Technology Overview
The Forest Hills Technology Department coordinates closely with the Teaching and Learning Department to deepen learning experiences by integrating technology into the curriculum. Through research-based best practices with technology integration, students engage in meaningful learning opportunities, which ultimately lead to greater academic achievement and growth. Students connect, collaborate and create with their peers locally and around the country and world, as well as learn from guest instructors, whether it be an author or an expert in a particular field of study.
Students engage in creative, high-level thinking as they learn and apply their understanding through a variety of mediums with technology, such as: interactive presentations, online simulations, video creation, graphic design, and augmented or virtual reality (AR/VR). Students may also participate in special events such as Global Read Aloud, which provides the opportunity for students to read and discuss books with other students across the globe. Students are empowered through a self-directed educational experience that allows them to access learning anytime and anywhere, and prepares them for the digital world that awaits them after graduation.
VISION
Provide personalized and authentic learning through 21st Century environments and practices by providing enhanced organizational supports and demonstrated stewardship of taxpayer investment.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Every district building offers a wireless infrastructure to which students and staff connect. All students (and parents/guardians of students who are minors) are required to agree to a Student Technology Acceptable Use Agreement before accessing the district network or Wi-Fi. Information from the internet is filtered before it reaches the district or student Wi-Fi. Once the data is received by the district, it goes through a physical appliance that offers additional filtering. In essence, internet content and data is filtered twice before reaching any student device on district Wi-Fi. Although a fool-proof filter doesn’t exist due to the exponential growth of the internet, the district will continue to upgrade filters and firewalls to offer as many protections as possible to ensure responsible use of the internet and Wi-Fi.
SOFTWARE
Forest Hills approves all software through a formal approval process that ensures that software is appropriate for students of different ages, is consistent with the FHSD curriculum and meets accessibility standards. If a software does not meet accessibility standards, a comparable alternative will be provided.
HARDWARE
You can learn more about the district's 1:1 device initiative here.
The district follows the following hardware model:
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Preschool: one iPad for every five students
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Kindergarten: one iPad for every four students
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Grade 1: one iPad for every student
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Grades 2-12: one Chromebook for every student?
ACCESSING DAILY ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADES
The district utilizes Schoology for students in grades 2-12 and Seesaw in grades K-1 for students and parents to access instructional materials. Students and parents can find grades in ProgressBook.
To access these resources, please visit: https://www.foresthills.edu/how-do-i/access-grades.html
Forest Hills also partners with Cincinnati Bell Technology Services to provide parents with cyber education opportunities and trains teachers on how to effectively use technology to engage students in learning.
For assistance, contact Steve Meece, Technology Director, at (513) 231-3600, ext. 2957 or stevemeece@foresthills.edu.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
All Forest Hills schools have technicians to assist students and teachers with technology-related issues. The support process is as follows:
Grades PK-6
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Students will tell a teacher they need assistance.
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A teacher will put in a tech support ticket.
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A technician will come to the classroom to assist the student.
Grades 7-12
Students will go to the Learning Commons where a representative will help them.
Parents
Technical support for Progress Book, Schoology and more is available by emailing parenthelp@foresthills.edu.
