is made up of educational technologists responsible for technology integration into all areas of the curriculum, a media specialist who deals with the school academic and administrative media initiative, a systems administrator who oversees the school technology’s backend e.g. servers, a desktop support person who works on the front-end or helpdesk and a database/student information person.
All the department work collaboratively yet independently to operate a smooth running entity. The Director establishes, plans and administers the policies, strategies and goals for The School’s academic/instructional and administrative communications technology. He manages all aspects of The School’s daily communication technology requirements, and analyses hardware, software and audio-visual needs, and establishes priorities for feasibility studies, systems design and implementation to develop and/or modify The School’s information processing systems. Furthermore he manages the integration of technology in the classroom, along with the Educational technologists, and other technology staff, and helps to ensure the adequate support and faculty development and available for the academic team. He conducts ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of the communication and digital technologies at The School, and also determine long-term system needs and hardware acquisitions to accomplish The School’s administrative and academic objectives and assess what emerging technologies that The School should absorb.
Technology education at The School stems from the National Education Technology Standard (NETS). From a developmentally appropriate perspective, with an emphasis on social responsibility and problems solving, students at the school use technology for research, communication and productivity. In select grades, there is a component of computer science education. Students are exposed to a variety of computer hardware, peripheral devises,operating systems,generic softwares, subject specific softwares, and Internet applications with the goal of gaining confidence that they can learn new systems and applications as the field of technology develops via The School's one-to-one laptop program. This knowledge and understanding is a means for students to carry out research,communicate, create multimedia presentations, demonstrate concepts and ideas, and publish their work in the context of the curriculum. Students are also exposed to information management , flow, analysis, generation, storage and retrieval on local and remote servers.
Most important is a focus on critical thinking skills, and problem solving strategies. The School wants its students to be knowledgeable independent users of powerful computer applications. Hardware, software and internet changes keep the program alive and in a constant flux. Students use technology in their course work across the disciplines. All students word process written assignments, use electronic resources and Internet sources and complete a variety of projects using a wide range of computer technology. Sample projects can be seen on our website.Many teachers model appropriate uses of technology by incorporating various elements in their course presentations.and are encouraged to and regularly attend professional conferences and courses in the field of technology.
Don Buckley
Director of Technology
