The Ellis School

Academics

Technology

The Power of Hands-On Technology

At The Ellis School, we believe in learning by doing. Ellis faculty are committed to preparing girls to succeed in a complex and ever-changing world. Mobile technology broadens learning beyond the walls of the classroom and into the global community. Our goal is to ensure that students learn to use technology ethically and responsibly while taking advantage of all the benefits of a 21st century education.

Lower School

Our Lower School kindergarten–grade 4 classrooms are true 1:1 device environments that empower students to become creators of their own content and begin building their digital portfolios from a young age.
Each student has their own iPad to use for the entire school year, allowing them the freedom to achieve, create, design, explore, learn, and research more than they ever could when sharing devices. iPads are meant to be single-user machines, so sharing them presents challenges and limitations that Ellis Lower School students will not endure.

Flipped classrooms equipped with Apple TVs enable students to present and share their work easily with their teachers and peers. Google Drive accounts allow for easy, cloud-based file storage and sharing, as well as portfolio-building. Weekly technology class lessons focus on coding, computer languages, CAD software, podcasting, creating digital presentations, keyboarding, and word-processing development.

Middle School

In Middle School, girls build on the foundational technology skills that they learned in Lower School. As a part of our 1:1 device program, each student is equipped with a Chromebook to use throughout their school day, while students in grade 8 have the privilege of taking the devices home.
Grade 5 students take a required, year-long course called Creative Programming. Here, they learn the fundamentals of computer programming language using Scratch software. In grade 6, students take Creative Programming II & Robotics, also a required, year-long course, where they build on their programming knowledge by exploring how to design robots with Hummingbird Robotics kits and writing programs to operate them. Grade 7 and 8 students enroll in a variety of technology-focused electives including iOS Apps By Design, Mobile Robotics, Maker Shop, and Introduction to Podcasting. Grade 8 students also delve deeper into multimedia design and editing in digital arts courses.

Upper School

The Upper School operates on a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) model; however, Lenovo ThinkPad laptops are available to students who choose to opt out of the BYOD model. This structure supports students by granting them the freedom to decide which option is the best for them.
All grade 9 students are required to take Digital Studio, where they learn and develop habits of positive digital citizenship, acquire an understanding of digital and visual literacy, and become proficient in using digital imaging software programs. Regular practice in Adobe Creative Cloud programs broaden students’ digital skill sets and enable them to use design principles and elements to create powerful visual and audio projects that strengthen their digital portfolios.

Adobe Creative Cloud licenses are issued to each Upper School student, offering them full access to a comprehensive and robust array of software design programs including Illustrator, PhotoShop, and Premiere, to name a few. The Creative Cloud Suite is used extensively in our Integrated Studies program, Advanced Photography, Digital Video, and a variety of arts courses and other electives. Computer science electives in the Upper School include Introduction to Computer Science, Computer Science II, and AP Computer Science Principles.

Tech Spaces

List of 3 items.

  • Digital Recording Studio

    Our newest learning space provides students of all divisions with a place to record professional-quality audio and video for their class projects. Our studio is set up with high-grade film equipment including video cameras, studio lighting, green and blue screens, XLR microphones, iMac computers, and soundproofing boards. The recording studio is a reliable space on campus where our students’ voices can shine. This is also where our Tiger News Podcasts are headquartered.

  • Middle School Technology Lab

    A Lenovo ThinkPad laptop cart and mobile chairs and desks provide Middle School classes with the space and flexibility they need to challenge themselves through the exploration of robotics, computer programming, circuitry, and other engineering and prototyping technologies in a project-based environment.

  • Digital Media Lab

    A technology lab equipped with a classroom set of Apple iMac desktops and Wacom interactive tablets promotes the exploration and understanding of innovative software programs and digital fabrication technologies. The Digital Media Lab is home to a variety of Middle and Upper School technology-oriented classes.
     

List of 2 items.

  • The Active Classroom

    In the Upper School, the Active Classroom has Microsoft Surface Studio desktops, movable desks, projectors, a MakerBot 3D printer, and hand tools, all of which students use to solve problems and engineer prototypes.

  • The Foundry

    The Foundry is a modern workshop devoted to Maker Education and STEAM––science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. It is the only all-girls, student-run digital fabrication classroom in the region.

    The Foundry is equipped with:
    • Apple iMac computers
    • A Lenovo ThinkPad classroom laptop set
    • Two MakerGear M2 3D printers
    • A US Cutter 68” Titan 3 vinyl cutter
    • Three Silhouette Cameo vinyl cutters
    • A Silhouette Curio cutting and drawing machine
    • A BoXZY 3-in-1: laser engraver, CNC mill, and 3D printer
    • A PowerPress heat press
    • A Cubify Sense 3D scanner
    • A Glowforge portable laser cutter
6425 FIFTH AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15206
412.661.5992   |   admissions@theellisschool.org
6425 FIFTH AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15206
412.661.5992
admissions@theellisschool.org