Technology at Cooke

Curriculum Overview

The Cooke School technology program promotes Cooke’s mission to foster independence by providing students with the technological tools and training they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world. By developing technological skills, students are better able to engage in their communities as confident responsible citizens.

At all sites, technology is offered a standalone class in which students participate at least once a week. Technology is also integrated into content area classes as well as community and vocational training, which allows students to apply and extend technological skills in the context of academic and life skills instruction.

The technology curriculum will strengthen the skills students need for school, work and their personal lives. Students will demonstrate a clear understanding of technology systems and operations and practice safe, legal and ethical behavior. Further, students will use technology within all content areas and workplaces to collaborate, communicate, generate innovative ideas, investigate and solve problems.

Technology by Site

Cooke Lower and Middle School

There is a two year curriculum for the lower school and three year curriculum for the middle school. For the lower school, the focus is on digital citizenship and appropriate digital interactions. This includes the proper handling and care of digital devices such as iPads, Chromebooks and desktops.

For the middle school, each month there is generally a different focus for technology classes, determined by the classroom needs.

Areas of focus:

  • Computer basics
  • Device and internet safety
  • Password management
  • Keyboarding basics 
  • Program and app creation
  • Unplugged activities

Cooke Upper School

Lowerclassmen take tech as a stand alone class once a week in the technology lab. Lowerclassmen learn technology needed for school, home and the community, through spiraled units and activities.

Upperclassman have tech integrated into one of their content level classes, once a week in their classrooms. Upperclassmen continue to learn tech needed for school, home and the community, through spiraled units and activities, designed by the technology teacher and the content teachers. Upperclassmen also apply skills learned as lowerclassmen into larger technology based content end of unit projects.

Areas of focus:

  • Appropriate technology usage
  • Internet use
  • Computer basics
  • Internet safety
  • Keyboarding
  • Email
  • Digital portfolios
  • Video editing
  • GSuite for Education
  • Animation/Coding
  • Word processing in Google Docs
  • Blogs/Websites
  • Presentations with Google Slides
  • Presentation and creation websites

Cooke Transitions (18-21 year olds)

Technology classes are project based lessons developed by Technology teacher and content area teachers. Once at Skills, students create and maintain their own personal Gmail email account. Students also create resumes, use technology to provide location information, and practice using social media appropriately.

At SKILLS, students develop and maintain digital portfolios to carry with them when they leave.

Areas of focus:

  • Appropriate technology usage
  • Internet use
  • Computer basics
  • Internet safety
  • Keyboarding
  • Email
  • Digital portfolios
  • Video editing
  • GSuite for Education
  • Animation/Coding
  • Word processing in Google Docs
  • Blogs/Websites
  • Presentations with Google Slides
  • Presentation and creation websites