Graphic design is an intimidating subject for many Internet entrepreneurs. However, most of us must learn some basic design techniques in order to avoid the high costs of hiring a professional designer.
In order to create or edit your graphics, you'll need to invest in a good graphics-editing program. The most popular program used by Internet marketers is Paint Shop Pro. This powerful program is the only program you'll need to design professional looking graphics. You can download a free 30-day trial and register the software for only $99. http://www.jasc.com/
Image Formats
The most popular image formats used on the Internet are GIF and JPEG.
Graphic Interchange Format, better known as GIF, uses a maximum of 256 colors and is best suited for images such as logos, buttons and bullets.
GIF images can be saved in two different formats:
- 87
- 89a
The 89a format is the preferred GIF format, as it has the following benefits:
Transparency
Images saved in the 89a GIF format can have a transparent background. This will enable the canvas of an image to be transparent and enable the background to show through.
Interlacing
Images saved in the 89a GIF format can be saved as interlaced. This will enable your image to display as it is being loaded into a web page. The image will gradually become clearer as the page loads.
Animation
Images saved in the 89a GIF format can be used to create animated images. Animated images are simply several GIF images compiled into one GIF image file that loops. In order to create an animated image, you'll need a special editing program.
Joint Photographic Expert Group, better known as JPEG, is the best format for photographs. JPEG images can contain millions of colors and allow you to specify the degree of compression.
Although there are many graphics programs available on the Internet, this tutorial will focus on using Paint Shop Pro 7.01. If you are using a different version of Paint Shop Pro or another graphics program, the graphic tools mentioned below will not be located in the same places.
Editing Images
When working with images in Paint Shop Pro, you will have the ability to save your image in PSP format. This format will enable you to begin working on an image, save it in PSP format and finish the image at a later time. It will preserve all of your work without any changes.
If you would like to edit an image that has been previously saved in the GIF format, you must first increase the image's colors to 16 million. If you don't, your colors will be limited. Go to "Colors" - "Increase Color Depth"- "16 million colors (24 bit)" to increase your image's colors.
Resizing Images
If you'd like to resize an image in JPEG format, you can do so in one of two ways -- through your graphics program or within your HTML. You can resize your image within your HTML by changing the HEIGHT and WIDTH values. To retain your images original characteristics, make sure you adjust the height and the width equally. In other words, if your original image dimensions are 50x100 (width 50 and height 100), to reduce your image to one half the size, change the width to 25 and the height to 50.
If you'd like to resize an image in JPEG or GIF format, go to "Image" - "Resize" and select "Percentage of original." Type in your selection in the first box and click on "OK." There's no need to fill in the second box, as it will be filled in automatically. For example. If you would like to reduce your image to half the size it is now, type in 50. This number is telling the program that you'd like to reduce the image's size by 50%.
If you would like to increase your image's size, type in a number over 100. Your original image is considered to be 100%. If you would like to increase your image's size by 50%, type 150 in the first box.
Rotating Images
If you'd like to rotate an image, go to "Image" - "Rotate" and select your preferences.
When rotating an image, it may lose some of its clarity (become blurry). You can correct this problem by sharpening your image. Go to "Effects" - "Sharpen" - "Sharpen". If after sharpening your image it still appears a little blurry, simply sharpen it again.
Working With Text
If you would like to use text within your image, your first step will be to select your text color. The "Styles" boxes are located on the right hand side of your screen. The top box should be set to Null (off) and the bottom box should be set to Solid, which will look like a paintbrush. To change the style of each box, click on the black arrow and make your selection.
To change the text color, click in the center of the bottom box and select your preferred color. Your text will be displayed in the color within the bottom box.
If you would like to outline your text in a different color, click on the black arrow of the top box and select the paintbrush. Your text will be displayed in the color your bottom box contains and outlined in the color your top box contains.
Text Tool
Once you've selected your text color, click on the text tool on the left-hand side of your screen. This will launch your text window. Select your font and text size from the drop down menu and type in your text. Make sure you select Antialias and Floating then click "OK."
Antialias will smooth out all of the rough edges of your text and blend it in with your background color. You will use the Antialias setting with various graphic tools when designing your graphics, so it is important to remember its function.
You will now see your text with, what looks like, marching ants around it. If you'd like to move your text, click and hold your left mouse button directly over your text to drag it to your desired position. Try to center it as well as possible, but don't deselect it.
If you would like to rotate your text, now is the time to do it. Simply follow the same instructions (above) used to rotate an image.
If you make a change to your image and you're not satisfied with the outcome, you can undo your last change by going to "Edit" - "Undo." It will only undo the last thing you did.
Adding a Drop Shadow
Your next step will be to add a drop shadow effect. With your text still selected, go to "Effects" - "3D Effects" - "Drop Shadow." Your selected text will be displayed in the window. Try different settings until you achieve the effect you'd like. Click on OK. When you're satisfied with your text, right click on your mouse to set it.
Now that you have a basic understanding of graphics, take some time to learn some additional techniques. There are many free tutorials available on the Internet. Not only will it assist you in creating professional looking images, but it will also save you a great deal of money.
Rabu, 27 Juli 2011
Types Of Program For Paralegal Education
By background aspect, paralegals, also known as legal assistants, are those individuals who render assistance to the lawyers in delivering legal services. Unless directed by their superior, they cannot practice or give legal advice to clients. For most states, this act is punishable or can be imposed with equivalent penalty to those persons caught in an unauthorized practice of law. By concise definition provided by National Association of Legal Assistants, legal assistants or paralegals, are a distinguishable group of persons who assist attorneys in the delivery of legal services. A paralegal is qualified by his or her formal education, substantial trainings and experience in related practice, possessing extensive knowledge or expertise in field of legal system and procedural law.
Necessity of legal assistants were started in the 1960’s when practitioners and law firms decided it was high time to obtain assistance to improve efficiency and cost effective delivery of legal services. Later on, demands were still growing dramatically because of the incessant increase in workload of the lawyers basically because of the equivalent upsurge of legal remedy-seekers. Because of the mounting of paralegal necessity in the field, different paralegal programs were provided by paralegal schools. Each paralegal school provides special courses in paralegal studies. Aside from paralegal studies, a paralegal has certain minimum requirements to meet that include paralegal training. Paralegal trainees receive adequate and reasonable instructions from lawyers or attorneys.
Paralegal education programs are offered in several types of formats and lengths. An individual can have paralegal program of Associate degree, which also has options for students to choose from a two-year paralegal program, or four-year degree. A paralegal bachelor degree program is different from the 4-year paralegal associate program in the sense that bachelor programs were offered by 4-year colleges and universities and that student were awarded with a baccalaureate degree at the end of the program. Also, this type of paralegal program allows the students to earn units both from minor, major, and major concentration in paralegal and related courses. Paralegal certificate programs grant an additional paralegal certificate to those who already earned paralegal degree. Another advanced degree in paralegal studies is the paralegal master’s degree programs. Paralegal colleges and paralegal universities offer this paralegal program for an additional enhancement in the student’s legal administration and legal studies expertise.
Paralegal education can be obtained through paralegal online classes or through traditional paralegal school. Online paralegal schools have their own advantage for students who got no time for full-loaded classes. Whatever preference a student decides on, paralegal education can be obtained through numerous paralegal schools widespread in the country. Prestigious universities and colleges had a lot to offer for paralegal matters. Most paralegal program comes with a paralegal package consisting of classroom meeting and paralegal training for the student’s comprehensive know-how and expertise in the field. If a student is having second thoughts over which paralegal school offer the best and top paralegal certificate, paralegal program, paralegal studies, or any paralegal education, resources and information are located right in the internet. Here, traditional paralegal schools and paralegal online schools are in abundance and one can get to compare a paralegal school to another.
Necessity of legal assistants were started in the 1960’s when practitioners and law firms decided it was high time to obtain assistance to improve efficiency and cost effective delivery of legal services. Later on, demands were still growing dramatically because of the incessant increase in workload of the lawyers basically because of the equivalent upsurge of legal remedy-seekers. Because of the mounting of paralegal necessity in the field, different paralegal programs were provided by paralegal schools. Each paralegal school provides special courses in paralegal studies. Aside from paralegal studies, a paralegal has certain minimum requirements to meet that include paralegal training. Paralegal trainees receive adequate and reasonable instructions from lawyers or attorneys.
Paralegal education programs are offered in several types of formats and lengths. An individual can have paralegal program of Associate degree, which also has options for students to choose from a two-year paralegal program, or four-year degree. A paralegal bachelor degree program is different from the 4-year paralegal associate program in the sense that bachelor programs were offered by 4-year colleges and universities and that student were awarded with a baccalaureate degree at the end of the program. Also, this type of paralegal program allows the students to earn units both from minor, major, and major concentration in paralegal and related courses. Paralegal certificate programs grant an additional paralegal certificate to those who already earned paralegal degree. Another advanced degree in paralegal studies is the paralegal master’s degree programs. Paralegal colleges and paralegal universities offer this paralegal program for an additional enhancement in the student’s legal administration and legal studies expertise.
Paralegal education can be obtained through paralegal online classes or through traditional paralegal school. Online paralegal schools have their own advantage for students who got no time for full-loaded classes. Whatever preference a student decides on, paralegal education can be obtained through numerous paralegal schools widespread in the country. Prestigious universities and colleges had a lot to offer for paralegal matters. Most paralegal program comes with a paralegal package consisting of classroom meeting and paralegal training for the student’s comprehensive know-how and expertise in the field. If a student is having second thoughts over which paralegal school offer the best and top paralegal certificate, paralegal program, paralegal studies, or any paralegal education, resources and information are located right in the internet. Here, traditional paralegal schools and paralegal online schools are in abundance and one can get to compare a paralegal school to another.
Parental Involvement In Learning
Whether children attend public or private schools, they benefit when parents become involved in their education. According to the National Institute for Literacy, when parents or other family members frequently read to children entering kindergarten, those children were at a distinct advantage over children whose families read to them less often.
The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study found that "Children who were read to at least three times a week by a family member were almost twice as likely to score in the top 25 percent in reading than children who were read to less than three times a week." The study also found that, of children who were read to at least three times a week:
* 76 percent had mastered the letter-sound relationship at the beginning of words, compared to 64 percent of children who were read to fewer than three times a week,
* 57 percent had mastered the letter-sound relationship at the end of words, compared to 43 percent who were read to fewer than three times a week,
* 15 percent had sight- word recognition skills, compared to 8 percent who were read to fewer than three times a week, and
* 5 percent could understand words in context, compared to 2 percent who were read to fewer than three times a week.
The positive impact of parental involvement in learning doesn't end with kindergarten. Having a variety of reading materials available at home helps older children with reading proficiency. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) found that, among students in the fourth grade, "The 68% students who had three or more different types of reading materials at home performed at the Proficient level, while students who had two or fewer types of reading material at home performed at the Basic level. Students who had 4 types of reading material at home performed the highest."
Similarly, students who discussed their studies and who talked about reading at home had greater reading proficiency than those who did not. And students of all ages who regularly saw parents and other family members reading at home were positively influenced.
In addition to having a variety of reading materials available at home, discussing reading, and setting a good example by reading, there are a number of ways that parents can create and nurture a home learning environment. Although the Teachers Involve Parents in Schoolwork (TIPS) program from the National Network of Partnership Schools at Johns Hopkins University is directed to teachers, it includes a number of excellent strategies that parents can implement to become active in their children's education.
Communicate: Regularly communicate with the teacher, either via parent-teacher conferences, weekly progress reviews, or homework reviews. Talk with the child, and have them share their schoolwork and school day experiences.
Volunteer: Volunteer to help out in the classroom or at other school activities.
Home Learning: Point out the links between schoolwork and real life situations. Go on family outings that reinforce the concepts being learned in school.
According to the National Education Association, parental involvement in learning is crucial. As evidence, they cite the following findings of research into parental involvement:
* When parents are involved in their children's education at home, they do better in school.
* And when parents are involved in school, children go farther in school - and the schools they go to are better.
* The family makes critical contributions to student achievement from preschool through high school.
* A home environment that encourages learning is more important to student achievement than income, education level or cultural background.
* Reading achievement is more dependent on learning activities in the home than in math or science.
* Reading aloud to children is the most important activity that parents can do to increase their child's chance of reading success. Talking to children about books and stories read to them also supports reading achievement.
* When children and parents talk regularly about school, children perform better academically.
* Three kinds of parental involvement at home are consistently associated with higher student achievement: actively organizing and monitoring a child's time, helping with homework and discussing school matters.
* The earlier the parent involvement begins in a child's educational process, the more powerful the effects.
* Positive results of parental involvement include improved student achievement, reduced absenteeism, improved behavior, and restored confidence among parents in their children's schooling.
There are many ways that parents can become involved in their children's education - the important thing is to become and stay involved!
The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study found that "Children who were read to at least three times a week by a family member were almost twice as likely to score in the top 25 percent in reading than children who were read to less than three times a week." The study also found that, of children who were read to at least three times a week:
* 76 percent had mastered the letter-sound relationship at the beginning of words, compared to 64 percent of children who were read to fewer than three times a week,
* 57 percent had mastered the letter-sound relationship at the end of words, compared to 43 percent who were read to fewer than three times a week,
* 15 percent had sight- word recognition skills, compared to 8 percent who were read to fewer than three times a week, and
* 5 percent could understand words in context, compared to 2 percent who were read to fewer than three times a week.
The positive impact of parental involvement in learning doesn't end with kindergarten. Having a variety of reading materials available at home helps older children with reading proficiency. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) found that, among students in the fourth grade, "The 68% students who had three or more different types of reading materials at home performed at the Proficient level, while students who had two or fewer types of reading material at home performed at the Basic level. Students who had 4 types of reading material at home performed the highest."
Similarly, students who discussed their studies and who talked about reading at home had greater reading proficiency than those who did not. And students of all ages who regularly saw parents and other family members reading at home were positively influenced.
In addition to having a variety of reading materials available at home, discussing reading, and setting a good example by reading, there are a number of ways that parents can create and nurture a home learning environment. Although the Teachers Involve Parents in Schoolwork (TIPS) program from the National Network of Partnership Schools at Johns Hopkins University is directed to teachers, it includes a number of excellent strategies that parents can implement to become active in their children's education.
Communicate: Regularly communicate with the teacher, either via parent-teacher conferences, weekly progress reviews, or homework reviews. Talk with the child, and have them share their schoolwork and school day experiences.
Volunteer: Volunteer to help out in the classroom or at other school activities.
Home Learning: Point out the links between schoolwork and real life situations. Go on family outings that reinforce the concepts being learned in school.
According to the National Education Association, parental involvement in learning is crucial. As evidence, they cite the following findings of research into parental involvement:
* When parents are involved in their children's education at home, they do better in school.
* And when parents are involved in school, children go farther in school - and the schools they go to are better.
* The family makes critical contributions to student achievement from preschool through high school.
* A home environment that encourages learning is more important to student achievement than income, education level or cultural background.
* Reading achievement is more dependent on learning activities in the home than in math or science.
* Reading aloud to children is the most important activity that parents can do to increase their child's chance of reading success. Talking to children about books and stories read to them also supports reading achievement.
* When children and parents talk regularly about school, children perform better academically.
* Three kinds of parental involvement at home are consistently associated with higher student achievement: actively organizing and monitoring a child's time, helping with homework and discussing school matters.
* The earlier the parent involvement begins in a child's educational process, the more powerful the effects.
* Positive results of parental involvement include improved student achievement, reduced absenteeism, improved behavior, and restored confidence among parents in their children's schooling.
There are many ways that parents can become involved in their children's education - the important thing is to become and stay involved!
Selasa, 26 Juli 2011
Senin, 25 Juli 2011
Are exam techniques better than knowledge?
Half a century ago I learned about exam techniques. At that time I was snowed under with study, and my headmaster said that I had as much chance as the Man in the Moon of passing three Ordinary level GCE subjects.
He was right at that time! It didn't matter how much study I did, term exam questions were always about stuff I hadn't studied.
Then I learned that you perform best in an exam if you know more about exams rather than about the subject of the exam.
I liked that.
---------------------
Using Exam Techniques
---------------------
So I studied exam techniques. What were the results? I passed eleven GCE ordinary level subjects.
When artistic talent was handed out, my brother got it all, and there was none left for me. I panic every time I am asked to do a stick-drawing.
However in the GCE exam, my brother set out to do good art, and I used exam techniques to get good marks. To my great glee I got a better pass mark than my brother did. I was sure that proved that exams are unfair, but remained very smug.
---------------
Multiple Choice
---------------
My wife had a multiple-choice paper on a subject about which I knew nothing. I tried the exam techniques in my book. My wife assured me that I would have passed - without knowing anything about it.
Then came a time that I studied maths again, and I was hopelessly at sea. I learned maths where the best methods were those that worked - fast. New maths had been introduced since I was at college. Now the explanations were just nonsense to me. However when the exam came around, it was another multiple choice test, and I passed!
---------------------
We've learned nothing
---------------------
My daughter's final exams were coming. I searched libraries for the most modern examination techniques, and received a great shock. All the books still advised lots of hard work. There was no mention of exam techniques at all.
They mentioned mnemonic techniques to help me remember, but I'd been using them since the middle of last century and knew how they could let me down.
The day before a university exam I decided that I would probably get a question about the life cycle of Fasciola hepatica. So I used a mnemonic technique to memorise every number in the complicated life cycle.
Next day the expected question appeared, and I remembered every number - BUT - I had forgotten the units. It was no use remembering the number 3 if I didn't know if it was three hours, or three days, or three weeks, or three months, or three years. So I couldn't answer the question. Fortunately examination techniques got me through the exam.
---------------------
Birth of Exam Mastery
---------------------
I wrote a book about how to pass exams to help my daughter. Unfortunately she thought that she knew everything... and didn't bother to read the book... and failed her exams. Recently I updated the book to take the internet into account.
-------------------------
The arithmetic of success
-------------------------
Suppose you're taking an essay exam with five questions. You know you can give good answers for three questions, but think that you know nothing about the rest. I've seen students walk out of essay exams in that situation - they hadn't studied exam technique.
Your teacher has brainwashed you by punishing anybody who wrote a three line essay for homework. But two essays of three lines each could take you from failure to a pass mark. My book shows what to put into these few lines, but think of the arithmetic.
You got 45 marks out of 60 for your three good questions. The pass mark is 47%. You get one mark out of 20 for each of the remaining two answers. You have a pass mark. That is better than walking out of the exam in a panic - isn't it?
In fact I usually got about 75% by using exam techniques. Oh, they aren't magic. I failed an occasional exam, but I passed many exams that I didn't deserve to pass, especially using crafty essays.
He was right at that time! It didn't matter how much study I did, term exam questions were always about stuff I hadn't studied.
Then I learned that you perform best in an exam if you know more about exams rather than about the subject of the exam.
I liked that.
---------------------
Using Exam Techniques
---------------------
So I studied exam techniques. What were the results? I passed eleven GCE ordinary level subjects.
When artistic talent was handed out, my brother got it all, and there was none left for me. I panic every time I am asked to do a stick-drawing.
However in the GCE exam, my brother set out to do good art, and I used exam techniques to get good marks. To my great glee I got a better pass mark than my brother did. I was sure that proved that exams are unfair, but remained very smug.
---------------
Multiple Choice
---------------
My wife had a multiple-choice paper on a subject about which I knew nothing. I tried the exam techniques in my book. My wife assured me that I would have passed - without knowing anything about it.
Then came a time that I studied maths again, and I was hopelessly at sea. I learned maths where the best methods were those that worked - fast. New maths had been introduced since I was at college. Now the explanations were just nonsense to me. However when the exam came around, it was another multiple choice test, and I passed!
---------------------
We've learned nothing
---------------------
My daughter's final exams were coming. I searched libraries for the most modern examination techniques, and received a great shock. All the books still advised lots of hard work. There was no mention of exam techniques at all.
They mentioned mnemonic techniques to help me remember, but I'd been using them since the middle of last century and knew how they could let me down.
The day before a university exam I decided that I would probably get a question about the life cycle of Fasciola hepatica. So I used a mnemonic technique to memorise every number in the complicated life cycle.
Next day the expected question appeared, and I remembered every number - BUT - I had forgotten the units. It was no use remembering the number 3 if I didn't know if it was three hours, or three days, or three weeks, or three months, or three years. So I couldn't answer the question. Fortunately examination techniques got me through the exam.
---------------------
Birth of Exam Mastery
---------------------
I wrote a book about how to pass exams to help my daughter. Unfortunately she thought that she knew everything... and didn't bother to read the book... and failed her exams. Recently I updated the book to take the internet into account.
-------------------------
The arithmetic of success
-------------------------
Suppose you're taking an essay exam with five questions. You know you can give good answers for three questions, but think that you know nothing about the rest. I've seen students walk out of essay exams in that situation - they hadn't studied exam technique.
Your teacher has brainwashed you by punishing anybody who wrote a three line essay for homework. But two essays of three lines each could take you from failure to a pass mark. My book shows what to put into these few lines, but think of the arithmetic.
You got 45 marks out of 60 for your three good questions. The pass mark is 47%. You get one mark out of 20 for each of the remaining two answers. You have a pass mark. That is better than walking out of the exam in a panic - isn't it?
In fact I usually got about 75% by using exam techniques. Oh, they aren't magic. I failed an occasional exam, but I passed many exams that I didn't deserve to pass, especially using crafty essays.
Sabtu, 23 Juli 2011
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