Technology

At Summit School students develop technology skills through technology labs, library information technology instruction, project based exercises and independent study. Forms of technology available to students range from traditional computer labs, mobile computer labs, video production work, digital music exploration, and computer animation to robotics, renewable energy creation and the digital arts. Technology is carefully integrated into our classroom curriculum and reinforced through our block class schedule.

Technology instruction starts in our kindergartens where students learn the parts of the computer, introduction to keyboarding and how to use the mouse through software. In the Design Center children use computers to learn about elements of design. In the classroom, students use computers for simple research in small groups and individually.

Students learn to effectively and responsibly use technology in computer block classes in our lower school as well as during media literacy classes in the library. These skills are reinforced in the classroom through projects such as Famous American's Day, Bird Projects, States Projects, Animal Research Projects and various other research projects. Students are introduced to animation software, using their basic computing skills and fundamental software concepts to create a short film from start to finish. Our new facilities in the Arts and Technology building offer many experiences for children through project based learning environments such as our Digital Music Studio and the Digital Media Studio.

Upper school students' technology experiences draw heavily from the fundamental skills they achieved in the Lower School. This knowledge allows them to work independently and in groups on projects and achieve a deeper level of technological knowledge. Technology through film-making projects, the use of Blogs and Wikis, Robotics, Digital Media and Music is blended with core curriculum to give traditional subjects a 21st century appeal. In the 9th-grade year students combine ten years of technical development giving them a valuable tool to apply to their core subjects and projects. A Summit graduate is fully prepared to use technology competently and confidently.