Tech grant still influencing Forestview Middle School two years later

A technology grant awarded to Forestview Middle School nearly two years ago is still having ripple effects on students and programs.

The middle school was one of five grand prize winners chosen to receive more than $100,000 in technology products for Samsung's Solve for Tomorrow contest in 2013.

Now, about two years later, school leaders say it's having a huge impact on STEM programing at the school.

"It has inspired teachers to go above and beyond," said Derek Hendrickson, dean of students at FMS.

It started a couple of years ago when the school's High Altitude Balloon Club created a helium-powered device that traveled to the outer edge of the earth's atmosphere. Once it reached the stratosphere, the device recorded data, measured atmospheric layers, and captured high-definition photographs and video so the students could learn about physics, weather science and other engineering topics.

The project gained first place in the Samsung contest and the school won top prize, resulting in several iPad minis and seven mobile carts of laptops. The carts serve as a mobile computer lab that can be brought to the students, versus shuffling them down the hall to a physical lab.

"It's more efficient for the classroom," Anderson said.

But the prizes have done more than that. The grant has helped push the school to do more with Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) classes overall.

For example, starting next fall, students will have a choice of STEM classes that will run parallel to the sports schedule.

It is the start of a three season after-school STEM program offering.

"Not all kids are into athletics," said Jim Reed, a multimedia teacher and one of the staff members heading the effort. "We needed an avenue for brains wanting more."

Students Ben Toriseva, eighth grade, and Katherine Fetters, seventh grade, were brought together through Programming Sphero, one of the STEM after school classes running now, where kids program a robot ball to run an obstacle course.

Although the two students normally wouldn't see each other in the halls of the busy school, the pair were brought together in a group with a similar interest: STEM.

Fetters wants to craft a virtual world when she grows up. Toriseva wants to be an engineer.

Both think the Programming Sphero class will help get them there.

Science teacher Brian Wallace said the grant has helped enhance learning.

"My goal is to enhance what we were already doing," he said.

Jon Anderson, principal of FMS, said students now have easier, faster access to the internet.

They're thirsty for technology, he said.

Yet, they expect that high level of technology, said Wallace. It's what they're used to outside of school.

So the students may not know what it's like to not have the technology in the classroom. But the teachers do.

With a simultaneous switch to using Google Docs, the staff are able to collaborate better with students, often working together in the same document outside of school.

"Students are getting immediate feedback," Anderson said.

They come to class more prepared, he said. For example, in math the kids can watch a tutorial video before the lesson, so they already have a basic understanding before stepping foot into the classroom.

"It's personalized learning, tailored to meet needs," Anderson said. "It helped expand class outside the four walls."