Sacramento schools and the trillion dollar question

Sacramento Schools are the epitome of the problems and concerns held by all public schools in the state of California. Recent and ongoing debates about funding arts education, construction costs, and new initiatives play out in Sacramento Schools daily. The most recent fuel to the fire was added when a study titled Getting Down to the Facts was released: it’s an evaluation of the adequacy and efficiency of the current funding of California’s public schools. The study was conducted by a California non-profit educational think tank, Pacific Research Institute (PRI). Given the state’s poor reputation in regards to education, most educators in Sacramento Schools weren’t surprised by the study’s conclusion that the state’s current educational funding system is dysfunctional. However, sensational reports claiming that even an investment of $1 trillion couldn’t fix the problems of California and Sacramento Schools ruffled the feathers of administrators trying to get money for their initiatives. Dr. Vicki Murray, senior fellow in Education Studies at PRI, explained that the report did not say that the problems could not be fixed with large amounts of money, rather, “It found what research and common-sense have told us for a long time: spending more money on more of the same won’t reverse California’s race to the bottom. California’s infrastructure is so poor; it’s nearly impossible to know where education funding goes or what programs are effective. We shouldn’t spend more if we don’t know what’s working…reform must be our first priority.” What will this mean for Sacramento Schools? It depends what politicians do with this information. Two of the big issues have been in arts education and construction costs. Currently local districts like Sacramento Schools fund 50% of monies for new building and school renovations. The state covers the rest. Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed upping the local commitment to 60%. Opponents claim this places an even greater burden on at-risk and low-income Sacramento Schools. In the arts arena, however, the Governor made a splash with administrators in Sacramento Schools by granting the largest ever state allotment of funds for the arts in the summer of 2006. $500 million was committed to equipment for arts, music and physical education programs, while $105 was earmarked for hiring and training qualified arts teachers. Sacramento Schools rejoiced at this news because of the strong correlation between arts education and high academic achievement, especially in low-income children. So even though educators and administrators in Sacramento Schools may agree that the educational system is dysfunctional, the lack of vision regarding the solution makes them nervous. Depending on the reforms proposed it’s likely that arts education could again lose funding (a common trend in Sacramento Schools). The report may also makes it difficult for Sacramento Schools to get the funding they want to support existing programs. And with both California and Sacramento Schools at the bottom of the educational barrel in national scores, that has everyone concerned.

Children take part in animation and game design courses

If you believe what the old timers have to say, video games and television sets are ruining the American family. In particular, those who grew up in a less technological time will tell you that today's children are negatively impacted because they play video games instead of exercising. While it is probably true that the truth lies somewhere in the middle of extreme theories, it looks like there is finally something definitely productive coming out of the video game buzz. The children of this generation now have grown to not only love video game play, but to be interested in video game design. Programs are now arising in the field of Animation and Game Design that are geared towards children who are high school aged or even younger. With new game systems coming out every couple of years, opportunities in this exciting field are growing by leaps and bounds. When companies like Microsoft and Sony are able to sell their game consoles for more than five hundred dollars each, it should be very apparent that there is some potential in this field. Children and teenagers, not content with just playing the games, have become very interested in creating the games. For those older individuals who want kids to be outside playing, this seems like at least some sort of compromise. Some question how kids are getting the knowledge to get a good start in the animation and game design field. There are the very popular aforementioned programs that have classes designed specifically for them. One very popular program is in the field of robotics. It seems that robotics is the next in a long line of video game technology. Games have evolved at such a rate where it has become very apparent that gamers will no longer be satisfied with only high-quality digital games. They want to get involved through robotics. Nintendo took the first step this holiday season when they released the Nintendo Wi, a game console that enables the players to use their own motions to dictate the movements of the characters on the screen. Robotics classes for young people are not designed to be taught like a normal class. Because of this, kids learn in an environment that will remind them nothing of a normal school classroom. Keeping with that theme, children are not relegated to a harsh and limited curriculum for their classes. Instead, these programs, taught at many places around the United States, are offering a chance to learn in a very relaxed atmosphere. Children are taught the art of animation and game design by adult mentors who have the time, desire, and expertise to impact knowledge into young people that will undoubtedly get them started on the right path. Students in these programs learn all about animation and robotics. They learn how to think creatively in order to bring these objects to life. At these programs, creativity and the lively human imagination are valued like premium commodities. When students get further involved in the extensive learning programs, they will even be able to create their own robotic machines in an attempt to create game designs. Today's children and teenagers are no longer interested in just playing video games. They want to get involved in the action. Animation and game design programs geared specifically for children have allowed them to put that long-standing creativity to use and get to work on something special. While they might not be out playing in the back yard like their grandfather would prefer, they are putting that passion for video games to a good use. As these programs continue to be designed with young folks in mind, today's youth will continue to take advantage of the great opportunities to learn and grow.

Marketing careers

Professionals in the field of marketing are the eyes and the ears of a company. They are the link between consumer and product. Job titles in the field of marketing include Market Researcher, Survey Researcher, Advertising/Marketing Consultant, Marketing Coordinator, Marketing Assistant, Marketing Manager and Promotions Planner. These titles all have a multitude of varying tasks and responsibilities but all have one goal in mind, to learn as much as possible about the consumer in order to serve them better and increase the sale of the companies product or service. Knowledge is key in the field of marketing. Most private sector marketing careers have a minimum requirement of a master’s degree and this stipulation includes both employment and advancement. Entry-level positions are often filled by graduates with a bachelor’s degree in marketing or some related field. These positions are frequently non-marketing related. Careers as a research assistant, administrative or management trainee, marketing interviewer all the way to sales person are often slotted for bachelor’s degree holding candidates while executive and middle management positions are held for those with strong computer and quantitative skills, experience and an advanced degree. Professionals in the field of marketing typically earn advanced degrees in business administration, marketing, statistics or communications. A liberal arts education can also be seen as useful. Courses like economics, psychology, English and sociology can enhance quantitative skills and courses in mathematics, sampling theory, survey design and computer science can aid in the science of data collection, which is critical in this field. The area of annual rate of pay is where the discrepancy between having experience and an advanced degree and not having these things becomes more apparent. The median annual earnings of a market research analyst in 2002 were $53,810, while the median earnings of a survey researcher in 2002 were $22,200. For market research analysts the middle 50 percent earned between $38,760 and $76,310 while the lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,390 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $100,160. As for survey researchers, the middle 50 percent earned between $17,250 and $38,530, while the lowest 10 percent earned less than $15,140 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $57.080. Once the math is all finished there is only one poignant way of stating the obvious - in the marketing field is pays to continue your education. Due to a competitive economy and the need for market research and strategy by a variety of different companies and industries, employment in the field of marketing is expected to grow between 21 and 35 percent, which is above average, through 2012. Career opportunities will be more plentiful and less competitive for candidates with advanced degrees. Those with bachelor’s degrees will have to scramble for the limited number of available entry-level positions. However, a candidate with a bachelor’s degree and strong computer and quantitative skills may be able to gain employment at private firms.

So college students make the most of your educational experience

When you finally head off to college, a whole new world opens up for you – a world that is totally unlike anything you previously experienced. You can now go where you want, do what you want and have total freedom over your life. You are finally on your own and the experience is a great one. Heading to the dorm for the first time to live on your own, meet hundreds of new and interesting people and join as many clubs, frats, sororities or other groups as you desire. Yes, the doors of society have now finally opened for you, and it is time for you to take control of your life and make your own decisions without the helping hand of your parents. With so many things out there to see and do, many companies have recognized that the newfound independence of the college student is one which can be tapped into for extra financial resources. So, for students from all walks of life who are looking for great deals on products as well as new and exciting ways of getting from place to place, there are millions of different opportunities to explore to make the most out of your college experience. Since most college students are over eighteen when they enroll, the first offer that they will probably receive is for a student credit card. Student’s credit cards are a real crapshoot, as some will give you great deals and valuable rewards while others are completely worthless and will not give you any incentives no matter how much money you spend. All too often, people looking for students cards will be sucked into a nightmare of credit fees, high rates and debt galore, so be sure to read all of the information about a potential credit card before you fill out the paperwork. Also, around this time, you will probably be presented with multiple students loans which can help you pay for your college tuition and housing fees. These are great, but remember that you will have to pay them back sooner or later and interest will usually start piling up the month after you graduate with your Bachelors. While most people think of credit cards and loans when they think of students, there are a multitude of other different products and companies which also give students great incentives and discounts. The student store at your college is a great place to find all kinds of deals on everything from a student’s desk to a student’s phone to students’ software for your computer. Some of the larger universities even have in house computer stores so you can purchase your very own Apple or Dell laptop if you need a computer for your schoolwork. As far as travel is concerned, there is really no better time to set out on your own adventure to discover the world you live in. From study abroad programs to special deals on student’s flights, you can see the world for a price that is totally unheard of. If you are a college student with a disability, even cheaper rates apply if you book through your school’s office for students with disabilities. All in all, from student’s insurance to travel to all of the necessities to make your educational experience flow completely smoothly, there is a deal for just about everything if you are a student. If there is something out there you want to purchase, simply bust out your student credit card to purchase whatever it is that you want with your very own student discount. The possibilities for what you can save on are practically endless – and you can even pay for it all with the excess cash from your low interest student loan.

Classroom management plan

When developing classroom plans and teaching methods, many teachers use collaborative learning techniques. This generally involves intergroup learning and the use of verbal interaction. Where the teacher is not just teaching, rather giving the students an opportunity to learn through interpersonal interaction. Some use peer groups for classroom management, thereby creating more time for personal interaction with individual students. Others use this teaching strategy to enhance students' motivation by making class work more "fun." Still others believe that collaborative learning can provide valuable opportunities for students to work together across ethnic and gender lines, thereby facilitating friendships. All of these reasons for the use of collaborative group work are worthy goals in classroom instruction. Seldom, however, is conceptual learning the primary goal behind the use of collaborative group techniques. Following is a classroom plan that enables effective classroom management of time, and organization of activities for children. Prepare a schedule that allows time for learning as well fun and activities. Rearrange the daily schedule, go outside to read, give clipboards to students and go outside to draw, have a theme day. For instance for every first Monday of the Month, students can come dressed in the colors of the rainbow, or for older students, they come dressed creatively in some historical attire and bring along something that they have that relates to that attire. Discussing these makes a good start for the day. These are of course just ideas and leave room for the teachers’ ingenuity. Begin the day with bell work, which is an introductory task or activity that should get them into the learning mode. From then on the lesson plan can be followed with regular fun intervals and breaks. Ask the students to write once or twice a week: What did you learn today? for instance, and also take them outside on the school grounds and ask them to study something specific, be it the actions of a gardener, a butterfly or even the different kinds of flowers in the garden. Then ask them to write about them. This provides for the leisure and fun time activities. When passing out tests or worksheets or notices, write the names of absent students on the papers left. When students arrive to begin the day, have them remove everything that will be needed during the day. Have a rule: NO one may get into a backpack during the day. Write a red M in the top right corner on all Master copies. This will distinguish the Master from a copy very easily and prevent accidentally passing out the master to a student. Always spend the last few minutes of the day and review: Hopefully, when parents ask about the day, students will have an answer other than "Nothing!" In addition in particular classroom activities can be assigned to different students individually or in pairs. For instance someone can be made the monitor, to clean the blackboard, someone can be the chair stacker, someone can be the timekeeper etc. This way the small tasks that need to be completed through the class are managed by the students enabling them to take responsibility. One key here that adheres to the theories on classroom management by Howard Glasser and Dreiker, is that of collaborative and verbal interaction learning. Throughout the class time students should be involved with verbal interaction with the teacher. The day should be planned such that it gives time and opportunity for all different students to have a special moment. Some experts believe that every student can have a focus week, where he/she gets a few minutes in the beginning of every class to share his life with the students. It not only aids in interpersonal learning, as well as linguistic learning, but it also makes the students feel special. Bibliography Chizhik, Alexander W., Collaborative learning through high-level verbal interaction: from theory to practice.. Vol. 72, The Clearing House, 09-19-1998, pp 58(4).