Approach to Technology
In our tech-obsessed world, we believe our students need to be taught how to put technology into its proper pace in their lives.
There is no denying the ubiquitous place of technology in our lives. But what does it look like to use technology as a tool which serves us rather than becoming servants to it, glued to our devices and missing out on the reality that is right in front of us? At Providence we are purposefully low-tech in the lower school, and then gradually and intentionally incorporate technology in the upper school.
Purposefully
Low-tech
In the lower grades we are purposefully low-tech in the classroom. While it may be popular to offer kids as young as kindergarten a Chromebook or an iPad, we believe the richest learning at these ages comes, not mediated by a screen, but by real people and real experiences in the class. Our learning in the lower school is deeply relational and hands-on as we commit to teaching students to love the endeavor of learning.
Intentional in Introducing Technology
In the upper school we are intentional in are introduction of technology to the classroom. Students in the upper school are given an email and begin to have some assignments that require typed work. As they progress into their high school years, they are taught critical real-world skills: from formatting papers, creating presentations, and ultimately producing a long-form senior thesis via online research and writing.
Equipped for a
Tech-Obsessed World
Ultimately, our desire is that our students be equipped for the world in which they live. That means know how to place limits on technology, something that is harder for each passing generation with its ever-increasing encroachment into our lives. But it also means being equipped to write, work, and learn in a tech-saturated world. We strive to find that balance where technology can be an important tool, but doesn’t get in the way of the richest relationships and learning that can’t be replicated by a screen.
