Toronto's Greenwood College School opts for all-digital curriculum: Thomson Gale delivers 100% of course-work to the wireless-enabled students, faculty and administrators.

When a new school commits to experiential learning and technology to create a truly unique instructional environment--like Toronto's Greenwood College School (www.greenwoodcollege. com) when it opened its doors in 2002--the process "is very much an evolution," says Allan Hardy, Vice Principal of Curriculum. "Just in terms of technology, at first we thought that we might create a paperless environment, which was only one part of the rationale for our 'digital curriculum,' but we've learned that the students want hard copy to read and study. Though the students and faculty all have wireless-enabled laptops, we also have a lot of printers."

But the wireless environment at Greenwood College School (grades 7-12) is not going unused thanks to the school's 100-percent digital curriculum. Having no physical library on the premises, Greenwood College utilizes Web-enabled content resources from Thomson Gale (www.galeschools. com) within the Blackboard course management system (www. blackboard.com). Instruction is facilitated by using SMART boards in each classroom.

Greenwood College puts its data where its philosophy is: The independent school is not just wireless with a virtual library, Hardy says, but "all digital" in curriculum as well. "We use Blackboard for every course and every student," he says, "and as a result, our students are online all the time. Which, of course, has its upside but also can provide distractions. Today's technology affords students many tools both to enhance their learning experience, and to express themselves; our faculty are specially trained to use educational technology to empower our students."

The underlying power of the digital curriculum is delivered via Blackboard but uses the resources of Thomson Gale, a world-leading provider of print, electronic and Web-enabled K-12 content. "Their virtual library offers our students highly specialized access to electronic books, encyclopedias, journals and indices," says Hardy. "We have incorporated these powerful tools and resources into the very design of our curriculum, training our teachers to capitalize on technology for the delivery of differentiated learning." Greenwood students, in turn, harness the power of technology as a learning tool, developing the research and information skills the world requires in the future. Greenwood has built a resource-rich learning environment: The school is housed in a state-of-the-art facility that includes 19 classrooms, a full size gymnasium, two indoor climbing walls, art room, digital music room and drama facility. In addition to its urban campus, Greenwood also utilizes several outdoor facilities and destinations to deliver its experiential education and Outdoor Leadership Program.

"Our philosophy of outdoor education and community service integrated into the curriculum acknowledges that many of our most valuable educational experiences take place outdoors," adds Hardy. In fact, students at Greenwood College spend four weeks each year outside, dog-sledding, camping, canoeing and the like.

The approach is working: Last year, there were 250 students enrolled; in the 2005-2006 school year, 315 students, 40 faculty and 20 administrators and staffers will attend and work at the school. The key to its success? "We emphasize educating the whole student," Hardy notes. "We try to create an environment--and this is where the digital aspect is key--for all types of learners, including those who learn best through visuals and those who learn by hearing. But they all learn here by doing, as well."

For more information contact Lisa Lee Spicko, Vice President, K12, 1-800-877-4253 Ext. 8787 or [e-mail]