Linden Hall Technology Resources

It is an exciting time for technology at Linden Hall. We, as a 21st century school, are committed to offering our students a technology program that most effectively enhances their learning experience.

Many exceptional technologies are integral parts of our program, including SmartBoards that help teachers explain concepts in an interactive environment, allowing students and teachers to manipulate diagrams and figures, see animations and video clips, explore topics on the Internet, and create and present multimedia projects. In addition, SmartBoards allow for the electronic storage of anything written on the boards by teachers and students. Such note files can then be emailed to students to create an electronic classroom notebook. Teachers and students control what is on the SmartBoard by just touching icons that appear on it. Not just a presentation device, both teachers and students alike can use SmartBoards to better represent and manipulate concepts in real-time.

The Science Department employs several new Xplorer GLX graphing data loggers from Pasco Scientific. These allow students to measure, analyze, annotate, store, and print real data rapidly and seamlessly, without being connected to a computer; measurements can be taken and stored in the field or lab for later analysis in the classroom. The logger can capture up to 50,000 data points per second, depending on the attached probe, allowing for observation and analysis of rapid events that high school students traditionally have not measured. Earth and Environmental Science students are taking weather measurements, analyzing water quality, and studying soil samples; Chemistry students are observing and analyzing rapid reactions with pH and temperature changes and rediscovering the Gas Laws; Physics students are studying mechanics, dynamics, and collisions in greater detail, including harmonic and centripetal motion while the possibilities of investigations in electromagnetism are numerous.

For report writing, spreadsheet creation, and presentations, we use OpenOffice school-wide (download a free copy of OpenOffice.org). We also use Microsoft FrontPage to edit HTML documents and Adobe Photoshop Elements to edit web photos. We provide full-color printing, scanning, and superior video editing using our mini-DV camcorders and Vegas Video software from Sony Pictures. In addition, our lab computers include access to encyclopedias, educational software like Prentice Hall's Writing and Grammar, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, and SAT Safari, as well as entertainment software for after-school enjoyment.

Over the last few years, Linden Hall has made major improvements in our information services. Our campus is covered by a gigabit-speed fiber-optic connection, and all of our dorms, classrooms, and most public areas are wired as well. For external communication, Linden Hall has a broadband connection to the Internet for high-speed information retrieval and leisure activities, complete with filtering services. Students and faculty alike have full internal and external network support in the classrooms, labs, and dorm areas.

All computer users are provided with a user name and password which gives them access to their account on Linden Hall's email server, a personal storage directory (accessible anywhere on campus), and other network privileges. Day students can also access important resources like email through their Internet connection from home.

Our two computer labs feature a total of 26 high-speed Windows-based computer systems. During the day, teachers may bring students in for research projects or instruction. The labs are often open for student use during free times. There are also dorm computers installed in the lounges for student use when the computer lab is closed. Boarding students may also wish to bring their own computers as we provide all necessary software.