TECHNOLOGY

The Carroll School uses a multi-sensory approach (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile) to teach its students. The use of technology in the curriculum enhances this approach by providing innovative methods in teaching in part through the use of interactive whiteboards in conjunction with a variety of educational software, web applications, and internet resources. An integral part of The Carroll School’s mission is to teach children to analyze, gather, organize and communicate information in an effective manner. It is our belief that technology can enable this learning process. Technologies utilized at the school are chosen to facilitate the learning and the teaching process in order to engender a stronger learning environment.

Lower School Technology

The use of technology begins in the Lower School. In the Beginning Readers program students are exposed to technology on a daily basis. Each classroom is equipped with interactive whiteboard technology, and all Lower School classes have access to computer labs and/or mobile laptop carts.

Part of the intent of technology use in the Lower School is to ready the student for the academic rigors faced in Middle School and beyond, building not only students’ reading, writing and math skills, but also introducing them to different technology skills and applications.

In the Fourth Grade, students continue to develop technology skills and to use these skills to write and edit assignments . Starting in the Fourth Grade students begin working with a touch-typing program. Fourth Grade students also engage in a large-scale, teacher-guided project for which they learn to use library and internet resources for research .

Building upon the Fourth Grade programs, the Fifth Grade students use technology in many of their classes. In addition to the access to a Fifth Grade computer lab, Fifth Grade classes also have access to a mobile laptop cart to increase technology use in the curriculum. Science classes use technology extensively to capture, organize and graph lab data. Students expand their use of technology in history using graphic organizers, and by inserting images and charts within their documents. In math, teachers utilize calculators, graphing calculators, internet math sites, and software programs that are designed to enhance cognitive flexibility and logical reasoning.

Middle School Technology

The Middle School has a one-to-one laptop program in which each student receives a laptop for use at school and at home. The use of the laptop is integral to the development of the students’ skills in writing, language, science, math and history. Through consistent, guided use of the hardware and software technologies at the school, students gain greater independence and take ownership of their learning.

Students are exposed to a vast array of technology in the Middle School. Like the Lower School, all Middle School classrooms are equipped with an interactive whiteboard. Used in conjunction with the student laptop program, and a number of different software applications, The Carroll School becomes a very dynamic learning environment. Software applications range from the simple example of a daily planner created using spreadsheet software so students can keep themselves organized or the use of word processing programs to promote written expression, to more sophisticated programs that support reading comprehension and fluency skills. More advanced software programs promote math skill and concept development.

Professional Development

Carroll believes that the strength of its programs begins with its teachers. Technology training is an important feature in the Faculty’s Professional Development program at Carroll. Teachers receive support and training in basic and advanced technologies as well as share lesson plans and ideas for curriculum development. Workshops and presentations on new technologies allow teachers to remain current with this quickly evolving area of education.

Carroll is committed to its technology program and continues to research, assess and evaluate the infusion of new technologies into classrooms that support the school’s mission to teach children with language-based learning difficulties. All software and other technologies used at the school are carefully considered to ensure they promote better teaching, better learning or both.