A Career in Information Technology

The products and end results of information technology are a part of our daily lives, whether it's the operating systems on mobile phones, the computer networks that automate everyday financial transactions, or the reams of information sought and found on the Internet.

So it should come as no surprise that careers in the IT field are expected to grow significantly in the next decade—jobs in computer software engineering, for example, are expected to grow by 32% by 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

And every company or organization has a computer-related component that's critical for getting the job done. So you might program or engineer computer software (though the BLS warns that programming jobs will likely shrink due to offshoring and the increasing ability of users to write their own programs), evaluate and implement the proper computer network architecture to fulfill a company's objectives, develop or administer websites, coordinate a company's information security, or design games and apps.

A strong background in the technical fundamentals of computer science and programming languages like Java, Microsoft.NET, and C++ are obviously important for success in the field. But a creative brain and an ambition to stay updated on the newest advances in the field -- whether through books or training -- are also key, according to recruiters and IT employees. That's because there's never one way to solve a problem and technologies are constantly evolving.

"You always have a new challenge and you're always applying a different set of knowledge to solve it," says Jim Schelle, a solution architect for Synchronoss Technologies in Seattle, Wash. "It's constant work to stay on top of it. You don't get to rest on your laurels in the tech industry."

It's also important that you can communicate and work well with others, because you'll likely be working in a group with other programmers, engineers, or architects. And don't expect to arrive at an interview with strong grades as the main proof of your desirability as a candidate — be prepared to show hiring managers your code from a class project or a student competition (read: get involved with activities outside of your core course load) or a program you created in your spare time.

Salaries in information technology are strong—Web developers start out earning an average of $38,800 a year, according to salary data from PayScale.com. With several years of experience, you can earn $94,800 per year as an information technology program manager, or $93,600 per year as a software development manager. And many companies pay much more for skills that are in-demand.

Your IT Career: In order to get hired in IT, you'll need a strong undergraduate background in computer science, math, and physics classes, because while you'll learn plenty on the job, recruiters and employees in the field stress that those technical building blocks are crucial for cementing the kind of analytical thinking that's necessary to succeed.

But you don't have to stick just to tech companies for prospective jobs—you can also take your programming skills and apply them in another field. For example, Adam Roberts, a 2007 computer engineering graduate of the University of Florida, spent two years as a teacher in the Teach for America program, and now works as an IT manager for a school district in Washington, D.C.

Getting Started: While there's not a set career trajectory in IT, as a recent college graduate, you might enter the workforce as an entry-level computer programmer or software engineer, where you'd be writing or updating code or engineering computer software. Recruiters say it can be a plus to have a sense of the creative side—the graphic design elements that compliment programming. But be cautious about focusing only on the latest hot tools.

"We don't want students to circumvent their undergraduate degrees," says Karen Morris, the university relations director at gaming company Electronic Arts, who opposes the increase in the number of two-year "gaming universities" that give students a quick dose of typical game design languages like Adobe's Flash but skip the rest. She points out, "Who knows if we will use Flash in a few years?"

Get on the Fast Track: Hot areas of IT where jobs are expected to grow include cybersecurity and cloud computing, and mobile- and Web-based games and apps are exploding. So if you know the mobile programming language HTML5, or are a whiz at using Flash to design cool graphics, you'll have a leg up. The field of Web analytics, used to enhance user experience or business functions, is also poised for huge growth, so if you have a background in both computer science and marketing or business, you'll be an in-demand hire.

Next Up: After a few years, you could advance in the ranks to become a senior level engineer after becoming faster and more skilled at solving increasingly complex software solutions that involve more moving parts. But recruiters emphasize that ambitious and hardworking entry level hires can make an impact and advance quickly if they show the talent and the drive to continue taking on more responsibilities. An engineer with a knack for management might advance to become a project manager, directing groups of engineers and programmers. But if you prefer the technical side of the coin, you'd advance to become a senior developer, and then a team lead, in which you're advising the team of developers.

Phase Three: Within about 10 years, you might become an architect, in which you are mapping out and testing the kinds of technologies that will best accomplish your goal, and which requires a bigger picture view of the business and its objectives.

Write by Marisa Taylor

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704358904575478133397664058.html

What Are the Benefits of Information Technology in Education?

Information technology may assist in the facilitation of learning or serve as the actual educational structure allowing learning to occur. Information technology benefits both traditional brick-and-mortar education institutions and online educational models in fundamental ways. For example, multimedia presentations, knowledge-management software, video conferencing, cloud computing and collaborative document editing are notable information technology services benefiting education.

Multimedia Presentations

o    Multimedia presentation software empowers both educators and learners to organize, present and consume information in novel ways. For example, multimedia software enables educators to create a tailor-made presentation pertaining to any subject matter involving a complete audio-visual narrative experience. In addition, advanced multimedia software can empower educators to design audio-visual narrative themes involving the student's actual participation (learning video games). Adobe Flash offers industry-standard products assisting developers in creating such applications.

Knowledge-Management Software

o    Knowledge-management software involves categorizing information specific to the learning style of the student. For example, knowledge-management software can empower the user to modify, construct and manipulate information in order of relevance and embed information into audio-visual icons for later rapid recall. As a result, knowledge-management software becomes highly personal, content-rich and hyper-specific to the information consumption preferences of the learner.

Video Conferencing

o    Video conferencing represents a major benefit of information technology to education. Video conferencing allows seminars and lectures to occur regardless of proximity. For example, a classroom full of students can participate in a lecture from a remote location while it's actually occurring. Students' resulting greater accessibility to leaders of academia pertaining to their subject matter benefits both education and society as a whole.

Cloud Computing

o    Cloud computing empowers students and educators to store their data on a remote server as opposed to their own computer. This allows educators and students to access their data from any computer and from a variety of commuting devices. For example, students will no longer lose their homework to unpredictable forces or hungry canines. With cloud computing, homework can be stored safely on alternative platforms. Multiple copies are backed up on these remote computers and are easily accessible with an Internet connection.

Collaborative Document Editing

o    The ability to collaboratively edit documents from various locations is another benefit of information technology in education. For example, students and educators utilizing cloud computing to store their homework can also modify the document's access settings to allow multiple editors and contributors to participate in an assignment. This empowers educators to design work assignments for teams of students working together and, in so doing, cultivate a teamwork ethos preparing them for the workplace.

What Are the Benefits of Information Technology in Education? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5292299_benefits-information-technology-education.html#ixzz1dOul0uHL

Why Information Technology Is Important?

Technology has become a major portion of everyday life. People in nearly every career are required to have some knowledge of computers and software. Information technology (IT) is used by organizations for a variety of reasons. Information technology helps organizations function more efficiently so they can improve.

History

·         Information technology has a relatively short history. "Sometime in the 1980s the Industrial Age came to an end. It's impossible to say when, exactly, but the advent of the personal computer and its growing ubiquity heralded the end of the era and ushered in a new one--the Information Age." Information technology can be found in schools at all levels across the country and it is used for a variety of day to day functions. The growth of IT in schools is evidenced by their use of technology to report student grades.

Classroom Uses

·         The most common use in today's classrooms is for recording and tracking student grades. This information is stored on a school's server and the can be accessed by parents anytime instead of waiting for quarterly report cards to be mailed. Information technology is also used by teachers as parents for communicating through email. This allows for quick communication about a child that can be saved in case it is needed at a later date.

Record Keeping

·         Schools use IT for keeping records for long periods of time. This allows school administrators to track financial and academic records on a server, which takes less space than individual paper files. It is necessary for schools to maintain records about students, faculty and staff: The use of IT simplifies this task.

Enhanced Learning

·         Utilizing IT allows teachers to enhance the curriculum. Software programs are available to make lessons more appealing to students and help them grasp concepts. In addition, students use IT to research topics for papers and discuss their classes with other students locally or in other parts of the country. Information technology has opened up the world to students and if used properly in classrooms will enhance their learning experiences. Teachers must be committed to using IT in their classrooms for the sake of student learning.

Conclusion

·         Schools in America utilize IT on a daily basis for everything from enhancing curriculum, to grading, and record keeping. Schools have become more efficient and less wasteful thanks to IT advances over the past few decades. Students are proficient in their use of IT and have the potential to make drastic improvements as they become educators in the near future.

 http://www.ehow.com/about_5553106_information-technology-important.html#ixzz1dOrzqxgB

hope can help us for better understanding in information technology

A Brief History of Shito Ryu Karate

Kenwa Mabuni

Karate is a method of fighting using blocks, punches, hand strikes and kicks to disable or defeat an attacker. Karate originated in the Ryukyu islands south of Kyushu (one of the four main islands of Japan). Okinawa is the largest of the Ryukyu islands and since early times has been a center for trading and commerce. Traders from mainland China, Korea, the Phillipines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan etc., often stopped at Okinawa to barter or sell goods and take on supplies. Thus, as with any trading center, the ideas of several cultures were exchanged. China, in particular, had a profound influence on the culture and social customs of Okinawa. Therefore, as the indigenious population developed a set of martial arts for self defense and police activities, they naturally had a strong Chinese flavor and incorporated may Chinese unarmed techniques. In fact, the original kanji or characters for Karate meant "Chinese Hand".
The true origins of Karate probably will never be fully determined because of a lack of written documentation. However, starting in the 1700's, some Karate experts do appear in various records. The exploits of individuals such as Sakugawa and later Marumura were noted and the unarmed fighting prowess of such men has taken on almost legendary proportions. For a more thorough discussion of these early experts and the history of early Karate, the reader is refered to John Sells' excellent book Unante: The Secrets of Karate (available from The Martial Source ).
Shito Ryu Karate was founded by Kenwa Mabuni (November 14, 1889 - May 23, 1952). When he was 13 years old, Mabuni Sensei began training with Anko Itosu, a noted Karate master in the Shuri area of Okinawa. Itosu Sensei was not only highly skilled in Budo but also a great innovator in teaching the martial arts. Around 1905, Itosu Sensei introduced Karate into the Okinawan public school system. Among other accomplishments, Itosu Sensei created the Pinan (Heian) kata which are still practiced today as introductory or intermediate forms in many schools. Itosu Sensei had an important effect on Karate in the 20th Century. Evidence of this can be found in the number of ryuha or Karate styles that trace their lineage back to him. This includes notables such as Gichin Funakoshi, who was responsible for starting Shotokan Karate, Chomo Hanashiro, Kentsu Yabe, Choshin Chibana and others.
About 1909, through an introduction by his friend Chojun Miyagi, Mabuni Sensei started to also train with Kanryo Higaonna (sometimes known as Higashionna). Higaonna Sensei was a expert form the Naha region of Okinawa. Through Higaonna Sensei, Mabuni Sensei learned kata such as Saiha, Sanchin, Seienchin, Seipai and others. Miyagi Sensei went on to found the Goju Ryu style of Karate.
In 1915, both Itosu Sensei and Higaonna Sensei passed away within a short time of one another. Mabuni Sensei continued his training. Ultimately, he and Miyagi Sensei joined with other students of Karate to start a research group aimed at practicing and spreading Karate. During this time Mabuni Sensei also trained in and taught various forms of Okinanwan weaponry or Ryukyu Kobudo.
In 1929, Mabuni Kenwa Sensei moved his entire family to Osaka. There he established a small dojo and began teaching his unique art. Hanko Ryu or Half-Hard Style. In the 1930's, the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (the Japanese martial arts sanctioning organization) began to demand the different groups applying for membership, be more specific in the description of their Karate systems, and pressured them to name their systems. Originally, Mabuni Kenwa Sensei thought to name his system Hanko Ryu or "half-hard" style. However, ultimately Mabuni Sensei decided on the name SHI TO which was formed by taking the first characters (kanji) from the names of his two primary teachers, Itosu and Higa(shi)onna. Thus, the name Shito Ryu has no literal meaning but rather honors the two main teachers in Mabuni Kenwa Sensei's life. In the same context, the kata syllabus of Shito Ryu is still listed as having two lineages, Itosu Ke and Higaonna.
Mabuni Kenwa Sensei worked tirelessly to teach Karate throughout Japan. His efforts brought him into contact with other people who were essential to the growth of Karate in Japan. The impact that Mabuni Kenwa had on the development of Japanese Karate was tremendous. Many groups trace an element of their lineage back to him. Mabuni Kenwa died on May 23rd, 1952.

Kenzo Mabuni

The second Soke or headmaster of Shito Ryu was Mabuni Kenzo. Mabuni Kenzo Sensei was born on May 30, 1927 in Shuri City, Okinawa. He passed away June 26, 2005 in Osaka, Japan. He began training with his father when he was 13 years old. Thus, he trained in Shito Ryu Karate Do for over 65 years. Because of his teachings and devotion to his students, Mabuni Kenzo Sensei was considered by many of us to be our father in Karate.

(source)  http://seitoshitoryukarate.org/History.htm

Five Way Spirit or path of Shito-Ryu Karate Do

GO DO SHIN

1. Always remember the spirit of first beginning (Will)

2. Always be courteous (Morality)

3. Always give your best effort (Growth)

4. Always follow your heart (Common sense)

5. Always maintain harmony (Peace)

Shito Ryu Kata Syllabus

In Shito Ryu, the kata are divided into two major lines, Itosu-ke and Higaonna-ke. Using that nomenclature, the kata of Shito Ryu Karate are listed below.

Itosu-ke	Higaonna-ke
Kihon (1-12)	Sanchin
Pinan (Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan,Godan)	Shinsei
Naihanchin (Shodan, Nidan, Sandan)	Kensho
Juroku	Tensho
Matsukaze	Sochin
Jutte	Shisochin
Jion	Seienchin
Jiin	Happosho
Rohai (Matsumura)	Shimpa
Rohai (Shodan, Nidan, Sandan)	Saiha
Bassai (Dai, Sho)	Kururumpha
Bassai (Matsumura)	Seisan
Kosookun (Dai, Sho)	Seipai
Shihokosookun	Niseishi
Chintei	Sanseiru
Chinto	Unshu
Wanshu	Suparinpei
Kenshu	Nipaipo
Miyojo
Aoyagi
Gojushiho
Kenpaku

(source)  http://seitoshitoryukarate.org/History.htm

Source/http://www.mtholyoke.edu/org/karate/

About Kata

You may be asking yourself, what is kata? Kata has been described as simulated fighting, as one locked into mortal combat with a dangerous enemy, and one seeking perfection in their karate techniques. Kata is all of this and more. Kata is the heart and soul of Karate-Do. Without kata we are no better than street fighters with no history, lineage, or art to pass on to the next generation. Karate is alive and well today because of kata and the dedication of those that passed it along to their students. Kata was handed down from one generation of karateka to the next. In its history, karate training was forbidden by law and it was an executable offense if one was caught training in karate. Many karate masters risked their very lives as they trained in darkness and in secret so that Karate could continue.

Kata is the most difficult part of karate training. It requires a student to work on perfecting technique, power, kime, zanshin, kiai, embusen, breathing, and much more. In addition, each kata has bunkai which is the actual application of the kata fighting techniques. Many hours can be spent on learning the kata, bunkai and its defense and counter attack techniques. A kata that is well performed is a work of art and the student that understands and performs the bunkai well, understands the battle within the battle. For kata is not just a series of moves linked together, it is a series of battles one or lost by the karatekas understanding of the kata.

As was mention in the Style section, Bushido Kai Karate is associated with two styles of Karate. Both Shito-Ryu and Gosoku-Ryu have a number of katas within the curriculum. Shito-Ryu has the most kata of any karate style numbering over 60. This is because Shito-Ryu katas derive from two great masters Itosu Yasutsune and Higashionna Kanryo both teachers of Grand Master Mabuni Kenwa. In addition, Mabuni Kenwa developed a number of his own katas. Both Shito-Ryu and Gosoku-Ryu are Japanese styles therefore the katas have similar roots.

KARATE TECHNIQUES

UKE WAZA

BLOCKING TECHNIQUES

Age Uke - Upper block	Kosa Uke - Cross arm block
Yoko Uchi - Forearm inward block	Kote Uke - Back of the hand block
Yoko Uke - Forarm outward side block	Kakiwake - Wedged block
Yoko Barai - Forearm outward side parry	Gedan Barai / Harai Uke - Downward parry block
Wa Uke - Two arm circle block	Ko Uke - Wrist block
Tsuki Uke - Thrust block	Sashite - Inward sweeping palm block

Ninoude - Back of forarm inward block	Kensasae Uke - Two hand outward block (open hand at fist)
Hijisasae Uke - Two hand outward block (closed fist at elbow)	Tsukidome - Withdrawing forearm block
Kakete Uke - Hooking hand block	Sukui Uke - Scooping block
Ura Uke - Inverted block (small circle with wrist	Ukenagashi - Inward palm sweeping block
Shotei - Palm heel block	Shuto Uke - Knife hand block
Gassho Uke - Praying hands block	Hariyuki - Two knife hand pushing block
Kara Uke - Empty or void block	Oura Uke - large circle inverted forearm block

TSUKI WAZA

THRUSTING TECHNIQUES

Seiken chudan tuski - center thrust	Age tsuki - Rising thrust
Seiken Jodan tsuki - upper thrst	Furi tsuki - round house thrust
Uraken uchi - back fist strike	Ipponken - one knuckle thrust
Hariken tsuki - four knuckle thrust	Nukite - spear hand
Tateken tsuki - verticle forefist thrust	Morote tsuki - Two arm, two level thrust
Shuto uchi - knife hand strike	Urashuto - Ridge hand
Kentsui uchi - hammer fist	Shuho - back knuckles peaked hand

Hiji Waza

Elbow techniques

Hiji chudan ate - center elbow strike	Hiji otoshi ate - downward elbow strike
Hiji age ate - rising elbow strike	Hiji jodan ate - upper elbow strike
Hiji yoko ate - side elbow strike	Hiji ushiro ate - rear elbow strike

GERI WAZA

KICKING TECHNIQUES

Hiza Geri - Knee kick	Yoko Geri - side kick
Chudan Geri - center kick	Koshu Geri - Back heel kick
Jodan Geri - upper level kick	Kakato Geri - Heel stomp
Sokko Geri - Groin kick	Ushiro Geri - Back kick
Sokuto Geri - knee joint kick	Hizagaeshi - knee sweeping kick
Mawashi Geri - round house kick	Fumioroshi - Toe stomping kick

Dachi Kata

Stances

Heisoku dachi - feet together	Heiko dachi - Forward parallel
Musubi dachi - Open toed stance	Zenkutsu dachi - forward stance
Namiheiko dachi - Parallel stance	Kokutsu dachi - Back stance
Uchihachiji dachi - Toes inward	Nekoashi dachi - Cat stance
Sotohachiji dachi - Toes outward	Sanchin dachi - 3 Point stance
Shiko dachi - Sumo stance	Kosa dachi - Cross leg stance

Seito Shito-Ryu Karate Titles

HANSHI (Leader, 8th Dan)

KYOSHI (Full Teacher, 7th Dan)

TATSUSHI (Expert Teacher, 6th Dan)

RENSHI (High Example, 5th Dan)

SHIHAN (License to Teach, 5th Dan)

Source:http://www.mtholyoke.edu/org/karate/