Subject Matter: Calling all International student photographers, illustrators, animators, digital filmmakers, media and graphic artists! Register now for the 10th annual ADAA contest.

Grades: High school, graduate and post-graduate students from accredited higher education institutions worldwide.

Fantastic Opportunity from Adobe
For the past ten years, Adobe has hosted a design achievement contest for talented students. Not only are students recognized by Adobe, but they are judged by industrial experts in their field. Many winners, including runner-ups, receive job internships and job offers by being recognized within this contest. Icograda (International Council of Graphic Design Associations) will endorse and support these prestigious student awards. In late October 2010, Adobe will host the awards ceremony during the Adobe MAX conference held in Los Angeles, CA.

Talented work of students will be represented in three categories: Interactive Media, Motion Media, and Traditional Media.

• Interactive Media categories  – Browser-Based Design, Non-Browser Based Design, Application Development, Installation Design and Mobile Design.

• Motion Media categories  -  Animation, Live Action and Motion Graphics.

• Traditional Media categories  – Illustration, Packaging, Photography and Print Communications.

Students are invited to submit projects through the Adobe Design Achievement Awards web site at adaa.adobe.com through June 4, 2010. Finalists will be invited to attend the awards ceremony at Adobe MAX in Los Angeles, CA, and awarded software and cash prizes. From the ADAA website, visitors can access ADAA Live!, an interactive web site that lets them view previous entries and currently submitted student projects in real-time.

This is a fantastic contest! Whether students work individually, or with a team, being recognized by industrial professionals is a great career opportunity.

Adobe’s Classroom in a Book: Lots to Work With
I’ve reviewed other how-to books on Photoshop and Premiere Elements 8. Adobe’s Classroom in a Book also tops with the better choices, too. All Adobe expects is that the reader have a working knowledge of their computer (use the internet, mouse, drag around the window, open and minimize windows, open-save-close files). Readers, however, should take the time to familiarize themselves with the tool bar, and observe the basic tutorials. Adobe takes the time and effort to encourage users, not discourage.

Lessons and Pictures Provided
Adobe provides a CD full of lessons, so there’s plenty of learning opportunities. I’d like to see more pictures tied to the informational paragraphs, but Adobe does provide step-by-step instructions. One section that would have helped is a layout of the tools and tool bar, and their function. However, Adobe steps right in with a lesson to create one project, which from my experience with other Adobe how-to books, carefully leads the reader to understand different tool elements. Furthermore, at the end there are review questions, with answers. You’ll learn how to edit video, create video themes, tweak content, work  with sound, and many other interesting video editing tasks.

This book supplements the tutorials and lessons provided at Adobe’s website.

There are many book choices for learning Adobe Premiere Elements 8. Consider this book as a good option.

System Requirements: Review Adobe’s system requirements online.
Contact: www.adobe.com
Cost: $34.64 – $54.99

Education Revolution in Seattle
There’s a quiet uprising going on in Seattle. The Powerful Schools program is involving parents, teachers and volunteers directly in the classroom to improve student reading, writing and science. It’s a holistic approach, which isn’t unusual as we Northwesterners are pretty “granola”.

Schools in Seattle were failing, and by open discussion started making changes.

“Passionate professionals and volunteers are able to:

* effectively catch up struggling students
* turn schools into vibrant community schools
* foster excitement for learning
* narrow the achievement gap

How? Powerful Schools is seamlessly integrated into the classroom, often invisible to parents. We’re able to look at each child individually and create custom learning experiences. (One teacher in a large classroom just can’t do that alone.) We support families and extend the learning day through Community Schools. Our success is a combination of grassroots enthusiasm, high expectations, proven methods and dedication.”

Powerful Schools serves more than 4,000 children across more than ten economically and racially diverse neighborhoods of Seattle, Tukwila, and Highline school districts.

If you’re looking for alternative measures to make changes in schools, consider the Powerful Schools Program.

Click on www.Powerfulschools.org.

Another For Dummies Book
I think this book has merit in that the Dummies series offers 9 books in one, however I would have preferred a different format. When you’re writing a how-to book on using imaging editing software, your clients are going to be using this book to improve pictures. Therefore, why not add informative pictures to demonstrate where tools are in the software, and how to revise images?

There is good content in the book, it has various helpful icons, and is comprehensive in providing stepped instructions. Yet I think a beginner (and yes, this being a “dummies” book caters to beginners) would be somewhat bogged down by the numerous direction paragraphs. I’ve seen other “how-to” books that offer simple, short directions with clear and easy-to-understand photos providing simple to increasing technical aspects of Photoshop Elements 8.

Lots of Books in One
I think this book is riding on the  reputation of  the “For Dummies” name, and expects readers to pick it up since it is a “Dummies” book. If you want 9 books in one, and don’t mind reading a lot of content then this is your book. I prefer visual directions where I don’t have to read lots of words to figure out software tools.

System Requirements: Open and read
Contact:Wiley Publishing
Cost: $29.99 US

For the New Year
I seem to be uncovering lots of new websites. Yes, I’m still reviewing, in fact my desk is stacked with books, music software, etc. Yet if I come across these sites, I better post them, or I’ll forget.

Tech:)Happy is an interesting site listing a multitude of education websites. Most appear to be for free, and the list is extensive.

Link onto Sites-for-kids. And tell the web author thanks. It’s an interesting mix of sites.

Lots of cool sites out there, but here are 12 websites that can get you started applying Ed Tech in the classroom, or small businesses.

From creating documents, alternates to YouTube to edublogs, check these resources.

Tech Integration in the Classroom

With so many resources out there, it’s hard to decide what’s really useful. Here’s some updated links that provide a wide variety of writing resources.

LInk to: Writing Workshop.

Good luck, and let me know of others that may be helpful.