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Director's Message
This exciting new department unites the members of the original I.T. Department
with a team of "research teachers" from various academic departments
within the school.
Background
In September of 1999, Ridley began an innovative and aggressive information technology initiative known as the TigerFACT (flexible access to computing technology) laptop programme. Since then, extensive faculty inservice and infrastructure investments have been made. Today, students in Middle School (grades 5 to 8) have access to school-owned Apple PowerBooks, and students in the Upper School (grades 9 to 12) use their own Apple laptops in their classes and elsewhere. In addition, all teachers have the use of an Apple laptop and they have access to other emerging technologies on an as needed basis. The College is extensively networked for both wireline and wireless access, and an efficient "HelpDESK" system is in place to handle technical issues.
The Impact of Technology on Teaching and Learning
Full time access to technology and to the Internet encourages teachers and students
to reach beyond the textbook and the classroom into the real world. It gives the
learner the capacity to choose tools to solve much more complex problems than
ever posed in the classroom before. It also gives the students the capacity to
publish their own research on authentic problems in a compelling manner, capable
of motivating action on the part of others outside of the school. In short, the
student as "producer of useful information" is now possible.
Ridley’s New Focus: Teaching & Learning
With a solid infrastructure now in place, we are focusing even more intensely
on what is happening in our classrooms.
The aim of The EDNeT Group is to properly place I.T. into a curricular context
that focuses on the excellence of student output. In this context, I.T. is a core
engine and tool, but relevant and rigorous problems are actually the driving learning
forces.
In order to ensure that this goal is achieved, we provide faculty with a combination
of online, onsite, and offsite professional growth activities. Our focus is on
3 areas of teacher professional growth:
1. Instruction in the use of software tools to help with and enhance the delivery of curriculum and the integration of technology in our classrooms.
2. Instruction in a variety of teaching methodologies to better meet the needs
of those students with different learning styles, and to identify specific opportunities
for the innovative use of technology in our classrooms.
3. Help with writing new curriculum and instruction in the use of curriculum writing
software tools to facilitate and enhance this process.
Steve Clarke, Director
The EDNeT Group
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