1-1 Technology Devices
Students in grades K-2 are provided with iPads in the classroom and use devices in many ways such as using Osmo tangrams during a math lesson to record and illustrate stories through Kodable.
Students in grades 3 through 8 each receive a Chromebook for the school year. Beginning in third grade students use the Keyboarding Without Tears program (an extension of the Handwriting Without Tears program). CDS uses G Suite for Education for cloud collaboration and Schoology Learning Management for assignments.
Engineering is Elementary
In the Lower School, students use Engineering is Elementary (EiE) kits from the Boston Museum of Science while using the Engineer Design Process (Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Improve). This inquiry-based STEAM program teaches children how to collaborate, think critically and creatively, and communicate with one another to problem solve in small groups. Each unit also focuses on building engaged citizenship by focusing on energy and the environment.
Topics of discovery include:
- The Best of Bugs: Designing Hand Pollinators
- A Work in Progress: Improving a Play Dough Process
- Water, Water Everywhere: Designing Water Filters
- Catching the Wind: Designing Windmills
- Marvelous Machines: Making Work Easier
Robotics is a field that, much like many areas of technology, is growing at an exponential pace. Students in grades 4-8 will be introduced to the concept of robotics including history, design, building, programming, and implementation. Additionally, we will engage in discussions related to the application, development, and social implications of robots as they become more prevalent in our world. Students will work both independently and collaboratively throughout the duration of the course as we journey through the landscape of robotics. During this course, students will:
- Explore the broad scope of robotics applications
- Establish a working vocabulary of specific terms related to robotics
- Learn the basic building blocks of robots
- Design robots for specific tasks and scenarios
- Apply and develop basic programming strategies
- Design, develop, and test complete robotic activities and challenges
- Develop students’ abilities to work in collaborative groups and teams
In addition to elective and co-curricular classes, students in the Middle & Upper Schools frequently create movies beginning with storyboards and scriptwriting to filming with green screen and special effects and editing the final product. These productions serve as a vehicle to demonstrate content comprehension, integrate technology across the curriculum, and spurs responsibility through teamwork and creativity.
