Technology

We're Wired

At St. Andrew’s-Sewanee, computers are more than modern typewriters. SAS students use computer applications in almost all their endeavors, from physics simulations to art installations. With 75 school-owned computers designated to student use, students have ready access to a terminal and an available Internet connection. While the centrally-located computer labs are particularly popular locations for getting school work done (or seeing what you missed on The Daily Show), there are also computers in the library, and student rooms are all provided with two high-speed Internet ports.

Thanks to a Board of Trustees’ commitment to refresh computer equipment on a 3-5 year interval, nearly all of the computers dedicated to student use are less than three years old. Classroom technology includes two mobile laptop carts (32 wireless computers plus a laser printer) which may be reserved by any teacher for classroom use. Software used includes word processing, spreadsheets, presentation graphics, graphic editing, Internet access, and class-specific applications such as Geometer's Sketchpad (math) and Garageband (music). The science department has laptop computers integrated with data acquisition equipment for real-time monitoring of scientific measurements such as ph, pressure, and temperature.

Our "classroom" lab, which may be reserved by any teacher, has 16 desktop Macintosh computers running Apple's OS X operating system. Software available on these computers includes Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Internet Explorer and Garageband. Seventh grade students take a technology class as part of their curriculum.

Our "open" lab with Windows-based desktop computers is available to students from approximately 7:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. It provides students with access to word processing and spreadsheet applications, a laser printer, and Internet access. The library also has six desktop computers available for student use.

The library and computer lab areas are equipped with wireless routers so that students may bring their personal laptops and have wireless Internet access in those areas.

All boarding rooms are equipped with 10baseT Ethernet connections and link via fiber optic cables to our campus backbone and our high-speed Internet access connection. A modern "firewall" provides appropriate filtering of web content, viruses, and junk e-mail.

The school employs two full time faculty members who provide support for both student and administrative computer equipment. Both Apple and Windows-based computers are fully supported.

Documentary Film Making

Technology at SAS means finding more efficient, more interesting, and more exciting ways of pursuing knowledge. One recent project that wedded technology with academics was a documentary produced about longtime Sewanee resident Scott Bates and the Highlander Folk School.

The Highlander Folk School was a civil rights center and training school that was at one time located in nearby Monteagle. Highlander trained or hosted many of the nation's civil rights leaders, including Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., Eleanor Roosevelt and Pete Seger. Many local residents, including Dr. Bates, were involved in the work of the school.

As part of the class's study, the students interviewed Dr. Bates about his involvement with the school and produced a video documentary about Highlander's history.