Tech & Digital Literacy

At Old Orchard, technology is a deliberate and intentional tool in the classroom.  Students use class technology in specific, guided ways that enrich their learning experience.  As a school, we use a combination of iPads and Google suite for student learning and creativity. 

All students at the Lower School take regular technology classes where they learn to think creatively, reason systematically, work collaboratively, and stay persistent in the face of difficulty. Beginning in Kindergarten, students take a weekly technology class that allows them to explore programming, computational concepts, and engineering design.  As part of our curriculum, students learn about responsibility and safety online through Common Sense Media Digital Citizenship, which begins in Grade 4 and carries through to the Middles School.

In addition to the classes, students in grades 3-5 use iPads in the classroom to research, write, and create: students make videos, research for and create presentations, write stories, and explore the world outside their classrooms.  Since first piloting the program in 2014, students in grades 3-5 have assigned their own iPads for use in all subjects. 

As part of their growing independence, students at the Upper School bring their own iPads.  Students still use their school Google accounts and continue to develop their technology skills.  In addition to writing and researching on their iPads, students can choose to take technology-related enrichment classes, including Stop Motion Animation, Website Design, Video, and more.