When I assess the value of any of my classes I think of two things. The financial value and the value of the skills I obtained from the class.
The financial value has been tremendous. For each set of credits, beyond my bachelor’s degree I earned significant pay raises. These raises were cumulative and I was able to support my family.
Eventually, I did reach the top of the salary schedule, but did not lose interest in graduate classes. I started taking classes to improve my teaching skills or to stay up to date. As education goes more digital I am glad I have taken classes on the use of computers, or online classes using computers. Next year I will be required to use an online grade book, and I am not threatened or upset as some of my colleagues. I have prepared myself for the change and was ready long before my employer required me to use digital tools.
The online graduate classes offered a way for me to take classes, without having to juggle my time. I tend to take more classes because of the flexibility the online environment offers. The added bonus is I have learned to use more digital tools, as a result of these online classes. Whenever I take an online class I am always analyzing the tools and methods the professors use, to see if I can adapt them for my middle schools students. The value of online classes for me is greater than the on site classes. There is so much more practical application, as I turn to teaching in an online environment after being a student in the online environment.
Old dogs can and should learn new tricks. I have seen public school teachers retire or quit because they don’t want to change what they do, even if that change is better for the students, helps to communicate with parents, or is just more efficient. It is ironic that people, who are charged with educating today’s youth, don’t embrace learning something they need to learn to improve their job skills. Computers and the online environment are not a passing fad, which will go away. I am one dog who is invigorated by the online environment and its use in education.
Posted by Dan on October 8th, 2008
As the nation continues to keep a strong eye on the Wall Street Market and its affect on the American Job Market, we will spotlight the top 2009 Hot Careers and Jobs that will continue to grow as we enter into the new year and beyond. Today we focus on a career and industry that despite economic hard times keeps increasing its overall profits and revenue year over year; the video game industry and a coveted position as a video game designer.
Job Description:
There are two main elements to the development of video games. One key division involves the development of the actual game from concept art, game design, and artificial intellegence programming. The other division involves marketing and publishing the title to the main stream audience. The role of Video game Designer is a key position in the overall development and success of a video game title. The game designer must work with all aspects of the development team to help realize the overall concept of the game. Game Designers work at effectively balancing all elements of the design from artwork to online programming. It is regarded as a leadership role which depends on strategic thinking and strong creative skills to create a successful product.
Job Salary:
A career in Video Game Design can be very rewarding from both a creative and monetary aspect. According to Indeed.com’s salary report, the average salary for a Video Game Designer in California is $84,000. This is almost double most salary averages in the gaming industry. Some of the top game designers continue to earn salaries in the six figure range and receive significant bonuses for the overall retail success of the game.
Education Requirements
Ok, so you beat Halo on Legendary, and you think, “I can make a game like this!” The road to becoming a leading video game designer is not for the weak minded. Almost 99% of any video game design jobs available require the individual to earn their Bachelors Degree. Over the past few years several higher education institutions have begun offering degree completion programs in targeted studies such as Game Development and Game Art and Design. In addition to earning a degree, several developers will seek individuals who have worked within the game industry for a period of time before elevating them to a Game Designer status. So how can one afford to work and earn a degree? Just as Xbox Live let gamers go online and play against anyone in the world, an online education now allows several working adults to continue their pursuit of a degree and keep working full time. Schools such as Westwood College Online and the The Art Institute of Pittsburgh are well known for their demanding online programs dedicated to learning the necessary skills to become a game designer.
With expected sales of over 10 billion dollars in the US alone for 2008, the video game industry continues to grow with rapid rate and despite economic hard times. As the success of video games continues, more projects and developers will look to expand their teams. The future is bright for those individuals who decide that video game design is their career of choice.
