Technology Commitment

At ICS, we strive to take all opportunities to integrate technology into our academic curriculum and standards.   Our content-driven applications provide services to our students, our faculty, and our parents / guardians at home.

STUDENTS

K-5 students attend technology class once per week for 50 minutes.  Students use a variety of software packages to fulfill the curriculum set by the Archdiocese of Baltimore.  

In addition, two state of the art laptop carts are available for grades 3 – 8 for use by faculty and students to integrate technology and to enhance subject matter content.Software currently in use in the lab includes, but is not limited to:

• Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel & Publisher
• Adobe Design Suite CS3, including InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and Dreamweaver
• Toolfactory Podcasting
• Kidspiration & Inspiration
• Type to Learn
• KidPix and Pixie
• Windows Movie Maker

The range of topics addressed in the lab includes not only real-world solutions using technology, but also a strong sense of ethics and values regarding the safe-usage of the Internet and adherence to an Acceptable Use Policy.  As a general overview, the following areas are covered during technology class.

• Technology ethics including Internet safety, netiquette & responsible use of technology
• Graphing, bar charts and database management tools
• Storyboarding and audio podcasting
• Global Communications including cultural information sharing with partner school in Europe
• E-mail and Video Communications
• Graphic design including web page design in Microsoft Front Page and newsletter publishing in MS Publisher
• On-line activities including Internet research, web quests, and boolean search techniques
• Slide creation including animation, graphics & audio, followed by oral multi-media presentations
• Technology terminology and understanding of basic network structure

FACULTY

Each faculty member is provided a laptop computer with wireless Internet and network access.   In addition, ceiling mounted wireless projectors are installed in most classrooms so faculty members may provide visual learning opportunities to the students in any subject area.

Faculty members are responsible for maintaining a Sharepoint web-site on which homework, announcements and handouts are posted in a timely manner, eliminating the problem of “forgetting assignment books” or losing papers.Behind the scenes applications are used extensively by faculty members to enhance the thoroughness of our curriculum.  

• Teachers use curriculum mapping software to ensure that lesson plans meet all of the requirements of the Archdiocese, as well as minimizing overlap of subject material as a student progresses from one grade level to another.
• Electronic mail is used for internal and external communications with parents/ guardians and to ensure timely dissemination of information.
• Electronic grading and attendance is used for all lessons and subject areas, which provides instant access available to the parents/guardians as to the progress of each student.

A faculty technology mentor program was initiated in 2008 to ensure that the faculty members have a peer-based resource system to share ideas, brainstorm on how to implement technology and to provide assistance when necessary.

PARENTS / GUARDIANS

Parents of students in Grades 3-8 are provided with web-based, real-time access to their children’s grades via an on-line grading system called PowerSchool.  This allows parents to see EACH grade for any given lesson or subject matter the moment it has been entered into the system.

Parents are encouraged to maintain e-mail contact with the faculty members, who offer a 24-hour response on any e-mail received.   Ease of communication and open dialog are encouraged between school and home.