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Intentional Technology

We're committed to taking a whole-community approach to preparing our students to use the immense power of digital media to explore, create, connect, and learn, while limiting the perils that exist in the online realm, such as plagiarism, loss of privacy, and cyberbullying.

Intentional technology means we take a thoughtful approach to discovering and implementing tools and tech practices to improve teaching and learning outcomes for our community. Creative, innovative, and intelligent use of technology is critically important. By blending the best elements of traditional teaching and strong student/teacher relationships with the inventive nature of digital learning, our students will be ready for the future.

We are cautious of fads that emphasize technology for technology’s sake without practical applications in the classroom that create sustainable and meaningful aspects to the educational experience for our students.

Digital Citizenship Certified

In 2015, Country Day was the first area school to be certified by Common Sense Media, a leading non-partisan, non-profit resource. Our faculty and staff are trained in the program, and lessons are created and aligned across all grade levels.

  • Our students begin learning about digital citizenship in junior kindergarten through fourth grade classrooms and continue this instruction in advisory sessions in Middle and Upper School.  
  • The curriculum is research-based and covers a range of digital issues that today’s youth face, including internet safety, the role of copyright, online relationships, privacy, security, cyberbullying, personal reputation management, information literacy, and social justice.
  • We continuously review curriculum and tools, and adjust lessons in response to new technologies, platforms, social trends, and long0term implications of a student's online footprint.

Educational Technologists

Educational technologists at each division are deeply involved members of the Country Day team who support teaching and deepen learning opportunities. All members of the EdTech team are experienced classroom teachers, and each team member teaches at least one class per term. Their roles are to:

  • Work with administrators and faculty to implement and support educational technology tools and resources to ensure our students are provided with the latest technology for their learning experiences.
  • Provide training and support for educators and students to make sure the technology tools and resources are used effectively.
  • Co-teach tech-focused lessons across the curriculum, providing professional development for faculty, and meeting individually with students and teachers to provide tailored support.

100%

students in grades 3–12 receive school-issued personal computing devices as an integral part of their Country Day experience.

6

Number of classes in which Upper School students regularly use computer programming, such as in Computational Biochemistry and AP Statistics with R.

496

Middle School students use iPads to practice fluency in French and Spanish.

100%

of faculty have received training in digital lesson planning.

1st

area school to be approved as a Common Sense Digital Citizenship Certified School.

7

3-D printers, two laser cutters, and one CNC router are used to complete student projects across all divisions.

Joe HernickDirector of Educational Technology

As we look to the future of AI, including ChatGPT, we are collaborating to answer deeper questions regarding the skills that students need as they head into their futures. Just like the math teachers of the past worried about access to the graphing calculator, teachers today have to look at their teaching to ensure that they are truly preparing students to not just regurgitate something that a robot gave them, but truly understanding critical thinking, collaborating with others, and creating something even better that can make an impact on the world." 

A Glimpse into Learning About Technology