Brookwood School

Technology has become an integral part of our lives; it provides tools for learning, productivity, connecting to others, and enriching our lives in many other ways.  As a learning tool, technology can make a measurable difference in student interest, achievement, and attitudes. At Brookwood, students have a wealth of technological resources to assist them, as well as instruction in how to use these resources effectively and ethically.  They develop the understanding that they can master new tools as they arise and empowered to play an active role in their own learning.

Brookwood students learn by doing. In addition to the hundreds of available computers found throughout the school, all Middle and Upper School classrooms and science and music classrooms have interactive Smartboards connected to computers. Scanners, iPods, video camcorders, digital cameras, wireless networks, award-winning software and productivity software tools are used to support curriculum and learning across all grades. Among other endeavors, students create podcasts of their creative writing, assemble voice threads online for collaborative art and poetry projects, and develop Internet safety public service videos.  These are but a few of the uses of technology at Brookwood.

The development of excellent keyboarding skills is also central to the technology effort at Brookwood. Second graders begin with Read, Write & Type, a phonics-based typing and writing program for primary grades developed by neuropsychology experts at the Media Learning Center of San Rafael, California. This unique program, now entering its thirteenth year of use at Brookwood, sets the stage for Middle School typing instruction and supports the Lower School reading and writing efforts. Subsequently, students progress to our Type to Learn keyboarding program, designed to enable the students to type without looking at the keys. By the end of the fifth grade, the class average for all fifth grade students has been above 43 words per minute for the last six years. Through collaborative research with a Harvard child psychologist, we have learned that as a result of our early learning keyboarding program, our students’ writing skills have shown measureable signs of improvement in quality and length.

Upon graduating, students have learned basic and advanced word processing techniques, as well as how to use spreadsheets, to manage information on a computer, to develop effective multimedia presentations, to manipulate graphics, and to use the Internet effectively, safely, and ethically.

In addition to both Mac and PC computer labs, Brookwood has laptop carts with wireless capabilities, digital cameras, scanners, robotics, and many award-winning software titles. The PC Lab is outfitted with MIDI interfaces to piano keyboards to support our music program. Supervised Internet access is available everywhere via our T1 access line. The Eleanor M. DiCroce Library houses an eighteen-computer reference area, online library card catalog, as well as Internet access to more than 25 local town library card catalogs. In our multimedia World Language lab that is also equipped with interactive Smartboard technology, students use digital video, sound editing software, and world language websites to master new languages. Brookwood's website and intranet continue to grow, supporting our students, faculty, and parents in addition to providing information to visitors.

While Brookwood strongly supports the use of technological resources in its continuing commitment to children, we believe that it is a balance of teaching and curriculum that directs the most appropriate use of technology in meeting the needs of our students.


Technology Curricular Goals
In general, the Technology Department seeks to have Brookwood Students:

• Master basic computer skills and applications, including keyboarding, multimedia, object-oriented programming and the use of word processing, database, spreadsheet, web browser, and sound editing/manipulation
• Practice valuable techniques for mastering the search for information on the Internet; develop competency in organizing and displaying that information, as well as evaluating and substantiating its validity and truthfulness
• Acquire effective techniques for using both the Internet and telecommunications tools in a safe and ethical manner
• Develop the ability to assess, interpret, and evaluate the impact of various advertising media messages on student attitudes, behavior, and decision-making
• Develop a sense of confidence in approaching new technologies in pursuit of learning, problem-solving, expression, analysis, and exploration

Grade Level Curricular Goals and Focal Points
At each respective grade level, our goal is to have students:

Grade Two:

• Gain introduction to keyboarding skills
• Gain introduction to word processing and manipulating objects in the work processor
• Gain introduction to computer painting and drawing using Tux Pain to express ideas and support written expressions
• Create timelines and manipulate information and graphics across a timeline using Timeliner software
• Create web maps and outlines using Inspiration software

Grade Three:

• Demonstrate proper care and use of computers and computer accessories
• Improve word processing skills
• Improve keyboarding skills
• Gain introduction to using spreadsheets to make graphs

Grade Four:

• Improve keyboarding skills
• Improve word processing skills
• Use Scratch programming software to communicate, express themselves, and solve problems individually and collectively
• Gain introduction to Inspiration software for web mapping and outlining
• Use word processing skills to create finished reports

Grade Five:

• Gain familiarity with online risks, privacy issues, ethical behavior and online security
• Use Inspiration software for web mapping and outlining
• Develop keyboarding skills
• Develop PowerPoint skills
• Gain introduction to the networking environment and file servers
• Using both the Mac and PC operating systems
• Improve word processing skills

Grade Six:

• Explore aspects of media literacy
• Gain introduction to and understanding of the Internet
• Use spreadsheets to create graphs
• Develop Powerpoint skills
• Improve word processing skills

Grade Seven:

• Deepen familiarity with computer ethics
• Deepen understanding of Internet safety and netiquette
• Gain familiarity with management and evaluation of Internet information
• Gain understanding of the web
• Develop understanding of protecting privacy online
• Differentiate safe from unsafe Internet resources
• Gain understanding of phishing and other online scams
• Gain facility in protecting online privacy
• Appreciate the risks and issues attendant on use of social networks
• Deepen degree of media literacy
• Improve and use PowerPoint skills
• Use spreadsheets as containers and calculators
• Use Audacity sound-editing software

Grade Eight:

• Develop acute understanding of the risks and issues inherent in use of social networks
• Gain understanding of phishing and other online scams