Technology
At RPCS, the merger of our timeless curriculum with the latest tablet technology has produced an optimal learning experience for our students.
T.O.O.L. Technology: Own Our Learning
Our Tablet PC Program has had as its objective since its inception to employ technology as a tool that empowers students as singular thinkers and innovative problem-solvers. The students themselves are in the driver’s seat, navigating their coursework with the aid of the state of the art technology, which is ubiquitous on our Wi-Fi campus.
Our vision is that technology be seamlessly and appropriately integrated into the curriculum. Teachers receive regular training in how best to attain course goals and communicate with parents using their Tablet PCs. Teachers maintain interactive course websites and employ course-specific software. Most significant is the ease with which information is transferred as a result of teachers and students using compatible (in most cases identically equipped) Tablet PCs.
Our Legacy Tablet PC Program distinguishes Roland Park Country School as a leader in in the effective application of educational technology.
Lower School
RPCS is regarded as a leader in its integration of technology in the Lower School curriculum. Students in the RPCS Lower School are first introduced to the computer as a learning tool in Preschool. Throughout their Lower School experience, students have access to the numerous networked computers in the classroom, library, and computer center.
At the Lower School level, the classroom curriculum in all subjects is integrated with technology in new and innovative ways, developed by RPCS teachers in conjunction with the Lower School's computer skills specialist. We believe these uses of technology in the curriculum encourage the development of students' creative and analytical skills as it builds their confidence and increases their understanding of the larger world.
Middle School
At RPCS, technology instruction is completely integrated into the Middle School curriculum. Based on the adage, "If you don't use it, you lose it," we teach technology skills in the context of CORE course assignments and projects.For example: how to create a PowerPoint presentation is learned in the context of preparing a Spanish oral report; the fundamentals of electronic spreadsheets are taught in the context of data analysis in Math class; and word processing formatting techniques are integrated into the writing program. At the beginning of the year, students take a Technology Assessment, which the Resource teacher uses to identify essential skill training needed by an entire class, as well as specific skills that an individual student may need to be taught to "catch up" to her peers. The Technology Resource teacher then works closely with the CORE teachers to ensure that the girls learn the technology fundamentals needed to progress through more advanced techniques, and to expose the girls to the more sophisticated software tools available. The Technology Resource teacher also serves as a faculty trainer and an individual student technology "tutor."
Upper School Technology
RPCS has long recognized the importance of technology as an essential life-long learning skill for its students. We realize that our graduates will need to be familiar with technology so that it is a normal part of their operating and problem solving activities.
We fully integrate the learning of these skills into the content of our Upper School courses, providing broad, relevant and continuous experiences. The girls' familiarity and confidence with technology grows from constant use - in English and foreign languages, mathematics, sciences, history and even in graphic design for art. The integration of technology in the Upper School curriculum builds upon the foundation laid in the Lower and Middle Schools. By the 9th grade, students are competent in analytical Internet research, the use of word processing, electronic spreadsheets and presentation software, as well as a variety of subject-specific software. The Upper School faculty incorporates advanced technology into their curriculum to acquire, organize and analyze information, manipulate and interpret data and communicate insights. In so doing, students become conversant with technology at a highly sophisticated and intuitive level.