Forsyth County Schools Selects Comcast Ethernet Services to Propel Students into the Future with Advanced Educational Technology

ATLANTA, May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast Corporation, one of the nation's leading providers of information and communications products and services, today announced that Forsyth County Schools, one of the largest school systems in Georgia, is using Comcast Ethernet Services to support streaming video, interactive whiteboards, mobile devices and digital content. With 38,000 students in 35 elementary, middle and high schools across 181 districts in Georgia, Forsyth County Schools is enhancing education for its students through the use of advanced Ethernet technology. 

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Forsyth County Schools has implemented a number of innovative technology initiatives to enhance teaching, expand learning and reduce costs. Such initiatives can oftentimes be bandwidth-intensive and require a high-performance network to be effective. With Comcast's Ethernet Services, Forsyth County Schools' administrative offices and operations centers benefit from secure, point-to-point connectivity to ensure fast and efficient data transmission, as well as file sharing and document storage via the district's central server.

Forsyth County Schools believes that to compete globally, a few things should take place: schools should extend the school year and school day, and they should expand access to content. To improve this access, Forsyth ensures that every student uses high-speed connectivity from Comcast.

The district is designing and implementing a next-generation learning system to provide individualized technology-based learning plans to match each student's specific needs, preferences and performance. The customized delivery of learning resources takes into account learning interests and learning style in order to increase student engagement and academic performance. Students can learn at home on their own, or at school, using a high-speed Internet connection. This allows them to be rewarded in a collaborative setting by the teacher, increasing the value of their education.

By investing in a flexible, scalable and high-capacity network infrastructure, Forsyth County Schools can ensure the adoption, use and effectiveness of various digital learning environments. Initiatives such as "Bring Your Own Technology" (BYOT) and the NOBLE Virtual World project at Forsyth County Schools help facilitate collaboration and immersive learning techniques to engage students in more authentic ways. With BYOT growing at a rate of 80 percent at Forsyth County Schools, students are able to use their individual Internet-capable tablets, laptops, netbooks and cell phones to work in classrooms in the way they like best.

Additionally, the NOBLE Virtual World project allows students to interact with each other in a digitally created world, where anything they imagine can be created.  As a result, students develop higher-order thinking skills such as creativity, data analysis and problem-solving by working in teams and creating plans and solutions for the project at hand.

"Bandwidth is the key. The only way to have access to all that digital content is to connect the technology and infrastructure in support of it," said Bailey Mitchell, chief technology and information officer for Forsyth County Schools. "Our network infrastructure investment is a 'return on learning' and Comcast gives us the ability to scale bandwidth as the demand presents itself. My view is that every time you increase the speed of the network, you are enabling incredible educational opportunities."

Forsyth County Schools has also seen a return on financial investment. Having spent $2.8 million on textbooks in 2008, the school has been able to cut down those costs to $400,000 with interactive online content in the form of streaming video, simulations and digital content.

"Cloud services, digital textbooks, online resources, tablets and other mobile devices are reshaping education across America, so we are thrilled to be the network foundation for the digital transformation at Forsyth County Schools," said Bob Deckard, regional vice president, Comcast Business Services, Atlanta. "With Comcast's Ethernet services, Forsyth County Schools can continue to advance in educational technology in a cost-effective, reliable and secure way."

In addition to having the highest CRCT and ACT scores in Georgia, Forsyth County Schools also has some of the highest SAT scores in the state, which are also above national averages.

About Forsyth County Schools

Forsyth County Schools, the ninth largest school system in Georgia, is recognized throughout the nation as a lighthouse district for utilizing technology to improve student achievement. Through strong collaboration between academics and technology, Forsyth County Schools continues to seek innovative ways to improve the teaching and learning experience while maintaining high expectations for performance. Recent initiatives include a "Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT)" program, the systemic use of a Learning Management System in face-to-face classrooms, and a strategic transition to digital content. Learn more about Forsyth County Schools at http:/www.forsyth.k12.ga.us.

About Comcast Business Services

Comcast Business Services, a unit of Comcast Cable provides advanced communication solutions to help organizations of all sizes meet their business objectives. Through a modern, advanced fiber network that is backed by 24/7 technical support, Comcast delivers Business Class Internet, Ethernet, TV and Voice services for cost-effective, simplified communications management.

For more information, call 1-800-391-3000 or visit www.business.comcast.com.  

About Comcast Cable

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services. Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential and business customers. Comcast is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.

Media Contacts:

Nidhi Mathson
Davies Murphy Group
781.418.2460
[email protected]

Brian Farley
Comcast
678.385.5149
[email protected]

SOURCE Comcast Corporation