Posts Tagged: United States
15
Nov 10
Speed Reading – Course of The Week
Are you an efficient reader? Whether it be reading for school, work or pleasure, most of us wish we could read at a higher velocity while maintaining a high level of comprehension. If you feel you’re a slow reader, you read a lot on-screen or you are overwhelmed with all you have to read, we recommend taking a speed reading course!
Freedom Personal Development in Wisconsin, USA is convinced that reading training that we all receive in elementary school is appropriate for young readers but not for adults. Reading habits that we acquired in our school years doesn’t work well when it comes to processing loads of printed information every day. The Reading Smart Workshop might be a good choice for those who want to learn time-saving strategies to read faster, comprehend more, concentrate better and retain with greater ease.
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, USA – offers Speed Reading and Study Strategies Program tailored for college and university students. The aim of this program is to double your reading speed in textbooks, and triple your speed in easier reading materials. You will learn how to concentrate better and remember more, even though you are reading on paper or on-screen much faster. The course brochure promises that you will learn the best way to study textbooks, take notes, prepare for tests and develop your vocabulary.
How fast did you read this post?
8
Nov 10
Motorsports Engineering – Course of the Week
Who doesn’t admire the cutting-edge technology and sophisticated design of Formula 1 race cars? The fastest race in the world represents innovation, superlative performance and style. There are thousands of people involved in creating the show – from vehicle and engine designers, vehicle and engine testers, motorsports race-event managers and race-crew management. The number of mechanics in one race exceeds 6,000!
There are various career opportunities for those interested in high performance vehicles:
The Old Dominion University in Virginia, U.S. offers Bachelor in Motorsports Engineering Technology. This program involves conventional lectures in classrooms and practice in laboratory facilities, including the driving simulator and chassis dynamometer. Motorsports Engineering program consists of such courses as: Ground Vehicle Aerodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Race Car Performance, and High Performance Piston Engines.
The Master in Science Racing Engine Design in Oxford Brookes University is offered in the UK. This program provides exposure to design, simulation, modelling and analysis of performance road cars, through rally, IRL, Kart and F3 right up to F1. The analysis elements of the modules include structural optimization, dynamics, engine performance and tuning.
Auto racing is not only an entertainment event, but also a real opportunity to test vehicles, their power, safety and aerodynamics in extreme conditions.
Formula 1 Technology facts:
6,000 – the number of Mechanics in one race
100º F – temperature of tires when it is driven
600 kg– weight of the machine with driver
10 million USD - the presumed value of a machine
29
Oct 10
Halloween: A Few Fun Facts
Halloween Origins
Halloween is on October 31st, the last day of the Celtic calendar. It was originally a pagan holiday, honoring the dead. Halloween was referred to as All Hallows Eve and dates back to over 2000 years ago.
Halloween Commercial Success
In the U.S., Halloween is the 2nd most commercially successful holiday after Christmas. During a “Halloween Season” Americans spend around $2.5 billion on decorations, costumes, candy and party goods.
Carved Pumpkin
A jack-o’-lantern is a carved pumpkin. It was named after the phenomenon of strange light flickering over peat bogs, called jack-o’-lantern. The world’s largest jack-o’-lantern was carved in 2005 in Pennsylvania, from the world’s then-largest pumpkin weighing in at 1,469 lb (666.33 kg).
Trick-or-Treat
93% of American children, under the age of 12 go out trick-or-treating every year. An average Halloween trick-or-treat bag can consist of sweets containing as much as 6,653 calories. The tradition of trick-or-treating comes from a Scottish and Irish practice called “guising”. Children collecting treats would only receive the prize if they did a “trick” such as song or dance.
Candy
One quarter of all of the candy sold in the United States every year is purchased before Halloween. Chocolate makes up about 75% of it. Peanut and chocolate bars are among most popular candy for trick or treaters. Candy corn also popular around Halloween was created in the XIX century. The National Confectioners Association estimates that 20 million pounds (9000 tons) of candy corn are sold annually. Candy apple is made by coating an apple with a sugar layer and its popularity is associated with the fall of an annual apple harvest.
Costumes
Dressing up in costumes and going “guising” was popular in Scotland and Ireland at Halloween by the 19th century. The first mass-produced Halloween costumes appeared in stores in the 1930s. Traditionally the most common costumes are vampires, ghosts and skeletons, but more recently pop culture-inspired characters are gaining popularity. The most popular 2009 Halloween costumes were Michael Jackson, Sarah Palin, Transformers, Hannah Montana and Barack Obama.
Source: Wikipedia
25
Oct 10
American Sign Language – Course of The Week
The "I Love You" sign
American Sign Language (ASL), a visual-gestural language with its own vocabulary and grammatical structures, is said to be the fourth most commonly used language in the United States. A universal sign language does not presently exist, and thus different sign languages are used in different countries. British Sign Language (BSL), for example, differs from ASL.
Sign Language is offered at many universities as a foreign language and has gained popularity among hearing college and high school students, since many American colleges and universities have accepted American Sign Language as an option to fulfill the language entrance and exit requirements. Sign Language can be useful for anyone who has contact with the deaf public in their work place or personal life. Fluency in ASL can also allow you to be an ASL/English interpretor, and is important if you aspire to become an educator, or social worker.
California State University at Fresno awards a Certificate in Conversational American Sign Language to students who complete the 12-unit program.
Deaf Studies Certificate Program at Hofstra University Continuing Education in New York is delivered by instructors that are both hearing and deaf. Courses may be taken on an individual basis without participating in the certificate program.
The American Sign Language Program at the Northeastern University in Boston will provide you with a wide array of course offerings as well as volunteer, internship and practicum opportunities.
Northeastern University’s Master of Science in Interpreter Pedagogy (MIP) is primarily offered online, using web-based courses. It will prepare you for interpreting, with a focus on reflective teaching and active learning.
Source: The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), USA
18
Oct 10
Enology – Winemaking – Course of The Week
Have you ever wondered what sort of magic is necessary for producing a fabulous bottle of wine? Perhaps you´ve dreamed of buying a vineyard somewhere out there in California or South Africa and making the wine yourself? Does that seem a little out of reach? No worries, the first place to start is with a little education. We recommend looking into an enology (wine-making) or viticulture (grape-growing) university program that will provide you with the strong background in all aspects of wine production, including site selection, planting material, vine management, harvest parameters, grape handling and fermentation chemistry. Some programs will also provide additional business and marketing courses to help you sell your wines.
Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga Campus in Australia offers Bachelor of Wine Business, which is designed to develop knowledge and skills in winemaking, wine science, viticulture, wine appraisal and business. Students can complete their studies while working in the wine industry, or by interchanging full-time study with distance education.
Students interested in pursuing a career in sustainable viticulture practices might take a Bachelor of Science in Viticulture awarded by the California State University, Fresno, USA. Their Viticulture and Enology Research Center provides world-class education, research, and outreach programs in sustainable and value added viticulture and enology.
For spanish speaking students, Centro Internacional de Estudio del Vino (International Wine Study Center) in Mendoza, Argentina (oh, Malbec!) offers a 6-week distance course in Elaboration of Wine and Wine Slyles. In a short time you’ll learn to identify the importance of terroir and the activities carried out in the vineyard.
You can brose our directories www.educaedu.com for more enology and viticulture courses in the wine regions around the world. You migh also be interested in one of our earlier posts Wine Sommelier – Course of the Week.
Enjoy!!
8
Oct 10
Columbus Day, Día de la Raza
Next Monday, many countries in the “New World” and elsewhere are going to honor the explorer Christopher Columbus, who first landed in the New World on October 12, 1492. The day is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, as Día de la Raza in many Latin American countries and as Día de la Hispanidad in Spain. The first Columbus Day celebration was held in New York City on October 12, 1792. Today, in many towns in the U.S., special parades and large events are organized to celebrate the struggles and triumphs of immigrants who helped build the United States, and its cultural wealth. Columbus Day celebrations, however still bring about controversy due to the fact that a very large portion of the native populations perished due to wars and illness brought by the immigrants.
In countries such as Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica and Mexico, Dia de la Raza is a celebration of the Latin America’s hispanic heritage. It commerates the diversity that evolved due to the European immigration, and celebrates the melting-pot society that exists today.
29
Sep 10
10 Highest Paying Jobs and Career Paths
Many students start college not knowing exactly what career they want to pursue. If a high salary is one of your priorities in choosing a career this blog could help you. Here is a list of the most profitable career paths for the average person from statistics taken directly from the U.S. Labor Department.
1. Doctors and Surgeons
Formal education and training requirements for Surgeons are among the most demanding of any occupation, but earnings are among the highest. After training for at least 10 to 15 years (additional schooling for specializations), a surgeon has the ability to earn at least $206,770. Anesthesiologists, Gynecologists, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Internists, Prosthodontists and Orthodontists are also among the best paid health care professionals.
2. Business & Management Career Path
Top Executives are among the highest paid professional, however, this career also involves long hours, considerable travel, and might be highly stressful. Often it takes years of experience to reach management level.
3. Education Career Path
Post Secondary Health Specialties Teachers earn the highest salary in education. Health Specialty Teachers for example can earn around $102,000. Ph.D. recipients should experience the best job prospects. Many faculty members apart from their base salary have significant earnings from consulting and writing for publication. They also receive many benefits like access to campus facilities and housing and travel allowances.
4. Computer & Mathematical Science Career Paths
Job prospects seem to be excellent for computer and mathematical scientists and they may earn as much as $151,250. Computer and mathematical science researchers and scientists earn the top salaries.
5. Architecture & Engineering Career Paths
Starting salaries for Engineers are among the highest of all college graduates. But in order to keep up with improvements in technology, continuing education is critical. Petroleum Engineers have the highest salaries in the architecture and engineering occupations.
6. Legal Career Path
Remember that competition for admission to most law schools is intense. Salaries of experienced attorneys vary widely according to the type, size, and location. Median annual wages in the management of companies and enterprises is $145,770. But as a Judge you can earn above $162,140 a year.
7. Social and Political Sciences Career Path
Employment opportunities for Sociologists and Political Scientists are projected to grow much faster. Median annual wages of political scientists is $104,130. As an Economist you can earn as much as $113,590 annually, but only candidates who hold a master’s or Ph.D. degree in economics reach top salaries.
8. Biological Science Career Path
Biotechnological research and development should continue to grow at fast rates. Microbiologists earn an average annual salary of $97,264; Ecologists, $84,283; Physiologists, $109,323; and Zoologists, $116,908.
9. Physical Sciences Career Path
With their skills in problem-solving, mathematical reasoning, Computer Programming, and organizing and interpreting scientific data, Physics grads are in great demand in a wide range of industries. Such industries include telecommunications, industrial physics, hospital physics, electronics, computing and quality control testing. Potential earnings are around $106,440 a year.
10. Recreation and Fitness and Wellness Studies Career Path
As increasing numbers of people spend more time and money on Leisure and Fitness Services, job opportunities in fitness, wellness and recreation are expected to grow rapidly. Recreation and fitness employees plan, organize, and direct sport activities in recreation areas, fitness centers and tourist attractions.
Reference: USA Bureau of Labor Statistics 2009
27
Sep 10
Etiquette and Good Manners – Course of The Week
Countless books have been written on the subject of etiquette. Dining etiquette, business etiquette, phone etiquette all have varying sets of rules one should follow according to etiquette specialists. In fact, “soft skills” are as important in daily life as in a workplace, and for this reason most employers consider them to be among their most important hiring criteria. If you are looking for ways to identify and avoid common etiquette pitfalls, and learn effective techniques for selling yourself with confidence, then an etiquette and good manners course might be just what you need.
The Protocol School, located in Ellicott City, USA, offers comprehensive programs where etiquette skills are presented to participants in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. From School to Careers is a three-hour etiquette program designed for young people to provide them with some valuable, easy-to-use tools that will help them to reach their professional goals.
The Etiquette Advocate based in Washington DC offers a Course in Etiquette and Dining for Young Professionals. As a participant you will learn office etiquette, business card protocol, introductions and a proper handshake among other skills.
If you are considering pursuing a certificate in etiquette to instruct others, The Protocol School of Washington will provide you with Corporate Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant training and certification. You will learn how to present dynamic seminars and briefings on business etiquette, international protocol and dining skills.
22
Sep 10
Women Earned Majority of U.S. Doctoral Degrees
Women for the first time in American history earned the majority of U.S. doctoral degrees (50.4%) last year, according to a report released this month by the Council of Graduate Schools. The survey examined 57,600 doctorates, 90 percent of the total in the U.S received in the 2008-2009 academic year.
Stereotypes Still Affect Women Today. But the fields in which women now make up a majority go far beyond traditional disciplines. The most woman-dominated fields include: arts and humanities (53% women), education (67% women), social and behavioral sciences (60% women ), health sciences (70%women) and biological and agricultural Sciences (51% women).
There are still doctorate fields that continue to be dominated by men. 78% of Engineering doctorates and 73% of Math and Computer Sciences doctorates were awarded to men last year.
This milestone was somewhat predictable, as women have received the majority of masters degrees since the 1980s. Women constitute the majority of new doctorate recipients and their numbers increased by 6.1 last year. During the last 10 years, annual rates of increase in doctorates awarded to women was more than double compared to the male percentage. Today 60 percent of all master graduates are women. If trends continue, the number of female doctorate recipients it is likely to continue rising.
Reference: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/09/14/doctorates
20
Sep 10
Computer Game Art & Design – Course of The Week
Behind every PlayStation, Nintendo and PC game is a brain – the Computer Game Designer. Anyone can play a video game for hours on end, but the real challenge is to create one yourself. According to the PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the video game sector will note the fastest growth in the global entertainment industry in the coming years. A career in Game Art and Design is definitely worth considering if you have a passion for video games!
Relevant Game Art and Design coursework will generally include such key topics like 3D modeling & animation, level creation using commercial engines, digital audio and video production, and demo reel creation. There are a number of colleges where you can pursue this career:
In The Art Institute of California – USA Bachelor of Science in Game Art & Design students learn hands on, using industry-related software and technology.
Master of Arts in Computer Games Art at the University of Teesside, School of Computer Animation & Games in Middlesbrough, UK focuses on the creative design and development of content suitable for a computer gaming environment.
3D Graphics and Game Development Graduate Certificate at the Concordia University in Montreal, Canada offers the fundamental concepts and advanced design principles of 3D graphics and intelligent systems.
After you successfully complete the program you should be able to research game genres, styles and trends to aid in the design of games and business plans; create and edit storyboards, scripts, graphics, soundtracks and animation; develop game narratives, character histories and online help files; design a complete game level from storyboard through media distribution; prepare a portfolio and demo reel to assist in securing your future job.
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