Technology
Technology courses are essential to every Catholic school curriculum. In fact, technology is required to be integrated throughout each course of study from Mathematics to Religion. The use of technology in the 21st century is integral to preparing students for college and career success. Technology courses in Catholic schools cover 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.
1:1 Initiative
All students grades K-8 at St. Francis have personal Chromebooks to use in every class. They can access digital textbooks, use a multitude of research tools, and work with apps for studying, creating videos, and communication in multiple forms.
Technology in the Primary Grades
All classrooms have an electronic display — a projector, a Smartboard, a wide-screen TV, or a combination of these tools — for the enhancement of lessons in all subject areas. In the primary classes, Chromebooks are used for online learning through various web tools and supplemental resources.
3D Printing
In addition to the core technology integrated curriculum, 3D printing has been added as an activity to enhance instruction throughout many of the schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
On May 5, 2015, Archbishop William E. Lori held a press conference to announce an exciting new initiative that makes a 3D printer available in every Archdiocesan school. The initiative was made possible due to support from the Embracing Our Mission ~ Shaping Our Future capital campaign, a generous donation by Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Croteau, and our technology and curriculum partners, 3D Systems and STEAMTrax.
3D printing is considered a “game-changer” for schools, as they provide children with unparalleled access to innovative technology used by engineers, astronauts on the International Space Station, and medical professionals and scientists.
St. Francis of Assisi School students will have access to this same technology and a curriculum that allows our students to become more ready every day for future discoveries and advances we have yet envisioned. Students in Middle School Design classes have used the 3-d printers as part of several projects as part of the International Baccalaureate program.
St. Francis also has after-school STEM Clubs for grades 4-8. Students work with hands-on STEM materials to solve real-life challenges. Older students explore the design and programming of robots using Legos and other tools. The STEM club was a previous grant recipient from the Knott Foundation.