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The Digital Media Major at the University of Central Florida

I wake up, yawn, and casually step foot out of the oh-so-comfortable down blanket I am encompassing. Ten o'clock in the morning can feel like dawn when you're a college kid off the typical eight hour schedule. I walk into the kitchen to make myself a bowl of cheerios when in steps my roommate, Annie Capps, from a hard night out. She looks tired, exhausted, and completely drained of all her lively personality; all I can do is shake my head at her, wishing I had that kind of endurance. Annie wasn't out all night drinking or partying with friends, she was back from an eighteen hour stretch of animating, creating, modeling with an entire group of animation majors, who all have this kind of devoted stamina, that underachievers, like myself, can only dream about. Annie Capps is an animation major through the Digital Media program at UCF. This basically means that she is training to create live animated screen plays with computer models, not dissimilar from the fun fictitious characters we all know, Nemo and Shrek.

"I'm not a concept artist, I like modeling, I like the tedious stuff" Annie confesses when showing me some of her project pieces.

Annie seems to enjoy the work that requires hours and hours of designing small pieces and parts of larger objects. She claims that her favorite thing to do thus far is modeling; for all of the non-animation majors out there, modeling is the process of creating the intricate construction of each character and prop in an animation. This process can be paralleled to the old way of making cartoons, when artists would spend hours drawing out each panel to create only one short film; now the characters are created once by a modeler, and animated separately by…well… an animator. She can do both of these processes, but she considers herself an expert in the modeling field.

"Sometimes I think of switching to the art department and majoring in animation that way, but I've already come so far in digital media, and I like being able to take so many different types of classes. It helps me to tap into my not-so-artsy side. Art really isn't my only hobby."

While most students have a resume that spans the length of one page; Annie was required through course work to create a packet of information outlining all of her accomplishments and abilities (sometimes a page just isn't enough, even if you are breaking the most sacred rule of resume writing….just one page in length.) In addition to a resume, she created a website that houses all of her best work and showcases her interests and abilities.

One of Annie's most recent projects and her first feature in the list of accomplishments on her resume was the creation of a music video for a fellow digital media major. The video included video editing, live footage, and over one and half minutes of animation. Video editing skills and techniques are taught through digital media as some of the required coursework, and so are video shooting techniques. "I am very interested in making music videos-shooting the footage, developing cartoon models of the characters, or even just video editing…hopefully I will be able to involve that in my career somehow," Annie dreamily comments, after verbally unfolding her recent video creation.

Another project that Annie was involved with was her design and implementation of a website devoted to the Elvis Impersonator band-Elvis Presley Experience. She followed her friend's group around for 3 months to all of their shows, taking photos and filming their acts on and off the stage. When she recorded enough data, she created an entire website for the band and included in it clips of their songs, video, and all of the digitized photos that she took while on the road.

Annie isn't exclusively a spectator when it comes to music; she has an electric guitar, bass guitar, and even knows how to keep a beat on the drums. She has been playing for years and loves to jam with her friends, who are mostly musicians themselves.

"Since when does art have to be a specialized sport? I dunno, I don't think my love of music is unrelated to my love of art, it's all like, the same."

Art, in some way, shape or form, seems to be a recurring theme within all of Annie's diverse collection of hobbies. But she is also a tech geek, who has worked with programming languages and technical website development. Anne commented to her roommate one day as they discussed an intro to computer programming course, "I liked programming JavaScript in that (Computer programming) course, but I really want to learn more about coding. I think next semester I will take C programming and really get into the tough stuff." Annie can take a variety of computer programming courses, along with her art courses and still be moving towards a Bachelors degree in the same major. Kids today… Can't keep still for one second, can you?

Annie embraces technology, and considers her major-Digital Media, as the renaissance major for anyone with an interest in about a million different things all at one time. There is only one defining factor within all of the programs through Digital media-Technology. Digital media teaches the application of technology to all kinds of interests. Art is taught through computers, music is taught with a digital medium, math is taught using computer language; the list of applications could go on and on. For Annie, well, she is just interested in how technology applies to virtually everything.

When Annie graduates she hopes to land a position creating graphics or models for music videos during the production process, she also wants to help edit these videos, shoot the footage for the videos, and create the settings for videos. Whatever position she finds herself in, it will be in technology and it will be in some form of art-whether the art is in music, computer language design, or computer graphics. She is not unique among the other students of Digital Media at UCF, and most of the pupils study more than just one aspect of technology. I guess Annie is just an example of what I like to call-modern day renaissance student. Don't misconstrue this denotation with a student who can't decide on a major and takes an assortment of seemingly unrelated classes, rather, it is a student who chose a major that allows you to take an assortment of seemingly unrelated classes, a major that finds a way to relate them.

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DePaul University Music & Entertainment Job Fair

The DePaul University Lincoln Park Campus, located at 2250 North Sheffield in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, will be hosting the DePaul University 2011 Music  amp; Entertainment Career Fair on March 10, 2011. This music and entertainment geared job fair will be held in the Student Center, and will focus on assisting anyone who is seeking employment in the entertainment and music industry. Not only are students and alumni of DePaul welcome at the job fair, it is also open to the public. Representatives from various music and entertainment companies will be on hand and looking for people to fill jobs and internships. Admission is free for all DePaul Students, Grammy U Members and DePaul Alumni members, however, there is a 5 dollar fee for students from all other colleges and a 10 dollar fee for the general public. Students from other schools need to bring their student identification cards to gain free admittance. Although dressing professionally is not a requirement to attend the job fair, it is recommended, as representatives will be conducting job interviews on site. By getting the opportunity to mingle with representatives from well-known companies in the music and entertainment business, this job fair will be the "one stop shop" for anyone interested in a job in this industry.

Source: Experience.com http://www.experience.com/stu/cf_list?aff=12467

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Galludet University: Clerc's Center National Deaf Education Center

Gallaudet University's Lauret Clerc National Deaf Education Center is a wonderful resource for teachers who teach deaf and hearing-impaired students. This center shares information with professionals and parents on ways to help their deaf or hearing-impaired student reach their full potential by improving the quality of education for children who are deaf from birth up to the age of 21.

The Clerc Center of Gallaudet University consists of Kendall Demonstration Elementary School and Model Secondary School for the Deaf. These schools work hard to offer students with hearing disabilities the best opportunities by focusing their evaluation and development activities on three priorities; literacy, family involvement, and transition to post secondary education and employment. The Clerc Center also is comprised of Exemplary Programs and Research, Training and Professional Development, Publications and Information Dissemination, Information and Computer Support.

The Clerc Center website offers valuable information for the deaf and hearing-impaired in sections: assistive devices and hearing aids, careers and employment, communication and sign language, education, especially for children and teachers, especially for parents, for people about deaf and hard of hearing, Galludet University, health and mental health, legal focus, and publications of special interests.

The assistive devices section of this website can be very beneficial for a teacher who is helping a student find the right hearing and assistive devices that best fits their needs. The website offers information about telephone aids, telecommunication devices for deaf people (TTY's), using a phone in public places, amplification devices for telephone use, television and film access (telecaption adapters, captioned/film and video programs, alerting devices, listening devices and systems, communication access system for large groups, audio loop system, AM and FM systems, infrared systems, personal listening devices, and information on helping people find the right devices for their personal needs. This information can be found under the Alerting and Communicating Devices for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People section. Information on hearing aids and sources of assistance can be found in the Hearing Aids and Other Assistive Devices: Where to Get Assistance section.

Especially for children and their teachers is a great section of the Clerc Center website. This section offers children and teachers publications, handouts, and resources to help children who are hearing-impaired or deaf. Teachers can obtain books for their students that help them to deal with their disorder as well as allow them to achieve and reach their goals. There are also books available for parents as well in order to help their child succeed even if they are deaf or hearing impaired. This would be a great section for a teacher to visit in order to suggest publications for parents who have concerns about their deaf or hearing-impaired child.

The Clerc Center offers featured links on their website that could be very helpful for students who would like to participate in summer programs. This would be excellent for a teacher to visit this section so that they can suggest some fun summer programs offered by Galluadet University. Featured links currently on the site includes: Family Learning Vacation, Kendall Summer Sports Camp, 2006 Summer Institute Information, and Clerc Center Honors Program Summer Camp.

Under the National Mission Priorities and Projects section of the Clerc Center website I found a very interesting approach to help teachers assess their students as well as students increase their achievement in school. This section is called Portfolios for Student Growth (PSG). PSG is a dynamic, student-focused, three-part process that allows a student to develop a portfolio at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf.

PSG encompasses three phases to the completion of the portfolio including: The Professional Process (which are discussions among professionals leading to a common understanding of portfolios and the portfolio process.) The Student Process (which is a student-led short and long term planning, management, and completion of their portfolio requirements), and The Student Product (a tangible collection of evidence.)

The PSG is a very powerful tool for teachers to analyze, assess and promote their student's academic growth and achievement. The PSG offers the opportunity for the teacher and student to observe and document a large range of student behaviors, skills, and learning over an elongated period of time. PSG also allows students, teachers, and families the opportunity to analyze the student's capabilities, strengths, and help to develop compensatory strategies where the student holds weaknesses, as well as plan for their future.

Teachers can begin to implement PSG into their own classrooms and the Clerc Center website offers great information on just how to do it. Available at the current time on the website is a Portfolio for Student Growth: A Teacher/Staff Guide: "Everything You Need to Know." This guide is a wonderful resource for teachers who are considering implementing PSG into their classrooms.

The Clerc Center also offers information for teachers on products and training opportunities as well as information on news, sports, and events. Integrating technology and educational software review are also important sections that teachers may consider visiting in order to help their deaf or hearing-impaired student achieve.

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Websites to Find Free Printable Graduation Invitations and Announcements

Graduation day is quickly approaching for many. Parents have probably already made their party reservations or are about to. Now many are probably searching for graduation invitations. You will be happy to know that you can print free graduation Invitations and Announcements right from your own computer. Following is a list of websites where you can find them.

1. The first website is Graduation Invitations and Graduation Party Ideas. This website is perfect for the parent that is in the process of planning a gradation party. Regardless of what grade your child is graduation from, you are sure to find plenty of idea sand suggestions here. You will also find a great variety of free printable graduation invitations. All you have to do is click on the link that will take you to a nice variety of free printable invitations. Then once you have chosen which invitation you want simply follow the instructions and print out your invitations. They even recommend what type of paper would be best for your invitations.

2. Print Free.com is another website where you can find a nice variety of free printable graduation cards. You can customize the graduation cards to be exactly the way you want them. You also have the option of print out a half fold or horizontal card depending on which style that you would prefer. They also over you tips and suggestions for your envelopes and on how to print your card properly.

3. Internet Family Fun is another website where you can download free graduation party invitations. They have a small but nice variety of printable to choose from. You will need adobe acrobat in order to be able to download and view the graduation invitations. These invitations are simple but they are at least free, which fits any budget.

4. Yet another website you can choose to print out free graduation invitations is www.evite.com. Her you can create and send out your graduation invitations in a matter of minutes. By just following the steps you can print out your invitation exactly the way you want them. They will even give you tips and suggestions on how you can print them properly.

5. At About.com you will also find a nice variety of free printable graduation invitations. They have a small amount of invitations that are available. If you follow the steps given you will have no problem printing your invitations exactly the way that you want them.

6. You can also print free invitations at American Greetings.com. You can sign up for the free membership san they create and print the invitations of your choice. The whole sign up process is quick and easy to do. Most parents enjoy the many benefits that come along with being a paid member of American Greetings.com which induced being able to print all types of invitations for free.