Forsyth County Schools (FCS) and Kajeet® have announced a new collaborative joint project. FCS extended its Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) program to offer students without off-campus Internet access the connectivity they need with the Kajeet SmartSpot™. The Atlanta-area school district purchased its first round of the portable Wi-Fi hotspots, which enable children to have access to essential academic and education resources on the Internet after they leave campus.
“It’s a necessity for a 21st century student to have Internet both inside and outside of school,” said Jill Hobson, director of instructional technology at Forsyth County Schools. "The Web is a learning tool that extends the classroom. Outside of school our students are collaborating and interacting with their teachers and each other to research information, solve complex problems, create original products, and publish their work. Those students who now have Internet access at home feel they are equal to their classmates in technology.”
Forsyth County's BYOT program began five years ago with seven schools, and today, all of the district’s schools are participating. However, approximately 7,000 students in the district still do not have off-campus Internet. Earlier this fall, FCS purchased Kajeet SmartSpot™ devices and through a competitive application process, students in need now receive off-campus access to the Web.
FCS purchased its initial Kajeet SmartSpot™ devices with revenue earned from its annual BYOT Tours where schools from around the nation examine how technology can benefit in the classroom. After recognizing the need and the solution, leaders in the community held a golf tournament to raise funds to buy additional devices for the students.
