Technology

Notre Dame's technology and STEM offerings are aimed at helping students gain knowledge for completing school assignments with ease as well as developing essential skills for life in the 21st century. Our blended academic learning approach is a combination of in-person traditional instruction and independent work using the latest digital technology. This technology is required to be integrated throughout each course of study from Mathematics to Religion and covers a variety of lessons including Research and Information Fluency, Digital Citizenship, Creativity and Innovation, Communication and Collaboration. All of these units are taught and influenced by the lens of Catholic identity and the dignity of all humankind.

 

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

 

Advanced technology devices are provided to ALL of our students Pre-K through 8th grade.  Every classroom is equipped with an interactive Promethean white board, document camera, computer stations and printers, Google ipads, and Chromebooks.  We routinely use technology to help with individualized instruction for each student utilizing programs such as Reading A-Z, Head Sprout, Happy Numbers and Dream Box.  In addition, our school conducts NWEA MAP Growth on-line testing, to measure individualized academic growth three times a year. This resulting data then becomes a transformational teaching tool for our faculty so they may plan and adjust a student's specific instruction as needed.  Teachers also operate Google Classroom and multi-platform programs like BrainPop to communicate with students on assignments and activities where students have an opportunity to collaborate, create, communicate and become critical thinkers.

 

promethean board in history class

 

TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM

 

Our Notre Dame technology curriculum begins in the primary grades with focus on basics like learning to use a computer mouse, keyboarding, and learning how to safely navigate the Internet. Technology is not seen as a separate subject to be taught in isolation, but rather a tool embedded in the process of learning in all subject areas. Our educators are responsible for teaching TEKS to their prospective grade level and for planning units of study where technology enhances output and higher-level thinking occurs. Challenging lessons are planned that integrate and optimize technology moving away from teacher-directed to more independent student-directed learning.  

 

2020 Robotics students