Ranney has long been at the forefront of educational technologies allowing students and faculty to connect, collaborate and communicate. In fact, since 1989, Ranney School has been preparing students for the future with the introduction of the school’s first technology lab equipped with Apple IIe computers. Fast forward into a new century—today, with the 1:1 laptop initiative, iMac computer labs, multiple laptop carts, faculty laptops, interactive whiteboard technology and campus-wide wireless connectivity, Ranney students are now utilizing technology to enhance, extend and accelerate the learning process.

Universal access to technology and digital learning tools define 21st century connectivity at Ranney School. Technology should be as ubiquitous in the classroom as Edison’s light bulb is today. When technology supports, inspires, and enriches a student’s learning capabilities, the distinction between technology and learning disappears. At Ranney School, technology reaches all learning opportunities, not just for classroom experiences, but well beyond.

Serving all students and teachers in the Middle and Upper School, The Paulus Library supports the integration of technology in all curricular areas. The library maintains an extensive collection of resources that are available 24/7 for student and faculty use, including an online materials catalog, more than 65 subscription research databases, a comprehensive digital reference library of more than 1,000 e-Books, as well as links to quality web search tools. The Paulus Library’s online collection also includes an interactive digital library of resources that provides students with instant access to instructional support and research guides, as well as links to free digital tools to assist students in creating multimedia projects and interactive digital portfolios. Alongside traditional print materials, technology passes through the circulation desk on a daily basis—from NOOK e-Readers loaded with the latest bestsellers, to digital cameras, tripods, video cameras, flash drives, and other hardware that enables Ranney students to express their creativity while honing critical digital literacy skills.

In addition to Ranney’s state-of-the-art Distance Learning Center (DLC), the Paulus Library’s new Technology and Media Center enables students to develop digital media skills through access to the same graphics, video, and audio software used by working professionals in creative fields. The Technology and Media Center also includes interactive whiteboard technology, transforming classroom discussions into interactive learning experiences. As with the DLC, the Technology and Media Center provides additional opportunities for extending the learning experience through technology. Using a digital camera and videoconferencing software, students can communicate and collaborate with professionals, experts, and other students worldwide.

Ranney School’s overarching technology objective is to create a uniform learning environment for students and teachers, providing equitable and continuous access to current and emerging digital tools that will empower students to master essential skills and literacies. At Ranney School, we recognize the need for developmentally appropriate technologies to fully empower learning and accelerate student creativity and potential:

• In the Upper and Middle schools, the 1:1 laptop initiative partnered with Google Docs for Education expands students’ learning beyond the classroom. Students and teachers can now communicate, and collaborate in real time using Google’s free online suite of productivity tools to create and share documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and interactive forms both on and off campus.

• In the Lower School, younger learners respond to intuitive spatial and tactile devices. Tablet computers, iMacs, iPads, iTouches, Flip cameras, and interactive whiteboard technology are widely utilized in classrooms, the Searle Library, and throughout programs and activities in every subject.

Because of the abundance of technological resources and the possibilities of future technologies, Ranney School believes that there is no end point of technological integration within the learning environment. With this in mind, Ranney School is committed to continued and enhanced professional development for both faculty and administrators.

Because the Internet is an essential educational tool and is also used in student homes, Ranney School stresses the importance of Internet safety by engaging students and parents in educational sessions throughout the year, focusing on the appropriate use of the Intranet. Representatives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, police and specialists in the field are often asked to present to our students, parents and faculty. We also employ content-filtering software to ensure that only appropriate educational-rich content reaches our students.