Academics

Technology

Learning in the Digital World

We believe that technology should be used to enhance student learning, improve communication, and efficiently manage information. Teaching with technology not only prepares students with increasingly necessary life skills but also broadens and deepens student learning.
This is the kind of tech that every student will use in college regardless of their course of study. They need to learn how to pick up any tool and use it; this is how we work in the world today.

— Upper School Technology Coordinator Ms. Julia Maxey
We use technology to enhance our curriculum, when and where appropriate. Our responsibility is to teach our students how to evaluate technology for its usefulness, to choose the right tool for the right job and to use technology to communicate their ideas effectively. We believe in using tech with purpose.
 
We use digital tech to promote collaborative learning and design thinking, to improve research skills and information literacy, to develop critical thinking skills, to encourage creativity and to individualize learning across the curriculum. Our students use different tech in different classes, learning how to be flexible and adaptable. They learn that tech for tech’s sake has little value, but as a tool to enhance their learning and ability to connect with others, technology plays a vital role in preparing for the future.

Lower School Technology

Our primary goal is to engage students. We are very mindful of the growing amount of technology that children have access to and the need to balance screen-based learning time with a variety of other engaging learning activities. Our Lower School teachers carefully integrate technology into classroom lessons when it aids in providing greater meaning for our students. Purposeful technology is only one of many tools in their classroom toolkits. 

Our technology curriculum includes both device-specific and device-agnostic activities so our students learn how to use a variety of types of technology for a variety of purposes. Our goal is to teach the mindset needed to learn with technology rather than simply how to operate a specific program or device. Students in grades K-5 use iPads, desktop and laptop computers, and Chromebooks for direct technology instruction and to enhance learning across disciplines. Click here for a full inventory of our Lower School technology. 

Middle School iPad Program

Every student in grades 6-8 receives an Apple iPad on loan for the full school year. iPad devices provided through Severn have mandatory and automatic AppleCare+ insurance included. This means that each iPad can be “broken” twice, beyond the limited warranty of hardware issues. Click here for a full list of specifications and FAQs about our loaner iPad program.
 
A few notes:
  • Students are required to have fully-charged, functioning iPads in classes when a teacher requires them. There are places around campus for charging iPads.
  • Students must be knowledgeable of Severn’s Acceptable Use Policy and adhere to its requirements.
  • Severn reminds students periodically to perform updates and routine maintenance on individual iPads and expects that students will perform such tasks.
  • Students are responsible for the upkeep and security of their iPads. There is a tech help desk located in the lower level of Teel Academic Center.

Upper School Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

We have a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy for all students in our Upper School. Students will be required to bring a charged device daily to school. Devices must meet specifications for processing speed, hard drive capacity, and current operating system to ensure the security of all of the devices on our network. 

Sample acceptable devices:
  • iPads
  • Laptops
  • Tablets
  • Chromebooks
Although a cell phone may meet the minimum requirements, we do not recommend the device for academic activities. Click here for a full list of specifications and FAQs about our BYOD program.


Our Tech Team

List of 6 members.

  • Mr.  Gregory Jahnigen 

    Director, Information Technology
    410.647.7701 x2249
    University of Maryland Baltimore County - B.S.

  • Mrs. Nancy Kierstead 

    Database Administrator
    (410) 647-7701 x2263
    Harvard School of Public Health - M.S.
    College of the Holy Cross - B.A.

  • Ms. Barbara Plitt 

    Help Desk Technician
    410.647.7701 ext.2250
    Anne Arundel Community College - A.A.

  • Ms. Julia Maxey 

    US Technology Coordinator; US English; Advisor, Mainsheet Literary Magazine
    410.647.7701 ext. 2318
    Marymount College - B.A.
    Mississippi State - M.A.
    Catholic University of America - Ph.D. work

  • Mr. Samuel Mendez 

    IT Coordinator and Technology Teacher
    410.647.7701 x2028
    Anne Arundel Community College - AA
    Temple University - BA

  • Mrs. Vicki Dabrowka 

    LS Technology Specialist /Teacher; LS Renaissance Teacher
    410.647.7701 ext 2050
    Hood College - M.S.
    Illinois Wesleyan University - B.A.

Lower School

Preschool-Grade 5
Chesapeake Campus
1185 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd
Arnold, MD 21012

Middle/Upper School

Grade 6-12
Teel Campus
Severna Park, MD 21146