May 18, 2008

Online Education Has The Power To Transform Lives And Fulfill Dreams

Online education is a dramatic development in the advancement of distance learning. A century ago, a person without access to a school or training program could sometimes get the information that they desired through a correspondence course. It was not a particularly efficient way to get an education but it did open doors that might otherwise have been closed. The quantum leaps in technology during the latter part of the 20th century have altered the profile of distance learning.

Students that cannot attend classes at a traditional college campus can now participate in the same course of study as those attending day or evening school. Online education programs are structured such that a student can integrate lessons into their unique daily schedules. Participants have the flexibility to complete their work when it is convenient but communicate with instructors whenever it is necessary. You can now pursue a college degree at your own pace with a course load that is appropriate for you.

Online education is rapidly evolving and courses are available for a variety of subjects. It is possible for someone to finish their high school studies and obtain a GED online. Courses and certifications are also available in a variety of technical areas. An ever-expanding number of degree programs are available. Students can earn a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree for an impressive list of disciplines.

The Internet is moving well beyond e-mails and e-commerce. Predictions of an Information Age are proving prophetic as the information superhighway carries more and more vehicles transporting ideas opening the door to an education that may have been denied to many. Online education has resulted in thousands of virtual classrooms that offer the possibility for accomplishment and advancement for all.

In an age where everyone and everthing is stretched too thin it is refreshing to know that the Internet provides legitimate resources that allow almost anyone to learn about almost anything. You can now feel confident that life and opportunity are not passing you by. Higher education is noiw available to any person with the drive, the desire and a personal computer.

Terry McDermott is the administrator of the Lifelong Learning Center at http://www.lifelonglearningcenter.com, a website that supplies resources for those seeking information about educational opportunities online.

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April 10, 2008

Was Rembrandt Paranoid?

One of my favorite museums is the Norton Simon, located almost exactly where the annual Rose Parade begins, in Pasadena, California.

The collection is small and selective, and it includes life size outdoor sculptures and works by the major players in art history.

Two paintings are especially enjoyable, hanging as they are on opposite walls, the figures seeming to be in constant eye contact with each other. They’re the artist, Rembrandt, in a self-portrait, and his son, Titus.

I’ve gazed at these works, perhaps a hundred times, but the other day, I saw something new: worry or fear or even paranoia in the elder Rembrandt’s eyes.

What did he have to be worried about? While many painters never achieved renown in their day, and had to die before their works could fetch a pretty penny, I believe Rembrandt did enjoy the support of patrons.

Still, it seems, peering into his eyes, that he’s preoccupied.

Perhaps, he’s thinking, “I shouldn’t be taking this time to paint myself, for which there is no market, when I could be painting my patrons, and be paid for it!”

Testing the thesis that self-portraitists are stealing time for themselves, I looked at other artists’ self-representations, and saw a similar insecurity.

Apart from the truth or merit in this inference, there is something to be said for great art, which commends it to us, over hundreds and even thousands of years.

You can see it again and again, and always find something new in it!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, “The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable,” published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

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April 2, 2008

American Film Schools

American film schools have a rich history dating back to the 1970s, when there was little chance to get film education. The only option to gain knowledge was to go to Hollywood at a young age and work along with people in the industry. By the 1970s, many major universities began to offer classes in film technology. Over the years, many film schools have opened with numerous educational programs that provide actual industry experience along with education.
American film schools are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST). The schools are commonly departments of universities, divisions of colleges or separate schools. There are some privately owned film schools as well that are not connected to American universities. Most of the schools provide undergraduate and graduate degree programs and some have graduate programs only. Various techniques involved in movie making, including film production, film theory and screen writing are taught. Hands-on practical knowledge and intern programs are included as part of studies.
Some schools are considered top in the nation. New York Film Academy, Los Angeles Film School, USA Film School, San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking, and FSU Film School are among them. These schools are located in prime areas of cities including New York and Los Angeles, and provide better education and have good infrastructure. But studying in these schools is quite expensive.
Founded in 1929, The University of Southern California’s School of Cinema-Television is the oldest film school in the nation. Some other good schools are the American Film Institute (AFI), California Institute of the Arts, Columbia University School of the Arts, The North Carolina School of the Arts, and the schools at New York University (NYU), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and University of Texas at Austin.

New York Film Schools provides detailed information on Film Schools, New York Film Schools, Top Film Schools, American Film Schools and more. New York Film Schools is affiliated with Italian Cooking Schools.

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