Providing Technology Understanding in Education

To fully realize the benefits of technology in education, Corstar Communications assists schools, school districts, community colleges, and adult education programs with everything from network design & maintenance to data cabling to the deployment of curriculum management systems to long-range technology planning. Corstar provides the resources to help education institutions plan and deploy technology in teaching and learning activities.

Corstar has serviced schools and school districts in Westchester and Duchess Counties for more than fifteen years. Our engineers and technicians hold certifications in Microsoft, Novell, and Apple and we have successfully integrated all three technologies to best suit the needs of K-12 educators and their students. Our cost-effective solutions range from providing experienced IT staff for short and long term assignments to specific consultations focusing on the latest technology advances and how they can positively (or negatively) impact the learning environment.

Wireless in the Building/Classroom

If your school or school district intends to utilize more wireless across the campus and/or in the classroom, we can provide you with all of the information you need to help you through the decision process, which is a 3-step process. First, our network engineers utilize industry-leading software tools to conduct a preliminary wireless survey and needs assessment evaluation to simulate your wireless conditions and the level of usage that the system will have to support. Second, we produce a design for you that will fit your particular need. Finally, we will construct your network and provide you with full training and documentation of the network.

One-to-One Computing

School districts are preparing to undertake one-to-one teaching and learning where each participating student is provided access to a personal computing device on a direct and continuous basis throughout the school day and beyond. It is the intent of one-to-one programs to empower students with “anytime and anywhere” learning. When a student is in class, the laptop is in their immediate proximity and is used regularly and with purpose. Corstar’s staff has experience with this new educational model from the perspective of technology budgeting, selection, and deployment and can assist you as you navigate through the process.

Audio/Video – Smart Classrooms

Designing and deploying technology in the classroom involves more than understanding display types, control systems, and audio amplification. Simply putting technology into a classroom does not ensure that it will be utilized to its fullest extent. Corstar’s engineers have more than fifteen years of experience on-site, in school buildings and in classrooms, working with educators to best understand how technology can be incorporated into the learning environment. Our engineers understand that tying technology together with the most productive, cost-effective solutions is crucial to meeting short-term and long-term objectives. Our technology offerings include control systems that provide network access to classroom equipment and the utilization of standard data cabling to lower the cost of installation and maintenance, while ensuring that your network is properly designed and equipped for the future.

Curriculum Management Systems

Education in the 21st century is not one size fits all. Whether your students learn using books, standards, online curricula, or a totally creative approach, we can help you to choose the right Curriculum Management System for your school or district based on answering questions related to teachers and administrators managing course curriculum objectives, document usage, tracking school and/or district standards and goals, lesson plan development, and a host of others. At Corstar, we have been involved with Curriculum Management Systems for more than five years and can assist you through the selection and implementation process to insure that your investment brings you the greatest possible return and that the choice you make truly fits your needs.

IT Staffing and Project Management

Corstar’s network engineers hold certifications in Cisco, Microsoft, Novell, and Apple and can be deployed on a per-hour, per-project, or per-semester basis based on your needs. We also have certified project managers to handle small scale and large scale projects working within your team. Our team of engineers has been working with and in schools for the past ten years and we understand how to work within the education environment and with the resources available.

Content Delivery – New Screens

Digital Signage, the iPad, on-demand video at the desktop and other new technologies aimed at utilizing screens in new ways continue to present themselves as opportunities for educators to teach and students to learn… for improved communication flow or to deliver emergency alerts… utilizing new methodologies and technologies. Corstar’s engineers understand content collection, storage, and display and can provide valuable assistance in the selection and deployment of these new technologies. Your education content, your general announcements, students’ homework assignments, or the latest school delay can all be delivered directly to the people that are affected and to the screen that they or you choose to deliver it to quickly and without network interruptions.

Disaster Planning & Recovery

The best IT disaster recovery plan involves the comprehensive documentation of well-planned actions that have been adopted before, are understood during, and can be critically reviewed and updated after an emergency event. Corstar’s engineers understand that the key to IT network disaster recovery is preparedness and we focus on ensuring network continuity and availability of critical resources during emergencies by putting processes in place that involve tight documentation and advance testing. When the actual disaster or emergency strikes, we will have you prepared to deal with it.

Voice and Data Infrastructure Design and Installation

Today’s high-speed, media-rich, broadband applications consistently push the limits of networks and your network is always vulnerable to its weakest link. Our network technicians are certified in Corning fiber, as well as the Berktek Ortronics solution. They specialize in backbone structured cable (CAT5e/CAT6), voice cable, and fiber optic cable installations and have been trained to integrate connections ranging from cable modems to DSL to T1 to OC-48 all the way to the desktop. For each project, Corstar will certify that the system design, components, and workmanship comply with the standards and practices of BICSI to include full compliance with all ETA/TIA 568A/B Telecommunications Building Wiring Standards.