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How bumble bees inspired a network of tiny museums | Amanda Schochet

Sometimes, small things make a huge impact. After studying how bees in urban environments can survive by navigating small land patches, ecologist Amanda Schochet was inspired to build MICRO, a network of portable science museums the size of vending machines. Learn how these tiny museums are being deployed in libraries, community centers, transit hubs and elsewhere to increase public access to science.

HCGi Announces New Mid-Atlantic Tech Training Center Addition

(Columbia, Maryland) HCGi, a leading technology solution provider, announces the opening of its Mid-Atlantic technology training center at 5560 Sterrett Place in Columbia, MD.  “The new facility will allow us to offer expanded training resources to our clients and associates from Virginia to Pennsylvania,” said HCGi Founder and CEO Bill Heneghan. The ground floor location will display the latest in Audio/Visual solutions from manufacturers like Crestron, Epson, Samsung, and Sharp.

Director of the Audio/Visual division, Bill Hottman: “We find it critical for our clients to have hands-on experience with the equipment before they buy- to best replicate real-world situations. Our customers want the latest technology completely integrated so that any instructor can easily operate a solution with minimal downtime.”  Remote learning also requires training for Microsoft Teams and Zoom for teleconferencing and effective collaboration.

HCGi www.HCGi.com  (formerly Hartford Computer Group, Inc) is Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland and one of  INC 5000 fastest growing companies.  HCGi is ranked nationally in the top 200 technology solutions providers by Computer Reseller News. HCGi has been delivering solutions to government, health care, and educational institutions for over twenty-five years.

HCGI Hartford: Columbia MD
www.hcgi.com
We are an employee-owned company specializing in personalized IT solutions for our customers. We work directly with our customers, using a hands-on approach.

ThinkSmart Manager Software Overview

Meet ThinkSmart Manager, your go-to manageability console across all of your ThinkSmart devices. Learn more at http://www.lenovo.com/ThinkSmart. #smarter, Smarter Technology for All

HP 3D Printing’s Internal Production Facility Achieves High OEE

From developing new materials to producing nearly 60,000 parts in one year, see how HP 3D Printing’s internal production facility reaches Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE) levels of 90% for both the HP Jet Fusion 5200 Series 3D Printing Solution and the HP Jet Fusion 4200 3D Printing Solution. Learn more about HP Multi Jet Fusion technology here: https://bit.ly/2T91qsx

AV Equipment Install by HCGi

Here is a successfully completed job at the Maryland Health Care Commission.

TASKS COMPLETED:

OFFICE 103: Removed existing display from the mount. Installed new 50" display on the existing mount. Connected new display to existing HDMI cable. The office is set up with 2 monitors at PC and USB out from PC converted to HDMI at the display.

OFFICE 114: Installed 50" display on Peerless articulating wall mount 60" AFF to the center at the customer designated location. Installed pass through wall plate at display and PC locations. Ran 50' fiber HDMI cable from display to PC location. Installed the Crestron HD-DA2-4KZ-E distribution amplifier next to the PC to duplicate the PC monitor image onto the display.

OFFICE 120: Installed 50" display on Peerless articulating wall mount 60" AFF to the center at customer designated location. Installed pass through wall plate at display and PC locations. Ran 50' fiber HDMI cable from display to PC and connected to display and PC onboard HDMI port. The client downloaded and installed the driver on PC to use the HDMI port for the 3rd display image.

OFFICE 112: Moved equipment and tools into the room and set up for install. SYSTEM TESTED FOR FULL FUNCTIONALITY, INCLUDING POWER CYCLE: YES SYSTEM DEMONSTRATION GIVEN TO Individual Office Personnel

ISSUES FOUND: Discovered wall studs in 3 of the 6 offices were 24" o.c. - articulating mounts are 16" o.c. Re-purposed mount already in Office 103. HCGI delivered flat mounts for the other 2 offices in the afternoon.

Building A Mobile STEAM Lab

Mobile lab

(Image credit: Lisa Spencer)

By Lisa Spencer

T&L Leadership Summit attendee Lisa Spencer shares how Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland is building its own mobile STEAM lab

T&L Leadership summit Edtech in Action is a new series of articles from attendees and speakers of Tech & Learning's events. Click here to learn more about these events and to apply to attend.

Initiative: Building a mobile STEAM lab

Where: Prince George’s County Public Schools, Maryland 

All of the other districts I spoke with that had a mobile lab of their own had utilized contractors or outside entities to complete the work required to transform the bus. I figured, “If our students are able to build a house, surely they can complete the interior work required to revamp a bus.” I viewed this as an awesome opportunity to merge the two thoughts. A mobile lab and student involvement, while at the same time, address one of PGCPS’ goals and an overarching goal throughout the United States. Specifically, the goal of providing learning opportunities encompassing science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics in a fun, yet challenging, thought-provoking way.

Croom Vocational High School was the school selected. Under the guidance of their teachers, students enrolled in the carpentry and electrical courses completed the flooring and cabinetry work and installed countertops. Currently, the students and teacher in the electrical class are preparing to start the electrical work.

In regard to the exterior of the bus, last school year we hosted a “Cover The Bus” contest for students enrolled in the Graphic Arts program. Drawings were submitted and the student who submitted the winning drawing received a Chromebook, donated by one of our vendor sponsors.

We have ordered supplies, tools, and equipment ready to serve students at all levels, K-12. As soon as the electrical work is completed, the bus will be driven to the shop to be wrapped, showcasing the student drawing. We are expecting to have the STEAM Lab roadshow ready immediately after spring break. I can’t wait!

I want to thank and share our great appreciation for the vendor support received [from Hartford Computing Group, Inc. (HCGi)] who donated Home Depot cards to assist with purchasing the wood and laminate materials and [Lenovo donated] computing devices toward achieving this endeavor.

Lisa Spencer is the Director of Instructional Technology & Support for Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland.

Click here for more info and to apply to attend a Tech & Learning Leadership Summit.

See the full article at https://www.techlearning.com/news/edtech-in-action-building-a-mobile-steam-lab

Warm winter golf in Baltimore draws rugged core of duffers, pros alike

By MIKE KLINGAMAN, BALTIMORE SUN |
MAR 06, 2020 | 5:00 AM

Why play golf in winter? Cheap fees. No crowds. Fast games.

Tee up in the cold, duffers say, and enjoy the perks. Icy fairways give balls more scoot. Frozen ponds send wayward shots bounding on. Find the rough? Big deal. Tall grass flattens down, come winter. Moreover, summer’s pesky insects are gone, and sunburns aren’t a worry.

Share those merits with Bill Hottman and the Bel Air golfer frowns.

“Don’t tell too many people or it’ll get crowded out there,” said Hottman, 64.

It’s no secret; the game appeals to seasoned golfers year-round. Last month, Pine Ridge Golf Course held a tournament, the Jack Frost Scramble, which drew 84 hardy entrants — Hottman included — for a 9 a.m. start in 19-degree weather. A January tourney, the Chilly Willy, attracted 120 golfers to the course in Timonium. On Saturday, Mount Pleasant Golf Course, in Baltimore, will host another winter best-ball outing.

[See the full article here.]

Daniel Stern Is Guest Speaker At 8th Annual HCGi Solutions Summit

Meet our Sponsors

Vendor Showcase

10:30am – 11:10am BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Lakeview D – Enterprise IT hosted by Anita Schweinfurth

Patuxent Room – Data Center hosted by Brian Stubblefield

11:20am – 12noon BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Lakeview D – All A/V hosted by Bill Hottman

Patuxent Room – Public Safety hosted by Mark Lance

12noon – 1:00pm BUFFET LUNCH – Lakeview Gallery/Ballroom

1:00pm – 2:00pm SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER – Lakeview Ballroom

Daniel Stern / Raven’s statistics and research analyst

Hosted by HCGI President, Bill Heneghan

2:00pm – 3:00pm VENDOR SHOWCASE and One on One Sessions

Forecasting opportunities to meet end-user expectations

Schedule with a vendor and HCGI representatives

See more and register at https://www.hcgi.com/ss8

LBC² - Just a Few Days Away. There's Still Time...

HCGi is a proud sponsor for the upcoming 3rd Annual Loyola Blakefield Cyber Challenge.

About the Competition
 The third annual Loyola Blakefield Cyber Challenge is an exciting event for all participants. It will take place on March 7, 2020, at Loyola Blakefield High School. The challenge is created by students for students. Participants will be challenged with real-life scenarios that embody the specific cyber threats that are prevalent in today’s society. Whether you have had little or no training or are well-skilled in computer management, this challenge is open to everyone. The challenge will teach and assess the participant’s skills and applications for handling cyber threats. Industry mentors will be on hand to make this a true teaching and learning day. If you have wanted to get involved in Cyber Security this is a great opportunity to try it out.

 The competition is open to all students in grades 8 thru 12.  There is NO COST to attend for the day and lunch is provided.  You only need to bring a laptop with you that is capable of accessing the internet wirelessly.


About the Workforce Development Summit 
The third annual edition of LBC2 will include a Workforce Summit for parents, industry partners, guidance counselors, educators, friends and family of competitors. The summit is inspired by the Governor’s Workforce Development Board (GWDB) and aspires to highlight the private and public sector’s need in all types of businesses for future employees capable of defending against complicated cyber threats. In order to fulfill these needs, the development of student’s hard and soft skills must occur through internships and apprenticeships. The Workforce Summit hopes to build a better relationship between students, educators, and employers to provide students the skills to make a positive impact in the future.  Many of the summit sessions will be run by current students.

Date/Time/Location:
The competition will be located at Loyola Blakefield High School on March 7th, 2020.

500 Chestnut Ave, Towson, MD 21204. The Competition will be held in the Knott Hall Four Court Gym. On competition day, there will be signs to direct participants to the location.

See more about this event at LBC2.org