iPads: Enhancing Curriculum at Stuart

Every student in grades 5-12 brings an iPad to school and Lower School students use iPads available in classroom carts. The iPad technology is integrated into literally every corner of the School at Stuart - and even outside to the turf and stream! Our faculty, in all disciplines, has worked hard to learn new technology and re-think curriculum. Students take full advantage of this powerful tool to keep organized, be creative, do research and to document a moment in time – or many moments over time. The girls use the iPad daily independently, and collaboratively – with their peers and their teachers - and the results are astounding!

As a leader in using technology in education, Stuart's iPad Program began in 2010 as a pilot program with a review of iPad benefits and in 2011 we launched our iPad Program using iPads in ALL grades, Kindergarten through Grade 12. Lower School (K-4) students access iPads through class carts (as they do laptops), and all girls in grades 5-12 use an iPad for one-to-one computing. Stuart's program has become a model program and many other schools visit campus each year to see how we integrate technology into our girls' learning experiences.

iPad Boot Camp

Every student in grades 5-12 must go through an intensive iPad Boot Camp where they learn the operating basics, discuss how to be responsible while using technology, and learn how to use applications such as email, notes and sharing documents through Google Docs. As teachers have integrated use of iPads into their curriculum, girls use this very exciting technology tool every day in nearly every class.

The iPad is a powerful tool

It's one of many emerging technologies available to educators and students at Stuart. Our girls use technology in so many ways – they create videos for their classes (now with their iPads!), they take online courses through the Online School for Girls, and also specially designed courses by Stuart faculty. We use an online math program to individualize instruction to augment classroom work; in Spanish they Skype with professors in Argentina and our Kindergarteners talk with classes all over the world on Twitter through #Kinderchat.

The iPad is also helping Stuart to be a greener campus. We are going as paperless as possible by using online options for communication between teachers and students; Our girls use Google Docs, Dropbox, and Turnitin. In addition, the technology will be used to encourage dialogue between the students as teachers are setting up blogs as a way for students to share ideas amongst themselves.

Rich with Sacred Heart tradition and heritage, Stuart is emerging as a leading innovator in the use of technology in education to equip our young women with the 21st century skills they will need to think globally, lead with innovation and change the world.

High Speed Internet Access Campus-Wide

We have made considerable investment in our school facilities here at Stuart to ensure that faculty and students can take full advantage of the iPads. Our campus has been completely re-wired for upgraded high speed wireless Internet which extends outside the building out to our turf field and down to the stream behind the school for real-time science applications. Considerable resources are allocated to faculty professional development so teachers are able to take full advantage of the technology to advance their curriculum.

Futures Classroom

As an innovative leader in the use of technology in schools, we never stop exploring the latest instructional tools to engage our girls and take advantage of how they learn best. We designed our Futures Classroom with state-of-the art technology, tools and furnishings that promote collaboration and creativity, and help connect our girls to educators, mentors and classrooms around the globe.