Technology Education at Pierrepont School
Technology education at Pierrepont School begins in fourth grade and continues through grade eight. All classrooms are equipped with internet-accessible Macintosh computers. We have one computer lab containing thirty Macs, a scanner, a laser printer, a color printer, three digital video cameras, and three digital still cameras. In addition we have 85 portable iBooks which have wireless internet access and are brought to classrooms upon request. Formal computer science education begins in fourth grade with keyboarding instruction. Keyboarding is reinforced and continues in fifth grade. Also in fifth grade, students learn to plan and assemble a basic multimedia presentation document. Sixth graders learn word processing, basic spreadsheet , and database skills, drawing and painting, and beginning presentation creation through a course given one period a day for one marking period. Seventh graders, following the same one marking period schedule, receive instruction in intermediate computer applications including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and the paint and draw programs. Seventh graders also learn how to create multimedia presentations using the Keynote application. In grade eight, students learn the more advanced features of databases. Ultimately, they are guided to integrate word processing, spreadsheet, drawing, painting and database skills. At this time they also learn more advanced features of the Keynote presentation software. Eighth graders will also learn to use digital video cameras and iMovie to plan, film, and edit a short movie. Internet access is available as a resource in every classroom, the media center, and the computer lab. The computer lab is open Monday through Thursday after school from 3:00-3:45, Monday through Friday before school from 7:30-8:00, and during 5th period (lunch) for student use.