At ISW, we aspire to the best educational technology our world has to offer. We embrace technologies that lead us back to one another and that enhance our growth as human beings within a community. Educational technology should capitalize on what is best in the classroom. We introduce it with careful planning and research.
Our youngest students devote themselves to hands-on, nature-oriented, experiential learning. Students of this age need to move and explore the real world rather than the virtual world of screens. We very deliberately employ a “no screens” policy in our elementary classrooms because the needs of young developing humans have not changed in thousands of years. At ISW, we protect childhood!
Formal technology instruction begins in the 5th grade, where it is gradually integrated into the classroom. Tomorrow’s adults need confidence using technology as a practical tool as well as wisdom about its place in modern life. We assist ISW students in developing both. Middle and High School students bring their own laptops to school and use them daily. Students regularly use the full Google Suite, build their own websites, and create presentations using a wide variety of platforms.
ISW faculty are engaging in a multi-year examination of Artificial Intelligence. As we await solid research on best practices and the effectiveness of educational AI, we continue to focus on building strong academic skills that will prepare our students for success in college and beyond.
Following the research of Jonathan Haidt and others, ISW requires students to turn off and turn in their phones and smart watches at the start of each school day. Students and parents frequently tell us that they appreciate this policy as students are better able to focus on classroom tasks and on building social skills.
