Technology

Equipment

The Woods Academy has a state-of-the-art computer lab. The Rudnicki Lab, equipped with 34 student workstations and four computers for video editing, is a tremendous resource for curricular integration, research, and graphic arts projects. Lower and Upper School have wireless access to the school’s network and internet. The Upper School has two mobile laptop carts for students to use in the classroom. Each classroom in first through eighth grade is equipped with Epson Brightlink interactive whiteboard projectors and all classrooms have access to an LCD projector. Upper School students use Qwizdom, an audience-response system that interacts in lessons. Every Lower School classroom is equipped with a classroom computer. Students have access to digital cameras, video cameras, green screen, and scanners for projects.

In the Classroom

Our technology supports innovative learning. Each teacher maintains a classroom web page that contains links to educational web sites, downloads, pictures, and videos from the classroom. Teachers integrate technology throughout their lessons.

Students:

Collaborate using Google Docs and blogs,
Use interactive whiteboards to engage lessons,
Use Discovery Education, World Book Online, SIRS Discover, and online resources to enhance research,
Create presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint,
Write emails to their French Pen Pals,
Create brochures and reports using Microsoft Publisher and Word,
Create graphic organizers in Kidspiration, and
Use educational software that aligns with the school’s curriculum.

Courses

Students start computer classes in Montessori. The Introduction to Computers course focuses on basic computer use. Students learn how to use the mouse and get familiar with the keyboard. Montessori students also play educational computer games that reinforce skills that are taught in the classroom and create an alphabet book using Kidspiration.

In the third grade class, Computer Programming, students learn computer programming concepts through Scratch. Scratch was developed by M.I.T. to help students create interactive stories, games, music, and art while using mathematical and computational ideas.

Fifth grade students learn about The Science of Robotics. The Lego Mindstorm Robotics curriculum forms the core of the computer programming and robotics unit. Students are challenged to design and program robots that will accomplish a variety of tasks. The unit culminates with a robot design competition.

In sixth grade, students take a class to create Digital Media. They learn how to create an electronic portfolio to show off their accomplishments throughout the year. Students take digital pictures, scan documents, and learn basic web design principles. Students also learn how to program a computer using Alice programming developed by Carnegie Mellon University. These students create 3D animated stories.

It’s lights, camera, and action in seventh grade, where students learn about Video Production. Students write scripts, use video cameras, and edit their work using Pinnacle Studios and Windows Movie Maker. Students learn about different parts of video production such as using a green screen and adding special effects to video clips.

Eighth grade students take a course in Digital Photography. In this course, students learn to use photo editing software to manipulate images.