Technology with St. Mary’s youngest girls is much more than a laptop or an iPad. Beginning in Pre Kindergarten, our girls learn that technology is really any tool that we use. As the PreK girls study buildings they will use the SmartBoard, digital cameras, and laptops, but you will also see them with hammers, screwdrivers, and measuring tapes. You’ll see the Junior Kindergarten girls reading online stories and using math ten frames on iPads, but you’ll also see them taking apart an old printer to see how it works. In Senior Kindergarten they’re sorting syllables on the SmartBoard and listening for rhyming words on the iPads, but you will also see them using traditional kitchen tools to prepare their Thanksgiving feast. 

Technology in the Early Childhood Center is integrated into the daily curriculum right along side its STEM counterparts; Science, Engineering, and Math. While you would expect to see a classroom study of insects and girls measuring and counting, the study of engineering takes a front row seat among the traditional academic areas. St. Mary’s girls are encouraged to be innovators and to find out how things work. Our teachers facilitate opportunities for the girls to make connections and solve problems. Emphasis is placed on the process and design, not just the finished product. Design a house for a mouse? Build an airport terminal with a playground? Create a multi-tasking, cleaning tool to get Cinderella to the ball faster? Creativity and inventiveness pair with a sense of sustainability as the girls use a variety of recycled materials for their projects. Everyone is a star as we use digital camcorders and iPads to record and share what we have learned. 

Exposure to the authentic use of technology occurs constantly in the Early Childhood Center. Our little girls see their teachers communicating via email, Twitter, and websites. They can’t wait to send a story or picture of a project to their parents. A seashell, a fingerprint, or a handwriting lesson takes on new life on the “big screen” with a document camera and a projector. Ready for the “clean up” song, just grab an iPod and plug it into the speakers. Need to get a lunch count, just move your name on the SmartBoard to “buying” or “bringing.” Each classroom has ready access to laptops, iPods, iPads, document cameras, digital cameras, and interactive white boards to support their curriculum. Classroom teachers are supported by the Early Childhood Coordinator of Technology and Curriculum Development as they intentionally integrate the use of technology into their environment.

As we endeavor to educate these young, digital natives for occupations that may not even exist at this time, we prioritize the skills of communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. Because no matter what the latest tech gadget or device will be, these are the skills that will enable them to achieve their greatest potential. 

If you’re looking for the next generation of engineers, designers, scientists and technology innovators, walk through the doors of any Lower School classroom, lab, or studio.  You will find girls asking questions, exploring possibilities, and designing and testing models.  Instead of viewing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) as four separate disciplines, students are encouraged to integrate their knowledge and skills.  Each project begins with developing an idea, exploring options as they gather materials, designing a plan through either a drawing or small scale model, creating and testing their idea, and most importantly, evaluating the results to determine how it could be improved.  Projects cross over subject areas, allowing students to immerse themselves in the topic of study.  STEM studies are energizing the Lower School girls! 

From basic keyboarding instruction in the 5 th and 6 th grades to the opportunity to conceive of and produce a digital video in the 8 th grade, St. Mary’s Middle School students regularly experience the latest advancements in technology. Sixth grade Literature students may spend several days in the Middle School Computer Lab demonstrating mastery of their summer reading by creating a game of Jeopardy which uses details from their reading for the answers. Meanwhile, 7th grade social studies students may use the laptops from one of several mobile carts of computers available to the Middle School to perform internet research over the wireless network. And, gone are the days of poster boards for Science Fair presentations. Now all 6 th through 8 th grade students must create a PowerPoint presentation to share the results of their experiments with their peers and parents.

Middle School Technology Coordinator Kim Moon works diligently to keep herself apprised of the newest applications which will benefit the Middle School program. Her support of students and faculty in whatever endeavor they might like to attempt is critical as we prepare our 21 st century students to utilize the technology available to us effectively, wisely and safely.

Grades 9 - 12

Technology at St. Mary’s Episcopal School is integrated into the curriculum in a variety of ways so as to support and enhance classroom instruction. Technology tools such as projectors, laptop carts, calculators, document cameras, tablet PCs, interactive boards, and digital cameras allow teachers to design or supplement instruction with the appropriate technology. We strive to make the most of current technology trends such as Web 2.0 applications. For example, Skype and Twitter allow us to extend learning beyond the walls of St. Mary’s as we share learning experiences with others around the world. Although we are primarily a Mac school, we do have Tablet PCs that serve our World Language, Science, and Art programs quite well. Because our teachers are so willing, we make the best of both the Mac and PC worlds.

Our girls use technology to research, collaborate, communicate, and build understanding of topics presented in the classroom. Electronic databases are available for researching information, computer carts or labs are available for classes that need computer access, cameras may be checked out from the technology coordinators, and often times, the technology coordinators are involved in direct instruction along with the classroom teacher. The use of technology at St. Mary’s allows for individualized learning as well as collaboration. The students receive assignments that, through the use of technology tools, are engaging and motivating.

The faculty at St. Mary’s Episcopal school receives training on a variety of technology tools and applications. Learning is visual and motivating when using our projectors, interactive boards, and other online tools. A technology coordinator is available to assist teachers in lesson plan development as well as the assessment of technology infused assignments. The technology coordinator works closely with teachers to make sure they are well trained and prepared to use available technology so that lessons are implemented in a smooth and effective manner.

The technology program at St. Mary’s Episcopal school is based on Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy. This taxonomy guides our program as we strive to develop higher order thinking skills and abilities that allow our girls to reach their individual potential. It is the goal of the Academic Technology team to provide students with learning experiences that allow them to effectively and successfully compete in a global society.  

Bloom's Original Taxonomy

Bloom's Revised Digital Taxonomy