Library & Technology
Technology enriches our educational program at Padua Academy. With emphasis on a sound infrastructure, a building-wide network connects each room to the Internet by way of a T1 line. Each classroom has at least one computer that has a fast Pentium IV processor and ample Hard Drive space, running Windows XP and Microsoft Office XP. With several computers in each classroom, students can incorporate the results of on-line searches in their class presentations, work on individual tutorials, word process their research, or present a PowerPoint project to the class. Connection to the classroom television allows for large screen viewing, as do our newly installed Interactive Whiteboards. The whiteboards provide the combined power of a projector, computer, and whiteboard for teacher and student use.
In addition, we have two Laptop Carts, one with 24 computers and the other with 16. Teachers may sign-out the carts for classroom use to enhance lessons and projects. Likewise, teachers may sign-out the Projector and Cart for classroom use when large screen presentations or demonstrations are more appropriate. This technology allows teachers to use personal or school laptops to project PowerPoint presentations.
Our state-of-the-art computer lab is used before and during school for independent student work and class lessons and projects. Computer classes are held in another Computer Lab, which is equipped with a monitoring system that allows the teacher to view and control the screens of all the computers in the classroom. Teachers may also sign-up to bring their classes to this room when it is not in use.
Our Library/Media Center houses our main server and ten workstations. Students use these computers to work on individual and group projects. Using the library computers, students access our electronic card catalog, but also access the holdings at the University of Delaware. Material located at the University can be obtained through inter-library loan. Three powerful research databases have been licensed through the library and will be available to students, staff, and families. They can be accessed both at school and at home.
Gale Student Resource Center Gold contains primary documents, background and topical essays, biographies and critical analyses with articles from current, popular periodicals and newspapers.
Gale Literature Resource Center features biographies, bibliographies, and critical analysis of authors from every age and literary discipline. It covers more than 120,000 novelists, poets, essayists, journalists, and other writers, with in-depth coverage of the most-studied authors.
SIRS Researcher is a general reference database exploring social, scientific, health, historic, economic, business, political and global issues. Carefully selected articles from more than 1,200 domestic and international newspapers, magazines, journals and U.S. government publications can be accessed instantaneously. Some articles are accompanied by graphics, including charts, maps, diagrams and illustrations.