Cumberland Academy of Georgia is a Google Apps for Education School, and one of the first independent special education schools in Georgia to utilize this technology. Students are assigned a Google Chromebook and work with the Chromebooks in each class. Google Apps for Education– We have partnered with Google to offer our staff and students access to the full suite of Google products, including Mail, Drive, Calendar, Sites and Classroom. Our students have access to these tools both at school and at home. Mail is used for communication between staff and students. Drive and Sites are used for writing, projects and collaboration. Calendar is used for organization and communication. Classroom is a secure assignment delivery and file management system used in multiple classes (video chat hangouts are disabled). In addition to academics, students utilize technology and online learning resources that will develop problem-solving, critical thinking, decision making and executive functioning skills. Study Island – Study Island is used at all grade levels and is an online resource designed to support and monitor mastery of state standards for students in grades K-12 in the subjects of reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies. The program offers students online practice, assessment, and games aligned to state-specific standards, while also providing teachers and administrators with tools for progress monitoring and data analysis. Study Island allows teachers to individually assign interactive lessons and activities to students from a catalog of content aligned to their own state standards and grade level. Moreover, teachers may conduct group sessions in which students submit their responses to questions in real-time, allowing for instant identification of individual or whole-group gaps in understanding. BrainPOP – This web-based resource is used at all grade levels and in all subject areas. BrainPOP takes concepts and presents them in a three to five minute short animated video. BrainPOP also includes formative and summative assessment tools with printable handouts for each video, self-graded online quizzes for immediate feedback, suggested readings and lesson plans and interactive concept maps. BrainPOP delivers content to our highly visual student body in a fun and engaging way. BYU courses– We recognize that students may have a specialized interest and/or advanced abilities in a specific area. When this occurs, we encourage students to peruse the Brigham Young University online course offerings for high school students. Cumberland Academy of Georgia strives to fit these courses into the school day when determined appropriate by faculty and parents. Promethean/SMARTboards– Students at Cumberland Academy of Georgia have access to a variety of interactive whiteboards in all of our classrooms. Both Promethean and SMARTboards are used in all classrooms. Students have the opportunity to use the variety of interactive technology in all their academic classes to enrich their studies.
Common Sense Media – All students at Cumberland Academy take part in regularly scheduled lessons on Digital Citizenship utilizing resources provided by Common Sense Media. The lessons discuss internet safety, cyber bullying, leaving a “digital footprint”, copyright and fair use and other relevant issues.