Technology
Technology is a tool for deeper inquiry, creative expression, and meaningful engagement with the world—reinforcing the enduring values of the liberal arts.
The liberal arts provide broad exposure to subjects that define humanity—literature, history, the arts, language, and the sciences—fostering critical thinking, creativity, and a deeper understanding of human experience. In today’s world, technology has become an integral part of our humanity, impacting both knowledge and society, reshaping how we learn, connect, and contribute.
We believe it's not enough to simply teach students how to use technology. Instead, the goal is to explore why and to what end we use it.
Technology Education at Northwest
Digital Citizenship and Ethics
Our students learn to navigate technology responsibly, respectfully, and safely while exploring its ethical implications. Faculty integrate discussions of AI...
Digital Citizenship and Ethics
Our students learn to navigate technology responsibly, respectfully, and safely while exploring its ethical implications. Faculty integrate discussions of AI bias, privacy, and the societal impacts of social media across disciplines, encouraging critical awareness of these complex issues. Through project-based work, students engage with real-world ethical dilemmas—such as balancing privacy rights, addressing AI bias, or managing social media responsibility—developing the skills to think critically and act ethically in a digital world.
Practical Skills and Tool Proficiency
Our students are introduced to technical skills that support productivity, creativity, and problem-solving, empowering them to consider technological solutions across...
Practical Skills and Tool Proficiency
Our students are introduced to technical skills that support productivity, creativity, and problem-solving, empowering them to consider technological solutions across their coursework. Starting in 6th grade, they explore coding, laying a foundation in logic and computational thinking. Middle school humanities students engage with Generative AI, learning to identify deep fakes, use AI responsibly in research, and participate in interactive lessons—such as "talking" to a philosopher through AI to spark curiosity and explore diverse perspectives. In the Upper School, students build on their liberal arts foundation with electives like Computer Science Principles and Programming, gaining deeper insights into technology's applications.
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Students explore the societal and ethical implications of technology, focusing on why and to what end it is used. Through...
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Students explore the societal and ethical implications of technology, focusing on why and to what end it is used. Through addressing real-world challenges, they apply logical reasoning, analyze data, and leverage technology to develop innovative solutions.
Creativity and Innovation
Our students explore creativity through hands-on design and problem-solving, using the many makerspaces across campus to prototype, build, and refine their ideas...
Creativity and Innovation
Our students explore creativity through hands-on design and problem-solving, using the many makerspaces across campus to prototype, build, and refine their ideas. They work with cutting-edge tools and software to create 3D-printed inventions, multimedia portfolios, music, podcasts, and more. Through the iterative design process, students learn to test and improve their creations, embracing failure as an opportunity to build creative confidence. These experiences inspire innovative thinking and empower students to bring their ideas to life across disciplines.
Global and Environmental Awareness
Students explore how technology shapes the world and its role in addressing global challenges.
Global and Environmental Awareness
Students explore how technology shapes the world and its role in addressing global challenges.
By integrating technology into a liberal arts education, students develop the skills to innovate responsibly, think critically about the implications of technology, and address the ethical and societal questions it raises.
This approach ensures that students are not just consumers of technology but thoughtful creators, problem-solvers, and leaders who can shape a better, more equitable future—where technology deepens inquiry, enhances creativity, and strengthens our shared humanity.
Our Goals
Our educational philosophy is deeply rooted in the conviction that students must develop a strong sense of social responsibility. We educate students about the ethical implications, societal and environmental impacts of technology. Embracing technology ensures that our students are not only proficient users, but also responsible digital citizens. Our end goal is that Northwest students are equipped and primed to harness technology effectively and thoughtfully as they go forward to make a positive impact in the world.
Technology enables personalized learning experiences that support the unique needs and strengths of each student. Through adaptive learning platforms, AI tutors, and customized feedback systems, we help students progress at their individual pace in a way that suits their preferences. As technology changes, we continuously reevaluate and update our tools and techniques to ensure that our approach remains effective, current and aligned with NWS security and privacy requirements. This commitment reflects our focus on nurturing each student's individual potential and ensuring that every learner can succeed.
Preparing students for the future means equipping them with the skills and knowledge to navigate and lead in the digitally connected society. By embracing computing innovations, our educators and students stay well-versed in the latest technological tools and trends, while also understanding when it is not appropriate to use technology. This readiness empowers them to excel in higher education and their future careers, making meaningful contributions to their fields and communities.
Our Methodology
We create an educational environment where students feel empowered to question, test, and innovate. Our engagement with emerging technologies, including Generative AI, begins with wonder. Encouraging experimentation and inquiry is essential for fostering a deep understanding of the technologies and their applications.
We teach the ethical implications of AI, including data privacy, algorithm bias, and the potential for misuse. Understanding and practicing responsible use of technology is crucial. This means ensuring that the tools and technologies we use align with our educational goals and promote ethical practices, encouraging students to consider the broader societal impact of their creations. Responsible use requires awareness of sources, scrutiny of results and accuracy, and ethical responsibility for source attribution.
We integrate Generative AI and emerging technologies to enhance student-centered teaching and learning. This means using technology to support personalized learning, provide feedback, and enhance student engagement. This approach succeeds when we have the support and awareness of faculty and parents. The more fluent the adults are with these technologies, the more they can guide students in using them appropriately.
We regularly assess the impact of Generative AI and technology on teaching and learning outcomes. This includes integrating feedback from parents, students, and educators to continuously refine our approach. We provide clear guidelines on the use of Generative AI and technology in the classroom. Parents, students, and educators understand the objectives and benefits of integrating these technologies into the learning process and have opportunities for training and exposure to them.