Technology

technology

For students at Saint Lawrence Academy, technological innovation is almost a way of life. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, we find that our students are far from shy about learning new uses for technology. On the contrary, they embrace it. Eighty-seven percent of Academy students report that using computers in their schoolwork has increased their knowledge and/or enhanced their learning. Saint Lawrence Academy is the only wireless high school campus in the Diocese of San Jose, utilizing the 802.1 lb. wireless technology standard. The Academy makes use of two dedicated T-1 lines for the Internet and use of Apple servers to maintain security, safety, and control over the use of each computer. The Academy issues each student an Apple iBook laptop computer at the beginning of the year. Students can move from classroom to classroom and remain connected to the network. Accessing educational materials in this way, as well as sharing such peripherals as printers and multimedia equipment, enables students to achieve new levels of creativity and cooperative effort. Technology has changed home and school communication, has enhanced educational materials and curriculum, and has encouraged innovations in teaching methods.

Contact Information:
IT Director: Ken Johnson
Phone Number: 408-869-8634
Email: kjohnson@saintlawrence.org

TECHNOLOGY IN HOME/SCHOOL COMMUNICATION

Saint Lawrence Academy employs PowerSchool as its school information management system. PowerSchool allows parents to access daily bulletins, monitor their students’ grades and attendance records, and communicate with teachers. Absent students are able to retrieve their assignments before they return to school. By employing technology to improve the accessibility of information, the Academy enables parents, teachers, and students to collaborate more effectively.

INNOVATION IN EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND CURRICULUM

Using online educational materials, teachers are expanding existing curricula and providing valuable, individualized, technology-based activities for every student. Teachers augment their day-to-day classroom activities, provide tailored hands-on assignments for a specific subject area, or design web-based research projects, multimedia authoring and other creative projects.

Our technology initiative has enabled Saint Lawrence Academy to reduce the number of books that families need to purchase. Teachers and students use online resources in every subject taught in our school.

INNOVATIONS IN TEACHING METHODS

Teachers continue to be the most valuable resource to students. Teachers use technology to teach students how to improve such skills as research and taking notes. The voice recorder module enables students to record a lecture while taking notes, a feature that is especially useful in our college preparatory courses for students in the Zacchaeus program. Virtual textbooks have become available in many courses; allowing students all the benefits of a traditional textbook in a digital, visual format. Geometry students have Geometry Sketchpad that allows them to manipulate geometric figures. The electronic flashcards allow students to study their vocabulary words and literary terms.

TECHNOLOGICAL RESOURCES

The following software and services are available for faculty and student use:

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