Archive for June, 2009

PostHeaderIcon Careers After Art School

Ordinarily, most people do not perceive being an artist as a realistic career choice. The common impression is that it is merely an elitist pursuit, with no guarantee of monetary returns. However, this preconceived notion may not be applicable to every career option that involves art. For instance, having a career in art is not restricted to just painting. There are various other lucrative career options in the field of art, upon graduation from art school. These schools can provide formal training in art, which equip students with tools that can be used in commercial settings. You can be one of the lucky ones to be able to pay your bills through your art!

Career Options After Art School

MultiMedia Artist And Animator: If you are interested in creating animated images for commercials in various media, like television, print media, cinema or computer games, you can become a multimedia artist. Multi media artists create the large series of pictures, which become the animated images on television, computer games or movies. In 2002, there were almost 75,000 animators and multimedia artists in the United States of America, and this number is expected to expand further in the future. You can become a multimedia artist if you possess a bachelor or masters degree in fine arts, although it is not always necessary.

Craft Artist: A career as a craft artist can be ideal if you have a passion for creating useful artifacts like stained glass, pottery, hand woven rugs, sculpture or woodcarvings. These crafts are very popular in markets all around the world, thus making a profession as a craft artist a lucrative career option. You never know when your craftwork could become the next sought after collectible! Studio art classes at your local art school can be of great help in mastering the required skills. You can also join an art club to enhance your craft. Generally, craft artists work on a freelance commission basis. You can also find work in studios and galleries that usually require creative craft artists. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average earnings of craft artists in 2005 was $27,360.

Fine Art Artist: Fine art is another career option that you can pursue after art school. Painters, illustrators and sculptors come under this category. The competition in this field is fierce, as there are a lot of aspiring artists. As a fine art artist, you can display your art in museums, and your creations can be sold in auctions.

Art Director: As an art director, you can produce creative visual concepts meant for magazines, newspapers, videos, websites or billboards. An art director needs to coordinate with graphic designers as well as photographers, and make decisions related to the presentation of visual concepts. Having management skills is an added advantage for being an art director. A starting income of $73,790 was estimated for art directors according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Advertising agencies also generally require the skills of an art director.

Besides these career options, you can also try your hand at teaching art, landscape decor, interior and clothing designing, or photography.

Requirements For A Career In Arts And Crafts

If you want to pursue a career in art, passion and interest in this field are prerequisites. However, you will need patience, as earning from your craft may take awhile. Dedication and determination often results in fame and success. For example, artists like Van Gogh and Picasso have become household names. People with a bent of mind and passion for art usually find their art careers satisfying and enjoyable.

PostHeaderIcon X Ray – Base For All Diagnostic Imaging

Technology is being used in the field of medical sciences to diagnose almost any given problem. It can be a small injury or a deadly decease, a detailed diagnosis is required to cure from the roots. One among such technologies is the use of X-ray in the treatments.

X-ray technology uses radiography to capture the images of your body parts for the diagnostic purposes. For example, if you have a hairline crack on your bone, your doctor will be able to give you a solution easily by studying the X-ray images. The process of developing X-ray images is a highly skilled operation. In order to perform such training one has to be trained and license. There are many X-ray training educational institutions most of them trade schools, which provide you with the instruction and experience. After the successful completion of the course you will be awarded with a certification or diploma.

Most people at minimum know the basics of how to work with fixed and portable x-ray equipment, how to develop pictures, and how to position people so the best pictures can be taken. Others learn deeper aspects of the radiology profession and may be able to do sonograms, magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs), and computerized axial tomography scans (CAT scans or CT scans). You can get your X-ray certification through many programs available in hospitals as well. Mostly those programs are for employees of the hospitals, but they might be open for general public as well. There are a lot of options to learn X-Ray technology. 

X-ray technology is being used in all walks of the life. Be it a medical diagnosis, dental science or even crime detection. In dental science the X-ray certification plays a very important role. The main responsibilities of dental assistants are as follows:

•    To take the X-ray images of the jaws of the patients.

•    To protect the patients from the harmful radiation.

•    Finally to assist the dentist by providing the image

The technician with an X-ray certification is capable of interpreting the images. Basically interpretation is analyzing the image which is developed from the X-ray machine. The output will be in the form a black and white of the negative image. It can be an image which consists of density based pseudo color or even the organic or inorganic colors. Apart from playing an important role in the field of medical science, the X-ray machines can also be used in the crime detection. X-ray detection techniques are also widely used in the Airport, bus stations or in Railway stations to check the passenger luggage.

X-Ray field and diagnostic imaging field in general requires ability to work well with people, who may sometimes be uncooperative or unable through illness or injury, to stand, sit, or lie down in certain positions. As an x-ray technician one must be able to exude a calm and helpful demeanor, especially to those who are worried and in pain.

If you want to pursue a carrier in the field of X-ray technology, you will be presented with a wide range of options. Just browse the internet and you will get all the information regarding the X-ray schools or institutes which conducts the X-ray programs. However, please remember that before you could start your professional carrier in the field of X-ray you should have a valid X-ray certification. In many of the states it is mandatory to have your certificate.

PostHeaderIcon International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program Comes to Washington D.C. Schools

Shephard Elementary School Immersion Program

Washington D.C. Schools are eager to begin a new language immersion program at the primary school level. Beginning in August of 2006, pre – Kindergarten students of various foreign language backgrounds will join the new language immersion program. In particular, French and Spanish speaking children are needed to start this two way immersion experience. Students participating in the program will receive either French – English or Spanish – English content classes taught by teachers fluent in the target language. Children born in late 2001 and early 2002 and speak a foreign language are encouraged to enroll.

The Shepard Elementary School program is part of the Washington D.C. Public School System’s ongoing efforts to integrate the International Baccalaureate Program into the elementary school level. Beginning in August 2006, all grade levels at Shepard Elementary school will begin participating in this internationally recognized program.

The Primary Years Program

The Primary Years Program is designed to teach the whole child through a range of interdisciplinary activities. Designed for students aged three through twelve, it involves an overall development of the mind, body, and heart and focuses on the needs of the child in all forms of development, including social, physical, emotional, cultural, and academic. The curriculum is published in English, French, and Spanish. The Primary Years Program is designed to prepare students for the International Baccalaureate Program, a college preparatory program offered at high schools throughout the world, including many locations in the United States. The introduction of the Primary Years Program in Washington, D.C. is in response to the large international community that lives and works in the area.

How Shepard Became an IB World School

In order to teach the Primary Years Program, Shepard had to go through several stages to ensure that the curriculum would reflect an international standard. Washington D.C. schools first entered the Consideration Phase, as they conducted research into the ability for schools like Shepard to meet the rigorous requirements for admission to the program. The district conducted an in -depth analysis of the philosophy and curriculum as well as identifying the resources that would be needed to implement the Primary Years Program.

During the Candidate Phase, the school goes through all the necessary procedures for implementing the new program. This involves training teachers to use the new curriculum as well as gathering the resources necessary to deliver the program. Shepard Elementary School then must implement the program for a full school year in order to complete this phase. The Washington D.C. school district will assist Shepard in beginning the program in August of 2006. This trial phase will determine how well Washington D.C. schools are able to handle the rigorous demands of this international school system.

At the end of the trial phase, scheduled for August of 2007 for Shepard Elementary School, a delegation from the International Baccalaureate Organization visits the school. During this visit, the delegation members decide if the school has shown success in implementing the curriculum. If the school does well, the school becomes authorized to offer the program and attains the internationally recognized status of International Baccalaureate World School. The IBO will continue to visit and monitor the school’s progress every five years.

Teacher Training

The teachers at Shepard Elementary received special training in order to meet the demands of the internationally recognized curriculum. Before becoming authorized to teach the program, the principal, administrative staff, and the teachers all undergo training of some sort. Some teachers attend IBO workshops. Many of the teachers in the Washington D.C. school district attended school based training organized by the IBO. Teachers are also encouraged to keep up – to – date using IBO’s online curriculum center in addition to attending conferences and workshops.

Shepard Elementary has taken the first steps to bring Washington D.C. public education to an international level by entering these first phases of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program.