When we caught up with Teagan and Beau at the Screen Arts film studio at Waterfront Campus, they were preparing to shoot a music video. In the two-year Screen Arts program students get to try their hands at everything related to making movies: from writing, directing, operating cameras to producing, editing and capturing sound. The list goes on. This time it was Teagan's turn to direct and Beau was going to be director of photography.

Arriving on the music video set, it became very clear that group collaboration is the key to their skills training. It was a very busy scene. All departments have to work together and sometimes they're on the film set for 12 hours at a time. "A two hour movie could have take two years," he says, stressing that, "organization is huge."

Screen Arts program details

Hi again!

At NSCC every classroom is different and it can be a big change from what you see in high school. We want to show you just how unique some of our classrooms are, so stay tuned for some cool examples.

For Ben Davis and Shayne Harvey, their classroom at the NSCC Aviation Institute is a hanger loaded with airplanes, helicopters and flight simulators. They’re studying Avionics where they learn how to maintain all the electronics in an aircraft.

Ben was the kind of person in high school who loved to operate the audio and lighting gear at his school’s theatre. Assembling and maintaining the electronic components of the theatre equipment allowed him to see the possibilities of working hands-on in Avionics. The challenge for him now is to learn a whole new set of components. “There’s so many parts on a plane,” Ben says, adding that having instructors with nearly 25 years of experience, they’re in good hands.

Program details for Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics)

Get a closer look at the Aviation Institute on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ESokeV1-MZQ#!

What classrooms would you like to see next? Tell us your ideas in the comment section below!

I often get this question from students applying to applied arts programs such as Graphic Design, Photography or Recording Arts. Submitting an Entrance Portfolio is an essential part of applying to most of our applied arts programs.

"But what is a portfolio, anyway?"

Basically, a portfolio is a way for you to package and showcase your skills and achievments. If you're an animator, maybe it's 20 of your best drawings or paintings for, example. If you're interested in recording, maybe it's five samples of music you've recorded.

"Why do you require I sumbit my portfolio?"

We want to ensure students are up for the challenge of entering the program before they’re accepted, so we ask for previous work samples (among other items) to be included with your application. Every arts program has a different set of portfolio requirements. If you’re applying to Digital Animation, there are specific instructions for submitting drawing samples listed here. If Photography catches your eye, then you’re required to submit a letter of intent and up to 20 photos that showcase your originality, artistic vision and technical skills. Photography portfolio requirements.

Remember: each program’s portfolio requirements are different so it’s important that you read through the instructions carefully. Above all, it’s important you’re sincere about the program you’re applying to and have some prior experience or at least a plan for what you want to do after graduation. Research the program and related careers before you apply.

Check out the program details to find the individual links to portfolio requirements here: Applied Arts Programs

The link to the portfolio details can be found in the Admissions Requirements section on each program page:

Have you ever left the front door open and have your mom or dad yell “We’re not paying to heat the outdoors!” at you? Me too.

Besides leaving the front door open, how else can a house lose heat or waste energy? What makes a house energy efficient? Students enrolled in the Energy Sustainability Engineering Technology program are about to find out. A new house is being built at Annapolis Valley Campus for students to look at the ways a modern home uses energy.

What makes this life-sized learning tool special is that it’s not only equipped with state-of-the-art technology, it’s also an affordable and practical house. In other words, you don’t need to be David Suzuki to have a house like this.

The students in the Energy Sustainability Engineering Technology program will be learning how to use a solar thermal system that heats water and they’ll also be monitoring temperatures outside and underneath the house to measure how much heat is escaping, if any.

What I like about this project is that students aren’t just reading about energy sustainability in a book— they’re outside of the classroom, working to solve real world challenges in a real life setting.

Click here for more info on Energy Sustainability Engineering Technology

I picked up a copy of the Chronicle Herald last week (I'm not bragging!) and in the business section I found a glowing review of our Information Technology program. So glowing in fact, that I had to share it with you.

The article was written by Pat D'entremont. Pat helps run Nicom IT Services Inc., an IT solutions firm. Earning top marks from an industry veteran like Pat says a lot about the program's reputation. If you have a knack for working on computers and think a career in IT might fit the bill, then read this article. Check out Pat's blog too.

Here are a few paragraphs that stood-out:

"Diplomas are offered in Database, Web Development, Systems Management/Networking, and Programming. The common first year is also shared with their Computer Electronics Technician program.

In total, the program consists of six semesters spanning two years, with a ten-week work term in the second year. They also include "Professional Options" electives, usually of a one-week duration, on special topics (iPhones, iPads, and Blackberry Enterprise Servers, for example) put on by industry. Many of these weekly electives are also accessible to industry.

NSCC hits that sweet spot between private training centres and university, where the former provides highly specialized training on specific topics and the latter provides a broad-based education. By aligning themselves with companies like Microsoft, VMware, and Oracle, NSCC is able to leverage the tools such organizations provide. In addition to being granted a diploma, students also acquire the skills to apply for industry accreditations, such as Microsoft certifications and CompTIA.

In some cases, students don't need to choose between College and University. For example, via an articulation agreement with Cape Breton University, NSCC graduates receive an equivalent to two years of study towards a four-year bachelor of technology degree program."

Read the whole article here

Information Technology program details