Technology

In the Middle School, students and faculty have access to a variety of technology resources. Students can be found during study hall in the new technology lab typing a homework assignment, in the library conducting research online for a project, or using their TI-85 graphing calculators during math lab. Classroom instruction is enhanced through the use of technology; both students and teachers present information to classes using computers and projectors, seventh grade English Lab is web-based, the yearbook is in partially produced digitally, and there is a screen writing/film-editing club. Using wireless laptops (COWs or Computers on Wheels) in class, teachers and students can access the Internet, edit essays, or create graphs using Excel.

• Lessons can be played back step-by-step to help students review concepts covered in class.
• Lessons can also be saved, printed, and easily converted to images or web pages, helping teachers create study materials that are accessible to students outside of class.
• With a projector, a Mimio stylus pen acts like a cordless mouse, allowing the teacher to use the Internet and computer software while standing at the whiteboard.
• Mimio can be used to support the NCTM core mathematics standards of Problem Solving, Reasoning, Communication, Connections, and Representation.

English teachers at the Middle School are exploring the uses of Tablet PCs in the classroom. Tablet PCs have a touch sensitive screen that can be written upon with a stylus pen. The on-screen handwriting is used to teach margin noting, and can be converted to text. Electronic versions of some books (eBooks) can be downloaded and annotated. In addition, Tablet PCs are equipped with voice recognition, so notes or lessons can be dictated and converted to text.