Blog - Five Star Technology Solutions

What is bandwidth?

Bandwidth is a measure of the data flow over a given time period. It is measured in bits per second. For example, 1 Gigabit per second (Gbs) = 1000 Megabits per second (Mbs), 1 Mbs = 1000 Kilobits per second (Kbs), and 1 Kbs = 1000 bits per second. For the most part, there are three types of medium that data traverses: copper wire, fiber optic cabling, and Radio Frequency (RF). Each medium offers limits to the amount of data that can pass through it. Technologies are being discovered every day that increase the amount of bandwidth that can flow across a given media.  

Over the last several months, Five-Star Technology Solutions has partnered with Google to lead workshops across the United States focused on empowering educators to take advantage of CS First, a free computer science curriculum. Building on the success of this program, Google recently announced Code with Google, a set of activities and opportunities for students in third grade through college. It’s clearer than ever that Google is committed to helping all students - whether they’re interested in art, game design, science, or storytelling - to learn valuable computer science skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. 

Mobile Communication: From the Stone Age to the New Age

I can remember my first experience with mobile phone technology. I was roughly 10 years old, and my father had purchased what appeared to be a purse with a small phone attached to it. It was a glorious Nokia bag phone. It was some of the newest mobile phone tech that let you make calls easily from anywhere on the road...or at least that was the sales pitch. Unfortunately, it was only famous in our household for poor signal, bad call clarity, and “roaming” everywhere you went on the road. For all of those who don’t know what roaming is, it was your worst nightmare.

Fast forward to the year 2019 and, needless to say, technology has evolved leaps and bounds from those bulky bag phones of the 90’s. We now own high functionality computers, high definition cameras, televisions, and global communication devices...all on our mobile phones, in our pockets. Our cell phones give us access to the totality of human knowledge in the palm of our hands -- which can be easily dropped into the toilet while we are playing Candy Crush.

ISTE19 in Philadelphia has come and gone, but our team is still engaged in invigorating conversations as we process and share the awesome learning that occurred at the conference! Here are some of our learners' top takeaways.

As an educator, could you ever imagine requesting one of your students who wears prescription glasses to remove them during guided reading instruction? A more absurd scenario might be requiring a student who uses a wheelchair for mobility to attend second-floor classes in a building with no elevator. These are examples of visible disabilities that are easy to recognize, and it is straightforward to address the student's needs. However, there are many hidden disabilities of equal magnitude that hinder student learning and are often undiagnosed. To have an invisible disability means that there is more to the student’s educational struggle than meets the eye. 

Have teachers ever been asked to do more? They're simultaneously responsible for providing engaging instruction on academic standards, helping students navigate complex social-emotional challenges, and serving as community leaders inside and outside of school. In this demanding environment, any solution that saves teachers time is worthwhile, even more so if it also improves learning outcomes.

As I’m sure you are aware, cybersecurity is increasingly becoming a priority for the Indiana Department of Education. In fact, technology directors are now being asked to evaluate their schools in the following areas (on their annual technology plan)...

Five-Star Technology Solutions is proud to be a Google for Education partner! Our integration team works with teachers from across the country, helping them implement CS First in their classrooms. We love meeting teachers and learning about how they incorporate computer science in their lessons! In this post, some of our trainers share their top piece of advice for teachers who are curious about trying CS First.

Formative assessment is a teaching tool that supports all learners, but it is especially critical for students who are struggling, as it holds the potential for changing the learning outcome. It is a quick way for teachers to evaluate learning needs and academic progress in their classroom. Here are some examples of how formative assessment can support special education goals.

Now that you are Leading Like the Easter Bunny, I offer four more tips and sample questions for reflection that will help ensure you are getting the most from your team: