Welcome to the Technology Department
Whether it's a third grader creating a newsletter on an
AlphaSmart or an eighth grader creating a PowerPoint presentation on the
Animal Farm's historical grounding, technology is infused in
all facets of student life at Town School.
The Technology Department at Town School is responsible for supporting
400 students and a faculty and staff of 80+ individuals in a technology-rich
environment. Every full-time teacher has a wireless laptop, as do all
students in grades 5-8. Each Lower School classroom has an average of
four desktop computers for student use. The Technology Department also
maintains a computer lab, which is fully-equipped with scanners, color
printers, and digital photography/videography equipment. Additionally, the students have access to
a mobile laptop lab. Desktop computers and laptops are also available
to all students in the Library.
As the students progress through the grades, the transparent
use of technology is evident in each classroom. This seamless integration
is enhanced by the use of a multitude of hardware devices and software applications,
and full Internet connectivity throughout the school.
Lower School
In kindergarten through second grade, we view technology as a source of
enrichment, rather than an integral part of the curriculum. At this level,
the boys become familiar with computers and a few age-appropriate applications
such as KidPix and Kidspiration.
In third grade, the boys are formally introduced to keyboarding using
AlphaSmarts. Microsoft Word is introduced at this level. Students complete
simple research and writing projects. As the students move into fourth
grade, their final year in the Lower School, they are introduced to the
Town School network, given e-mail accounts, and learn the basics of Microsoft
PowerPoint. They also have the opportunity to learn about digital photography
through their Selectives
class.
Upper School
"Do we need our laptops for class today?" That is the question
most often heard in the Upper School hallways. Laptops are an integral
part of the core curriculum in grades 5-8. Whether its writing an obituary
for Ivan the Terrible, doing Internet research for the Congressional Game,
composing original songs in Music class, or recording vocabulary words
in Spanish or French to match pictures, laptops
are ubiquitous throughout the Upper School.
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