Technology

Transforming technology

Chromebook devices are being provided to the students at St John the Baptist to enrich their learning opportunities and to give them experience with digital technologies that will be beneficial for high school, college and the workplace. As a result we hope to enhance our learning environments by further enriching critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity.

A Chromebook is a small, lightweight, personal computer running Chrome OS as its operating system. The devices are designed to be used while connected to the Internet and support applications that reside on the Web, rather than traditional applications that reside on the machine itself. Staff and students have been using their school Google accounts for multiple years and chromebooks will allow us to further infuse technology and online resources in powerful new ways within classroom instruction.

Goals and Outcomes: Below are just a few of the goals and anticipated outcomes that continue to drive our 1:1 Initiative.

Device Allocation:

Students in grades 5th-8th will be issued a chromebook for his/her exclusive use at school and taken home each evening for continued learning.
Students in grades 3rd and 4th will be assigned a chromebook for his/her exclusive use at school.
Students in grades K-2 will have access to a greater number of devices in their classroom and computer lab.

Technology Curriculum

We have made technology a top priority in our funding in recent years, allowing us to remain consistent with our building technology plan. We have mounted, interactive SMART boards and projectors in every classroom, enabling teachers to bring the world into the classroom, to call upon other instructors to model a lesson, or to enhance instruction by providing more opportunities for students to interact with content.

Our computer lab was recently updated with laptops to be utilized by classes throughout the week, and the upper grades have two carts of mobile laptops for use in all subject areas. In addition, classrooms have Nexus tablets or Chromebooks and students are taught technology standards and competencies to access a variety of resources for research and learning.

Technology is a vital part of the curricular instruction as well as a communication tool for students, teachers, and parents. We utilize Option C as our system for administering student information. Teachers use this as a tool for updating assignments and tracking student grades.

We have built our technology to a ratio of 1 computer for every 2 students in the school, and look forward to continuing to expand the use of technology for our students and staff.

Technology Committee

Technology Instructor:

Ms. Lisa Mirizzi

Teacher Representatives:

Jana Anneken
Ashley Brodbeck
Karen Schwab
Michell Hasselbeck

Parent Volunteers:

Mindy Caldwell
Sarah Kiefer

STUDENTS

At the heart of our 1:1 Initiative is our students. The regular use of available digital tools by our students will:

foster creativity, critical thinking and collaboration by constructing an open environment in which students are encouraged to use devices;
provide daily access to valuable applications and resources (e.g. Google Drive, OptionC, eBooks, eTextbooks) that will support them in their learning and extend their classroom experience outside of school;
improve student organization and time management skills, and
improve communication with teachers.

PARENTS

The use of digital tools by our SJB parents will enable parents to be more directly involved in their child's’ academic performance, as the 1:1 Initiative will:

improve the parent’s awareness of the student’s assignments;
provide a more efficient way to review the student’s work and identify shortcomings and areas for growth; and
improve communication between parents and teachers.

TEACHERS

The most vital part of making our 1:1 Initiative successful is our teachers, who, in addition to our students and parents, will benefit from its implementation. Regular use of digital tools by our teachers will:

create a more student-centered classroom in which students take responsibility for their own learning, thereby increasing student engagement and participation;
enable the teacher to more easily accommodate various learning styles among students;
reduce the amount of printed materials distributed to and collected from students, consequently reducing the amount of paper for teachers to manage, file and store; and
improve communication between teachers, students and parents.

In closing, we are thrilled to begin this year as it will continue to engage and challenge all of us to grow. We are grateful for your willingness to make this work, and we will do what it takes to help our students achieve their specific levels of comfort. We realize that change is not always easy and will therefore dedicate ourselves to helping our students and faculty find ways to modernize, enhance and balance classroom traditions with the demands of our 21st Century world.