NEW PATHWAYS TO LEARNING

The York Catholic District School Board’s Technology Plan identifies St. Augustine Catholic High School as an eLearning School . Accordingly, information technology will be used in the school curriculum to support and improve learning, and better prepare our students for the future. Current studies have demonstrated that improved learning is achieved when the technology is accessible, flexible, responsive, and integrated thoroughly into all school programs

A key component of the eLearning approach is the implementation of a Laptop Learning Program that is available to all Grade 9 students on a voluntary basis. This program enables students to use their laptop computer, various curriculum specific software application programs and the Internet to enhance and expand the study of their compulsory courses .

Students graduating from St. Augustine Catholic High School will be expected to achieve essential Catholic graduation outcomes; this includes the integration of our Catholic faith tradition in the application of technology and information systems to enhance the quality of life.

CONNECTED LEARNING COMMUNITY

Connections within the school setting, will provide students the opportunity to:

• Work on a report with a classmate.
• Team with a student in another school to complete a project.
• E-mail a homework assignment to their teacher.

Connections between schools and homes will enable parents to:

• Obtain homework assignments on a school/teacher web-site.
• Maintain regular contact with the school via e-mail.
• Download assign-ments from the website for students who are at home.

Connections between schools and the larger community – will assist students, teachers and learners of all ages to:

• Take a virtual field trip to a faraway place.
• Stay in touch with family and friends, or communicate with a scientist at a university across the country via e-mail.
• Access a wealth of information on topics and issues of special interest.

PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE

Current research dealing with the application of technology to meet educational needs has demonstrated that:

• Laptop programs extend learning, and generally lead to increased productivity.
• Increased computer use results in more proficient students, who produce a higher quality and professionally looking product.
• Laptop learning fosters teamwork and collaboration among students, promotes routine exchange of ideas and allows students to learn from each other.
• Laptop learning increases access to expanding global resources, and helps students expand and hone their research and analysis capabilities.
• Laptop learning can be applied to draw the connection between schoolwork and career expectations.
• Laptop learning is an anywhere, anytime activity, and accordingly enables learning to occur on a continuous basis.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Our goal is to build a virtual Catholic community for learning with our Partners to provide real world experiences for St Augustine laptop learning students.

Our current community Partners are:

We gratefully acknowledge their contribution to, and participation in building the St. Augustine School community.