By David Kilby|Correspondent

St. Raphael School, Hamilton, and St. Gregory the Great Academy, Hamilton Square, have entered a new generation of learning with touch screen and netbook technologies ‒ providing students with the skills they’ll need for a future that’s drawing closer every day.

St. Raphael School had a recent ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the newly updated technology lab, which now has new computer desks to go with its 34 Dell 23-inch touch screen desktop computers with Windows 8 and Microsoft Office 2013.

“The kids are doing amazing things with (the new lab),” said Remi Cruz, technology director. “They’ll probably teach me a lot. They’re technology literate. We have to keep up.”

Students are learning to create, edit and save documents on the new touch screens, which cost the school a total of $45,000. Cruz said he’s teaching students to download templates online, and in a few months he is expecting to have kindergarten students creating PowerPoint presentations. “This is where children are,” Cruz said. “They’re using technology everyday in their lives. That’s how they socialize, communicate, play games. Most of their attention is taken by technology. It’s a big part of their lives so it just makes sense for schools to offer a learning environment with that.

“Technology allows our teachers to integrate hands on learning into their lesson with greater emphasize on higher level thinking skills and differentiated instructional strategies,” St. Raphael School principal Tim Lynch said.

In St. Gregory the Great Academy, students are enjoying a new learning experience with their new Chromebooks.

Chromebooks are thin, lightweight, and less expensive netbook/notebook computer hybrids that use the Google Chrome operating system. They are ideal for learning and sharing in the classroom, because there’s nothing complicated to learn, they boot up in seconds and have virus protection built in, reads a press release about the new Chromebooks.

“Technology supports learning, allowing students to use the tools they’ll be expected to use in college and their careers,” said Dr. Jason Briggs, principal. “The sooner they get used to mastering these pieces of technology the more prepared they’ll be for high school, college, the workplace and the world.”

Dr. Briggs said the school has also adopted Google applications in classes down to fourth grade, not just for technology class but for other subjects, so that all school assignments can be accessed at home, and anywhere they can access a computer or Google apps capable electronic device. Students will use the Chromebooks for research, homework and emailing teachers to communicate on assignments. Each student has a Google Drive account on the academy’s domain, which they use to create and share documents with their teachers.

The Chromebooks also allow students to use online versions of textbooks. This year the school’s eighthgraders will use their first solely online textbook for social studies. As each textbook series comes up for refreshment, online versions will be purchased.

In addition to the new Chromebooks, preschool through third grade classes have been given five to six iPads each for instructional use in class. As part of a program called the Mobile Unit Learning Technology Initiative, the academy will extend their one-on-one Chromebook initiative down to seventh grade next year, sixth grade the following year, and fifth grade the final year. Grade four students will also receive a cluster of iPads through the initiative.

The Chromebooks are loaned to the students, and if the parents agree to the “home option”, they agree to be responsible for any damage. Each of the 57 students in eighth grade has a Chromebook.

Look, No Keyboard!  -- Students enjoy the new touch screen technology in St. Raphael School. Courtesy photo