Why Seattle Trade Schools Should Be at the Top of Your Vocational School List

Friday, October 12, 2012
Seattle trade schools, also called career schools or vocational schools, are an excellent choice for those who have a specific career in mind and do not require the additional, broad education of a four-year college. When considering vocational schools as the next step in one's educational journey, it is important to consider not only the school, but also the benefits and lifestyle provided by the city that the school is in. Due to the location, history and job industries found there, Seattle has no shortage of trade schools to attend.These apprenticeship schools, as they are sometimes known, immerse students in a hands-on environment, and provide them with the opportunity to turn classroom knowledge into real-world training; experience that could prove to be invaluable upon entering tomorrow's job market. What makes Seattle trade schools so appealing is the vast amount of occupations available in the city upon graduating.Industries that thrive in Seattle include healthcare, biotechnology and information and communications technology; the latter of which accounts for over 100,000 jobs in the city alone, based on data from the Puget Sound Regional Council.If driving a Prius isn't enough to quench your "green" thirst, an education in the clean technology industry at a Seattle trade school might. 

Bringing Blog Articles into the Classroom

Wednesday, October 10, 2012
By Sean Scarpiello

As more and more forms of media are being created by the internet, schools are trying to keep up with fast paced changes taking place in the media. Many school administrators are pushing to get the latest technology in the classroom to keep up with the ever-changing trends. Although it may seem like a daunting task, incorporating the latest trends into the classroom does not need to be difficult. One of the most notable creations after the rise of the internet was the blog. Since blogs have been growing in popularity over the past few years, we can expect them to be around for a long time. Today’s students will be exposed to blogs for the rest of their life and at one point, many of them will write them in the future. So why not start writing them in school?

We have all had to sit through class with the teacher that assigns long and tedious book reports, especially in English classes. If teachers began to have students write daily or weekly blogs on their readings instead, students would definitely benefit. First off, by assigning blogs, instead of a book report, teachers can keep their students more involved in the class. Students can formulate their own opinions in their blogs, and discuss how they feel about certain topics, themes, or ideas in a class. Also in their blog, students can discuss what areas of the reading they found difficult, confusing, and even interesting. By having students write blog articles, teachers are forcing students to think critically about subjects. Often times, students will find themselves learning more than they thought possible because they entered a reading or text with a certain mindset.

Implementing blogs, instead of book reports can also be beneficial because students are learning to write in new ways. They are asked to write down their opinion or view on a topic -- something that has never been asked of them before. This new form of writing can help them in other classes where they need to write persuasive reports or analyze a set of bias data. Writing blogs is relevant life experience.

Teachers can also become creative with the blog assignments. They can have students focus on certain themes, topics, or characters in a book. Then students can focus on how an individual idea has evolved through the text. Some teachers may feel that blog writing cannot completely replace report writing. This is definitely true. However, it would be unwise to not implement blog writing because it may seem like less writing. If a class is reading a book over the course of a few weeks, teachers could assign a one page blog article weekly, or a half page blog article due every few days. Over the course of a few weeks, these pages of blog articles add up, and may even encompass more than a book report. At the end of a book or text, the teacher could ask the students to sum up all of their blogs and analyze the evolution of an idea or the course of a character throughout a book.

In all, assigning blog articles to a class would definitely be beneficial to students. It would keep students engaged in class and mix up the general routine of class time. In the long run, it would be even more beneficial because students can take what they learn from writhing blog articles and use these skills in the real world.

The Top 5 Benefits of Attending a Trade School

Education is an industry that is widespread across the world.Everyone attends school from elementary through high school --And then a good amount go onto some form of college or university.But colleges and universities can cost the student a lot of money.A person who graduates from college can be paying off college loans for 20 years or even longer!The Benefits Of Trade SchoolsSince 2007, trade school enrollment has risen by 5%.Vocational Schools (trade, technical) are becoming a more popular alternative to job training and college.Here are the Top 5 benefits of attending a trade school:1. CostThis is pretty obvious, and even more important with our economy fluctuating everyday.Trade schools can cost only about an 1/8 of the price for a four year degree --PLUS, you don't have to worry about using your hard earned money to pay off loans for the rest of your life!2. A Job Waiting For You When You GraduateVocational schools give you the exact skills you need for the job market after you graduate --And most vocational schools have job placement programs that have you set-up with a job right after graduating.This is a HUGE benefit, seeing that many people with four year degrees can go close to a year until they land there first job after graduation.3. Hands-On TrainingTech schools teach you what you need to know...not all the extra stuff like at other colleges.You will not be paying for a bunch of "pre-major" or "gen eds" that you will never use in the future.You're paying for the training you need to the career you are pursuing.4. 

Job SecurityMost of the programs offered at trade schools are for careers that need to be done in person, by the people who are closest.Jobs like electricians, truck drivers, and welders are performed by PEOPLE, who are accessible.A career in one of these trades will give the security of knowing that your job will not be outsourced overseas, or you will not be replaced by a machine.5. A Successful FutureAfter graduating, you will always have a career and you will be making good money, without having to pay off college debt.You will always be in demand and will not have to worry about getting jobs because people will ALWAYS need your services!This is something that is very important to take into consideration when thinking about your future, and career.So there you have it, the top 5 benefits of attending a trade school.If you are interested in enrolling in a trade school or technical school, or finding out more information, the internet is your best source to find a vocational school near you!