Technology

At The Brentwood School, technological literacy is seen as an essential skill for our students to develop. Specific issues of concern are explored, such as technological studies in schools, the reach of the Internet into our homes and lives, and the crucial role of technology in today’s economy and workforce. Technology is aiding students in learning about traditional subject matter, but learning the technology itself is important too. Computers are a staple in The Brentwood School classrooms and represent a fundamental 21st century job skill. Today's students will be ready for the world which they will enter as adults, thanks in part to education technology.

Projection systems, including a SMARTBoard are used to deliver material to students. Electronic whiteboards look very similar to the traditional whiteboards or chalkboards teachers use to display information to their students. The electronic versions, however, have capabilities far beyond those of their low-tech predecessors; in addition to simply displaying information, they also allow teachers to save what they have written or drawn and send it to students' computers; to navigate computer files and Web sites; and to interact with online information with a touch of the finger.

SMARTBoard users can use a finger or a special electronic "marker" to interact with the information displayed on the screen. Thus, brainstorming "doodles" can be saved for later review. Math and science students can graph and display problems that are difficult to represent using ordinary software programs. Teachers can remain in front of the class when moving from one computer application, file, or Web site to another, keeping students' attention and preventing off task behavior. Electronic whiteboards assist in lesson planning, support diverse learning styles, and engage students, particularly when the learning is student-driven. Moreover, when students in small groups or in one-to-one settings manipulate the board themselves, both student learning and interest rise dramatically. From lesson preparation to review, the whiteboard has proven to be a valuable tool in The Brentwood School’s classrooms.

A Videoconferencing system was added to the technology at The Brentwood School last year. Videoconferencing involves a television, a microphone, and a camera working together. Using a telephone line or network IP connection, you "dial up" another location with the same setup; you can see and hear them and they can see and hear you. The Brentwood School provides a truly "connected classroom" of the 21st century. Teachers enhance their curriculum by taking students on Virtual Field Trips. The power of Interactive Video Conferencing is that students are able to question and dialogue with people and resources that would otherwise be unavailable due to distance and time. Distance learning opportunities also include online courses using the Novanet Program.

The Computer Science Curriculum focuses on computer awareness and computer operation. Courses cover many aspects of computing such as desktop publishing, web page design, graphic design, computer programming, computer hardware and the legal/ethical aspects of computing.

The Learning-A-Living Program recently has expanded to allow students in-house exposure to the Information Technology Field.