EDUCATION MATTERS—SANFORD SCHOOL'S PRIVATE SCHOOL BLOG

Macs…PCs…Chromebooks…iPads…tablets. Which of these devices is the best technology option for your child?

The answer to that question depends on several factors including:

• Your child’s needs
• Your child’s interests
• Your budget

Digital citizenship is a way to teach students how to use technology responsibly and respectfully—and it’s an important aspect of developing good character in our students. Because using digital media is a part of our everyday lives, we teach them how to manage their school Gmail accounts and Google Apps for Education for their learning. We also talk with them about how to manage themselves online, especially when using social media.

As educators, we think a lot about social media and how to use it effectively and responsibly. We work with our students to make sure they know how important it is for them, too. The guidelines our school uses for our own posts are designed to create a positive atmosphere online. We teach appropriate technology use to develop good digital citizens.

As in many industries, trends in education come and go—sometimes quickly. Each trend often comes with its own acronyms or new educational buzzwords to describe specific types of teaching and learning. This can be overwhelming to parents who are trying to evaluate school options for their children. Sanford School’s faculty members have devised a “cheat sheet” incorporating their own observations to help you work your way through the current lingo.

Higher-Order Thinking Skills:

Higher-order thinking skills include critical, creative, logical, metacognitive, and reflective thinking skills that allow students to learn, improve their learning, and prepare them for the future. Teachers model these skills in lessons in order for students to construct these skills necessary for success. Some teaching models are Bloom's Taxonomy and Marzano's Dimensions of Learning.  

“I try to get students to use their higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) every class period. Be it a lab, research, 3-D design, or printing, I always answer a question with a question. What do you think? Tell me what you know. Why won't I tell you the answer? If a student is truly lost, I will ask guided questions to lead them to the answer they want.”

Makerspace

A makerspace is a learning space with the tools, equipment, and space for creative, collaborative teaching. Tools can be a mix of high tech (3D printers, laser printers) to low tech (LEGO bricks, recycled materials). It provides students a place to brainstorm, try, fail, and problem solve. Lessons are typically project- or problem-based and include the following stages of the design process: Ask, Imagine, Design, Build, Evaluate, and Refine.

“Complete creativity should be encouraged without the stress/pressure of a grade.”

As in many industries, trends in education come and go—sometimes quickly. Each trend often comes with its own acronyms or new terms to describe specific types of teaching and learning. This can be overwhelming to parents who are trying to evaluate school options for their children. Sanford School’s faculty members have devised a “cheat sheet” incorporating their own observations to help you work your way through the current lingo.

The term “liberal arts" is used a lot but often misunderstood. STEM, an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, is the latest buzz word in education. To hear people talk about these two concepts, they seem at odds with one another. But are they really?

Liberal arts is a shortened version of liberal arts and sciences. It refers to a philosophy of education embraced by many American colleges and universities. A key point here is that the sciences are an important part of a liberal arts education. For example, a biology major in a liberal arts program will devote about one-third of his or her overall college curriculum to biology. The other two-thirds, spread over a wide range of disciplines, offers educational breadth and is the hallmark of a liberal arts education.