About the Program

In 2006, The Blake School provided teachers with laptops. We spent considerable time listening to teachers' needs and wishes regarding better access to learning tools (software and information) for students. That same year, a technology committee composed of faculty, parents, alumni, and administrators conducted a feasibility study for 1:1 laptops at the upper school.

In 2008, we began a 1:1 laptop pilot with select Upper School courses. The response from the teachers and students to eliminating trips to computer labs and providing great software tools and access the internet on demand provided a mandate to grow from a pilot to a full-fledged program.

In 2010, we expanded the pilot to Blake’s first comprehensive 1:1 laptop program at the upper school. Fore more than a decade, Blake has developed the program to:

• ensure access in both middle and upper school
• provide equitable and ubiquitous access to information communication technologies with identical hardware and software tools
• enable teachers to facilitate instruction, craft curriculum, and design effective learning experiences
• help students engage in making good decisions about the interactions that they have online
• facilitate project-based learning that requires research, collaboration, and multimodal communication
• encourage personalized student learning
• increase student motivation and engagement in learning
• assist with student organizational skills
• provide assistive technologies for learning, when applicable; and
• improve the quality of student work.

In 2014, with the enthusiastic support of the Board of Trustees, we expanded the mobile device program for students in grades 7-12, as part of our ongoing efforts to create meaningful, connected learning opportunities for students and faculty. In 2018, we expanded the mobile device program for students in grades 6-12.

The program heightens the quality of teaching and learning at Blake. The faculty are provided opportunities to use educational technology according to best practices. Students have access to a wide range of digital tools that enhance and expand their learning. Families have opportunities to partner with the school in educating our students to be responsible digital citizens both in and out of the classroom. A concerted effort by the departments of Counseling, ISS, and Divisional teams have designed a digital citizenship curriculum to support students and families.

We recognize the unique opportunities that a mobile device program affords our teaching and learning community. Our program is significantly enhanced by equitable access to digital tools designed to enhance learning.