At College Prep, we embrace Information Technology and the potential it holds for supporting and innovating the learning and teaching process.
We also recognize its role as an agent of social and economic change. Computers extend and enhance our community and curriculum.
Instruction in the effective, ethical, and appropriate uses of information technology is integrated into all corners of the College Prep program. Through this integration, we aim to prepare our students to make meaningful use of IT tools in college and beyond.
To support that mission, the school employs three full-time educational professionals that devote their talents to the support of our students, faculty, and program. This department maintains a full-service computer lab, mobile laptop classrooms, the student laptop program, and a fleet of faculty laptops.
Through a wireless network that is welcoming of student laptops, and a robust set of online services, the technology department helps to extend learning opportunities beyond the College Prep campus.
Learn more about the Student Laptop Program.
Freshman Foundations is a weekly course designed to prepare students for academic, extra-curricular, and social life at College Prep. One of the areas of instruction covers digital skills and technology topics that are pertinent to our freshmen.
Example topics include:
- How Organized Are You? (Time & Task Management)
- Multitasking & the Brain (Teens, Task Switching, Latest Research Findings)
- Laptop Ergonomics (MacBreakZ, Time Out, Self Control, Concentrate)
- Copyright & Fair Use for Students (1-minute Video Projects)
- Protecting Your Online Identity
This semester-long course is an introduction to the field of computer science and investigates the structure of computers, computer programs, and computer systems beginning with electronic components.
It covers an introduction to the theory and practice of computer programming and emphasis on techniques of program development using an object-oriented approach. It covers such standard topics as control structures, subroutines, objects and arrays. Software development principles, such as documentation, coding styles and testing principles are course components.
We also look at basic web application development using Java applets. This course is designed to be a foundation for further study in computer science; it is not an AP course and significant additional preparation is necessary for students desiring to take the AP examination. Students spend several hours programming outside of class each week. Currently, Java is the programming language used in the course. This course has a graded and required bi-weekly lab component as well as an independent final project that is geared towards demonstrating the cumulative skills acquired throughout the semester. No programming experience is required. Prerequisite: Math III.