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Technology

Lower School boy works on an ipad

St. Mark’s Episcopal School is pleased to provide our students, staff, and guests access to a number of technology devices designed to enhance the educational experience. At St. Mark’s, we are dedicated to creating a learning environment in which technology is utilized and explored. These technology resources, when properly used, promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication.

At St. Mark’s, we embrace the following statement from the International Society for Technology in Education, “Effective integration of technology is achieved when students are able to select technology tools to help them obtain information in a timely manner, analyze and synthesize the information, and present it professionally. The technology should become an integral part of how the classroom functions -- as accessible as all other classroom tools.” We strive to accomplish this goal through developmentally-appropriate technology integration that is designed to fit the unique needs of our program.

Our faculty and staff members explore and utilize emerging tools and techniques to meet the needs of 21st century learners. Ultimately, we seek to provide both teachers and students with technology tools and knowledge that allow them to utilize their creative abilities and problem-solving skills with the intellectual curiosity of respectful digital citizens.

1:1 iPad Program

We employ a 1:1 iPad program in the 5th through 8th grades at St. Mark’s. This means that our Middle School has a ratio of one iPad for every one student.

Our 5th grade students participate in the iPad 1:1 program through the use of school-owned devices. The 5th graders progress through several phases that help them develop responsibility and digital citizenship as they immerse themselves in this integrated learning program. We feel this approach will best serve our 21st century learners in preparing them for the future. Since the spring of 2012, our faculty has been researching ways to use iPads in their classrooms.

Rising 5th grade students purchase iPads through the school that are configured by the school.

Digital Safety

Digital Citizenship is an important aspect of life at St. Mark’s.

Beginning in Kindergarten and continuing through 5th grade, students work through a digital citizenship curriculum from Keyboarding Without Tears throughout the school year. In 2nd through 5th grade, the technology teacher dedicates several class periods to teaching digital citizenship, and discusses this topic periodically as opportunities arise.

Students in 5th through 8th grade complete Common Sense Media’s Digital Literacy and Citizenship program.