Academics

Learning & Technology



Leveraging Technology for Learning

There are so many exciting tools that can improve teaching and learning, and open new avenues of intellectual exploration. In the hands of creative students and teachers, digital tools are fun, effective and an essential resource for anyone who loves to learn.

One Plus One

St. Luke’s is one of few schools to offer a One Plus One program. Students in grades 8-12 use a MacBook Air laptop plus an iPad as complementary learning tools. These devices are becoming the new backpack—lighter, more compact and infinitely powerful.

Digitally equipped students work as many professionals do today—using multiple resources and devices to research, write, collaborate and share. 

Online Learning

Online learning is an extraordinary way to learn and share knowledge. Our goal is to enhance traditional face-to-face curriculum with a spectrum of online options—from web-facilitated to fully online courses.

At every grade level, students experience Web-facilitated courses. 100% of our teachers use some form of digital syllabus, assignments and class management system. These traditional classes offer students opportunities to connect with class material, the teacher and content online while doing the majority of class work in a traditional face-to-face manner.

St. Luke's Blended courses deliver a significant portion of the course online while maintaining traditional face-to-face techniques. Teachers in the Upper and Middle schools are “flipping” specific lessons or entire units of courses using blended learning. Teachers produce online lectures, webinars, and podcasts that students access at their own pace and location. Class time is spent doing—working with the teacher and classmates on collaborative activities that reinforce concept mastery.

St. Luke’s Upper School offers fully-online courses. Most or all of the content is delivered online and the majority of interaction with teachers is also web-based.


Blended Courses Offered

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  • Ethics of Global Citizenship

    This class is a collaborative teaching-learning experiment that explores the question: "What does it mean to be an engaged citizen of the 21st century?" Through inquiry-, place-, and project-based learning, students will explore the ethical and practical connections between economic, social, and ecological issues. Students will be expected to demonstrate initiative, problem-solving skills, and exceptional time management.

  • French I and Spanish I

    These courses begin the three-year sequence required for graduation. Both courses are presented in a blended learning environment, which means that half of the course is done online and half is done face to face in the classroom. In this initial phase, emphasis is on communication. This includes growing a basic vocabulary, understanding sentence structure, and taking risks to express oneself in the target language as much as possible. All four language skills (speaking, aural comprehension, reading, and writing) are developed throughout the year. At the end of the first year, students will be able to ask and answer questions describing themselves, their families, friends, school, and activities while using the past, present, and future tenses. They will be able to have full, meaningful conversations in the target language and will have learned hundreds of words and dozens of grammatical points and structures.

  • Latin Omnibus (I, II, and Honors II)

    Latin Omnibus (“for all”) is designed to cover the material traditionally taught throughout Latin I, II, and Honors II. It is presented over a period of two to three years, depending on the pace of the student. This course is taught in a blended learning environment, which means that part of the course is done online and part is done face-to-face. Students will worth through selfpaced units that shift the classroom variable from time to mastery. Each unit will include language instruction paired with culture, mythology, and history. Students will be required to meet regularly with the teacher for individual meetings and instruction.

  • Mandarin Chinese I

    This course is presented in a blended learning environment, which means that half of the course is done online and half is done face to face in the classroom. From the beginning of this course, students will learn basic conversations in Mandarin Chinese. They will study greetings, introducing themselves, asking questions, counting, and talking about family, pets, food, drink and sports. Besides conversations, students will spend a month learning Pinyin (a phonetic system that uses Latin letters), so that they can pronounce new words accurately. Students learn Chinese through simplified characters because these are used in mainland China. In the first year, the students will learn how to read about 200 characters. Students will practice writing Chinese every day after the first month.

Online Courses Offered

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  • Foundations of Computer Science

    This course provides an introduction to the field of computer science through a broad exploration of several topics that are fundamental to the field. Rather than focusing the entire course on learning particular software tools or programming languages, this course focuses on the conceptual ideas of computing as they relate to various problems. The goal is to expose students to common computational practices, such as algorithm development, problem solving, and programming within the context of problems that are relevant to them today. Topics include: computer history, basic hardware, programming with Scratch, JavaScript and Python, the Internet, web design with HTML & CSS, societal and ethical issues in computing, the future of computing, and technology in the news.

  • Music History & Literature

    The course is a study of individual works selected from and representative of the musical traditions of the Western world. Students will study the development of musical styles and literatures from antiquity to the present day with emphasis on the parallels and influences of art, architecture, literature, and theatre on musical art. In addition, the adaptation and influences of non-Western traditions and styles on Western art music will be considered. Students will also discuss the foundations of music from different disciplinary perspectives.

    Note: This course may not be offered every year, based on enrollment.

  • World Language Learning Online (WLLO) - Latin, Spanish I, French I

    Upper School students who are self-motivated, manage time well, and have shown prior success in standard World Language classes may choose to participate in the World Language Learning Online (WLLO). The WLLO allows for students to begin regular study of a new world language class at level II upon successful completion of the program, which in itself covers the material of a level I course.

    The WLLO is a primarily online experience in which students complete all of the material typically covered in either French I, Latin I, Mandarin I, or Spanish I. Students work at their own pace, on their own time. They may work over the summer, during the school year, or a combination of both. The WLLO is assessed as pass/fail, with a passing grade starting at 80%.

    In addition to the online program, students are expected to meet regularly with a sponsoring teacher from the SLS World Language Department for assessments and support.

    Prerequisite: recommendations of the Upper School World Language Department Chair and Director of Studies

    Note: There is an additional fee for the WLLO experience.

Chromebooks

Students in grades 5-7 receive a Chromebook laptop. Chromebooks are a great way to introduce younger students to school-related devices and applications. These are simple to use, yet offer students and teachers access to thousands of education applications. Students begin by leaving their Chromebooks at school overnight, but work their way up to taking devices home—a big responsibility that's earned through experience and digital citizenship training.


Digital Citizenship

Digital Citizenship centers on identifying and fostering appropriate uses of technology. Our children were born digital natives, but should be taught to be safe, responsible digital citizens. Digital Citizenship curriculum is based on the 9 elements of digital citizenship from the International Society for Technology in Education or ISTE. It provides students with the essentials needed to make ethical and informed decisions about the powerful technological tools at their disposal.


Meet the IT Team

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St. Luke’s School is a secular private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving 25 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.