Nichols School views technology as an effective and indispensable tool, capable of enhancing the communicative ability and the productive capacity of our students, staff and parents. Nichols wishes to assure all members of its learning community the opportunity to exchange information and ideas effectively. By providing our community with the appropriate tools, resources and support, we are preparing them for the technologically rich world in which they live.
Curriculum Integration
The use of appropriate technology tools enhances the education of a Nichols student, and enriches the middle and high school curricula. Nichols' goal is to graduate students prepared to operate in a global community: comfortable within various technological environments, equipped with vital productivity skills, and able to access, assess, synthesize, and present information retrieved through technological means. A Nichols student will be able to confidently control technology and use it as a tool to accomplish his or her goals.
Nichols believes that technological skills should be acquired within the context of an academic project or lesson, complementing, rather than supplanting a teacher's curriculum. Necessary computer skills are therefore integrated into the curricula of all subject areas. In graduated steps, middle schoolers are taught to locate and evaluate information from a variety of media formats in order to meet educational, recreational, and personal needs.
As students move through the Upper School, proficiency with information/technology grows as students draw on library and Internet sources for research and homework assignments, use multimedia formats for the presentation of their ideas, and explore many other tools within their classrooms. The end result: as adult learners, they can organize material from multiple sources, creatively present information utilizing appropriate formats, read for information, problem-solving and enjoyment, and be empowered to demonstrate critical thinking and learning strategies in our society.
Resources include:
- A state of the art fiber optic network and high-speed Internet access
- An email account for all faculty and students
- Five PC computer labs, and one Macintosh Arts/Digital Media lab
- Over 120 PC computers in both Libraries, Upper School common areas, and Middle School classrooms
- A faculty laptop program that allows teachers to share innovative, technology-rich lessons with their classes
- Seven SMART Boards and digital projectors
- Access to a wealth of digital information services and research tools