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Technology

1:1 Technology Initiative

Practically every aspect of today’s daily life is filled with technology. It has become an integral part of how we function. Since 2009, Hill School’s 1:1 Technology Initiative has been equipping its students for success in our digital age.

In the Classroom

  • Students in K-6 have access to touch screen laptops during the school day for various lessons and learning activities.

  • All Middle and Upper School students utilize Lenovo laptops with touch-screen, stylus, and keyboard capability. Beginning in the 7th grade, students are responsible for taking the tablets home each day to complete homework, participate in online discussions, view videos from classroom lessons, and communicate with instructors if needed.

Microsoft School

Hill School is a certified Microsoft School, utilizing Microsoft Technologies Office 365, Imagine Academy and Learning Tools. This digital edge for different learners can level the playing field as a student progresses through the Hill School program, transitions to other settings, or graduates and pursues post-secondary schooling.

Our Technology Goals

  • Hill School technology is used by faculty to foster collaboration, develop critical thinking skills, encourage oral and written communication, and provide a framework for global citizenship

  • Hill School students are empowered to take charge of their learning through virtual project and problem-based, multi-disciplinary activities.

  • Hill School technology integration promotes student engagement and knowledge acquisition, problem solving, and critical thinking computers are almost invisible in support of lesson objectives.

  • The benefits of technology can be particularly important to students with learning differences, and research has demonstrated that thoughtfully implemented technology:

    – Increases the frequency and quality of assignment completion improves motivation

    – Eases frustration with the mechanics of reading, writing, and organization improves overall productivity

Assistive Technology

One in five students struggles with dyslexia, which can make learning to read frustrating and discouraging. And to further complicate matters, teachers can lose up to 50% of instructional time when trying to use assistive technology. This is what prompted a team of employees to come together for Microsoft’s Hackathon and develop simple tools for OneNote that make reading and writing easier—particularly for students with learning differences.

The result was Microsoft Learning Tools, a set of free tools that are now a part of OneNote, Word, Outlook, OfficeLens, Edge, and beyond. They implement proven techniques to improve reading and writing for people of all abilities. The Immersive Reader tool reduces visual clutter and highlights individual words to help readers, especially those with dyslexia, focus on content instead of constantly decoding. Perhaps best of all, it works across devices and platforms so that it’s accessible to virtually anyone at any time.