Computer technology has become an integral part of The New Community School, with keyboarding and computer applications classes being taught to students of all ages. Here, we view technology as a vital tool that leads to success for students with specific language learning differences. Students become more independent as they learn to use graphing calculators and word processing software proficiently. With the ability to revise their work easily, they are more willing to use the writing process and the final product is more visually appealing. This increases their chances for success in college and later in the workplace.
Technology available to students includes:
- Two computer labs
- Computers with Internet access in every classroom
- Alphasmarts (small portable keyboards primarily for note taking)
- Graphing calculators
- Scanners
- Darkroom for photography
- Kurzweil reader (text-to-voice reading software)
- College Board tape players (special tape players that can be used for oral administration of college board tests)
- Franklin Spellers (handheld devices that serve as dictionary, thesaurus and/or spelling checker)