The goals of the technology department are closely aligned to the International Society for Technology in Education’s student standards, which detail the skills students must have to in order to learn effectively and live productively in an increasingly digital world.

These goals include:

1. Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.

2. Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.

3. Research and Information Fluency
Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.

4. Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving & Decision-Making
Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

5. Digital Citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.

6. Technology Operations and Concepts
Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems and operations.

In order to meet these goals students are exposed to many different computer applications and concepts in Middle and Upper School in both their weekly computer classes as well as in their other academic classes. Collaboration with other departments, particularly the Science and History departments is an ongoing process. Students develop their skills and begin to use the computer as a tool to assist in their studies. As technology becomes incorporated into our daily life in more and more ways, it is important for our students not to simply learn how to use a specific application, but to be able to understand how to use new and emerging technologies to increase their productivity and efficiency, to understand how to choose appropriate technology for their tasks and how to filter the vast amounts of information available to them.

Highlights:

• Individual and group projects utilizing Inspiration, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Photoshop and Indesign
• Grade 8 produces a Field Guide to the Everglades