Technical Education

A 3D model of graphene’s chicken wire structure. nobeastsofierce/Alamy

Somehow it seems appropriate that the government might be basing some of its hopes for the economy’s recovery on a substance that is one atom thick. The substance in question – graphene – 200 times as strong as steel, seems to some designed to carry the weight of almost anything – but George Osborne’s Plan A? That would indeed make it a miracle material.

Nevertheless the chancellor made a detour from the Tory conference in Blackpool in September to visit Manchester University, graphene’s spiritual home, and to announce a £50m investment. Graphene is claimed by some as an innovation that will prove as revolutionary as the silicon chip, or even plastics, both of which it may supersede. A poster campaign around Manchester currently reminds you that the industrial revolution was born in the city at the beginning of the 19th century. Two hu

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North Carolina is a shrewd choice for post-secondary schools in the fields of Information Technology and Computer Science, because it is home to the famous and expanding Research Triangle. Hundreds of employers dealing in technologies have located in this industrial-educational park, which has become a city unto itself with shopping, dining, and recreation venues attached. The opportunities for education, work, and play are numerous.

A reader asked a HubPages Question concerning the best schools to attend for a computer degree at the BA level in North Carolina and this presentation will provide a review of the appropriate schools. First, it is best to strike out towards a Bachelors of Science rather than a Bacheleors of Arts degree in a scientific and engineering field. In fact, many institutions award only the BS in these technologies, since sciences and mathematics take up so much of the degree program..

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Lord Bilimoria, the founder of Cobra Beer and former chancellor of the University of West London, said that the new immigration cap was a “crude” implement that had already led to a fall in applications to UK universities from Indian students.

In an after-dinner-speech to the Association of MBAs, he said: “We fought so hard to allow foreign graduates to work [in the UK] for two years after graduating, so they could pay for their education.

“Then you bring in a crude immigration cap…what sort of nonsense is this?”

He added: “I know Cranfield [which bestowed an honorary degree on Lord Bilimoria] and I know Cambridge, and the number of applicants from India has really plummeted.”

Born in India, Lord Bilimoria trained as an accountant at what is now London Metropolitan University and then completed a law degree at the University of Cambridge.

He was c

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Dear LA Teacher,

Halloween is a week away. What safety tips can you suggest for parents and kids living in the Los Angeles area? 

The Good Witch Glinda

Dear Good Witch Glinda,

When my daughters were growing up, I made a big deal out of Halloween. In early October we put out a cackling doormat, black spiders greeted guests, and a creepy skull frightened bad guys away. 

When Halloween arrived, my eldest daughter, Channie, dressed our black Lab, Keli, as a witch. Koren and Channie disguised themselves as princesses, (no surprise there) and I masqueraded as a homeless man. Keli hung out with me as my girls trick-or-treated house-to-house. We traveled around our Van Nuys neighborhood for three hours filling up their bags with candy. Channie and Koren always shared their chocolates with me, especially the ones with nuts. (My kids hate nuts, except for their daddy nut.) Here are a few precautions we took:

     • Costumes can’t be too long. You don’t want your kids tripping over their 

   clothes.

• Masks should not block peripheral vision. 

• Always go out with your kids. Halloween is a great excuse to bond with

   your child and have fun together.

Trick-or-Treat near your Los Angeles neighborhood.

• Approach homes with porch lights on.

• Don’t run.

• Look both ways while crossing streets, especially big ones like Van Nuys

    Blvd.

• When given a treat, say thank you.

• NEVER vandalize a home or street.

Have a safe and fun Halloween with your kids.

Always,

LA Teacher

Visit LA Teacher’s website, ChildControlled.com.

Sir Michael Wilshaw, who will become head of Ofsted in January. John Stillwell/PA

A headteacher hailed as a “miracle worker” for dramatically improving failing inner-city schools will be the new head of Ofsted.

Sir Michael Wilshaw, renowned for showing “tough love” to pupils and their parents, will start his new job in January 2012.

He will have a pre-appointment hearing in front of MPs on the cross-party education select committee and his appointment is subject to the approval of the privy council.

The 64-year-old will fill a role left vacant in June when the former head of Ofsted, Christine Gilbert, left early. Gilbert was said to have been under pressure to leave after the coalition government came to power.

Wilshaw, who was knighted in 2000 for services to education, is said to have been courted for the role for some time.

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