At CFS, technology-based tools are readily available to all members of the community:

• A laptop computer is assigned to each student
• All cottage rooms are connected to the CFS network and the Internet via high-speed connections
• Every classroom is equipped with a network port for each student
• Each teacher has a laptop workstation with CD/DVD capability
• All classrooms are outfitted with state-of-the-art video projection equipment
• Access to specialized equipment such as scanners, digital cameras (still & video) and multimedia workstation is available through the Technology Center
• All members of the CFS community have personal email accounts for communication of schedules, homework and daily activities

Providing such resources is a priority at CFS. At the same time, we believe that technology is a valuable tool for learning, but not an end in itself. Making these technology-based tools available to our students is not enough; we must enable them to develop the skills to use these tools wisely.

Today’s students are exposed to multiple and frequently competing information sources long before they begin school. The immediacy of these complex and graphic images, accompanied by an often overwhelming number of facts, has made much of “traditional” education pale in comparison.

This reality drives the technology effort at CFS in two important ways:

1. Technology must be used as a tool to support overall educational objectives. It is not the driver, rather, an integrated part of instructional goals, curriculum development, and overall objectives for student performance.

2. Students must take responsibility for their learning. Successful learners are ACTIVE - taking an active approach to information and concepts - challenging, validating, and understanding their ramifications. Laptops and other technology tools provide students direct access to resources that are essential to learning. The days of students passively absorbing information as teachers lecture are over. At CFS, we are transforming our curriculum to incorporate in an active learning approach. It is not enough to hear it and remember enough to pass the test. Instead, in each subject area, a student must demonstrate his ability to:

• Understand the information and concepts.
• Critically assess the logic, accuracy and impact of such information.
• Integrate this learning into his existing knowledge base.
• Communicate this knowlege to others.

Under this approach, learning is a responsibility shared among teachers and students. At CFS, we view technology as both the motivation and the means for such achievement. Today’s students embrace new technology. As a school, we are committed to help them develop the skills to use it and their own skills to the utmost. We invite you to come to an open house to see the technology resources available to our students.