The Hotchkiss School
Computer
With the rapid advancement of computer-based technology, access to information has changed dramatically, as has the management and communication of knowledge and ideas. For these reasons, the computer is an indispensable tool in the educational process.
The computer department offers courses that cover topics including a broad array of application software, search strategies for navigating the Internet, digital photography, and an understanding of moral and ethical obligations in the increasingly impersonal world of technology. Students can also delve deeply into the study of computer science and programming in Java.
The department's facilities in the Watson Computer Center are the physical hub of technology at Hotchkiss. Two teaching computer labs house more than 50 networked Dell PCs and Apple Macintosh computers. Specialized equipment includes laser printers, inkjet color photo printers, a plotter, flatbed and slide scanners, and digital, still, and video cameras. The labs provide the latest in software applications with a strong emphasis on compatibility between the two platforms. Each lab has "smart classroom" capabilities, which includes a Smart Technology Interactive Smart Board, an LCD projection system, and a computer docking system. Lab 1 is used primarily by the computer department as its teaching classroom. Lab 2 remains open for individual student and faculty use and for faculty who wish to schedule classes for Internet activities, writing assignments, etc. Hotchkiss students and faculty use and benefit from the School's computer resources in virtually every area of school life.