Vision: Country Day seeks to prepare its students "to succeed in a rapidly changing and culturally diverse world," as stated in the Mission of the School. Twenty-first century technology, seamlessly integrated into the curriculum at all levels, is essential to this preparation.
I. Meeting the Mission
Technology is not an end in itself, but a means of fulfilling the Mission of the School, which states that the school "fosters critical thinking, curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning for its own sake . . . students develop an appreciation for the feelings, perspectives, and needs of others, and a sense of responsibility to communities beyond Country Day."
- Lifelong learning in the twenty-first century must include information literacy.
- Internet access promotes and reinforces a global outlook.
- Technology provides access to vibrant vicarious experiences.
- Technology, already integrated into students' lives outside of school, is a natural vehicle for extending their knowledge.
- Online learning for students and faculty strengthens the learning community.
- Technology facilitates the communication of our message and critical information to students, parents, and colleagues in other schools.
II. Constructivist Learning
To meet the challenges posed by rapid change and cultural diversity, we must design curriculum on the premise that students do not merely receive meaning from texts, but also engage in individual and collaborative interpretation of texts, problems, events, and situations. These goals comprise a standard by which the integration of technology must be measured.
- Technology provides opportunities for developing practical and theoretical problem solving skills.
- Finding and processing information requires understanding and discernment and therefore motivates the development of higher order thinking.
- Using technology to explore and investigate shifts the focus of learning from teacher to student.
- Technology affords opportunities for interdisciplinary learning.
- Computer modeling and simulations develop cause and effect thinking.
- The internet provides access to real-time, real-life data for student analysis; using data bases can change how students think about information and about the world.
III. Dynamic Pedagogy
Effective teaching requires a wide range of strategies to engage students in their own learning, provide real-world applications of knowledge and skills, and offer accurate and useful feedback on performance and understanding. Technology can equip faculty with the means to develop new and exciting avenues for instruction.
- Technology-rich learning activities appeal to a variety of learning styles.
- Technology provides superior tools for spontaneous learning.
- Interactive work on computers, carefully structured, provides challenging learning activities.
- The freedom to explore and create allows faculty and students to learn together.
- Computer use can infuse an element of play into learning, and risks can be taken when "playing" on the computer.
- Technology facilitates authentic assessment.
- Using technology to display students' learning to a wider audience motivates better performance.
- Internet access and literacy are essential for many independent studies sponsored by our faculty.
