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K-STATE: New Digital Media Program at K-State at Salina to Kick Off with a Webkinz Party at Open House(M2 PressWIRE Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) RDATE:11042008 SALINA -- When Bill Genereux, assistant professor of engineering technology at Kansas State University at Salina, purchased a Webkinz stuffed animal for his daughter's birthday, he had no idea how closely related the toy would be to a project he had been working on for more than a year. Since Genereux began teaching at K-State at Salina four years ago, he has been looking for ways to connect his interests in computers, art and visual communication. This led to the creation of the new digital media technology option, which will be available to students in fall 2008. Digital media technology is a new associate's degree program option offered through the K-State at Salina department of engineering technology. The program option is to help meet the demand for graduates who understand modern communications technologies such as video, audio, digital photography, computer graphics and animation, as well as technical details such as Web design, computer programming and Internet technologies. "Many people work as graphic designers who do not understand anything about computer programming, and many people work as software engineers, writing code with very little understanding of visual communications. Graduates in K-State's digital media technology will have an understanding of both," Genereux said. Webkinz is a brand of plush toy sold by Ganz Inc. Each furry toy comes with a key code that enables its owner to play with a virtual version of the pet in the online Webkinz World. "As I watched my daughter play with her pet on the computer, I immediately recognized that the design and operation of Webkinz World could have come directly out of the textbook we use for our flash game programming course," Genereux said. "The skills of the Webkinz World creators are exactly the same as those I expect graduates in K-State's digital media technology to have." Genereux sees Webkinz as a great way to introduce young people to careers in computing. "Having a computer career does not mean always being locked away in a cubicle somewhere pounding out computer code," he said. "The essence of computing is using technology to solve problems for people. The more ways you know how to communicate with others and the more you know how to solve problems using technology, the better your opportunities will be." Webkinz fans and those interested in computer careers will have an opportunity to meet and mingle with computer faculty Saturday, April 19, at the K-State at Salina Open House. The engineering technology department will have a Webkinz party from 9:30-11 a.m. Webkinz owners are invited to bring along their favorite Webkinz pet to enjoy a morning of fun and play at the Technology Center. CONTACT: Bill Genereux, K-State Tel: +1 785 826 2927 e-mail: [email protected] Abigail Crouse, K-State Tel: +1 785-826-2642 e-mail: [email protected] ((M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [email protected])). Copyright ? 2008 M2 Communications Ltd. |