6. Who are some of the sponsors and supporters of the school? What kind of support does Monroe believe is needed in the school? Why?
7. Why did Dan Klores establish New Renaissance as a charter school rather than a traditional public school? Do you think it is possible for students in specialized schools like this one to learn deeply about the school’s focus and also pass standardized tests in reading, math, English, science and a foreign language?
8. Would you be interested in attending the school, or one like it in your area? Why or why not?
Going Further
Design your dream school based on a passion you have. For example, there are already arts high schools where students can study visual arts, theater, dance and music, as well as schools that focus on creative writing, STEM and more. Maybe one of these interests you, or maybe you’d rather study at a high school where you learn about caring for the environment or focus on becoming multilingual and traveling the world, or on designing video games.
At the Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School, we’ve set out to ensure that our students’ futures are filled with possibility — whether they play the game or not.
We are committed to the belief that the magic and excitement of basketball extends beyond the court into professions that are accessible to our graduates.
What do you hope students will achieve in your dream school? How might the things that students learn serve them in a number of different careers?
2. Create a daily schedule What do students at your imagined high school do when they arrive in the morning? What kinds of classes do they take throughout the day? You can use your own school schedule as inspiration, or borrow ideas from the course offerings at Earl Monroe.
3. Write a class description Choose one of the classes from your daily schedule and write a one-paragraph description of what happens in that class. What do you get to learn about? What kinds of hands-on activities will students engage in?
4. Create a brochure Take everything you’ve done so far and make a one-page brochure advertising your specialty school. You can use a platform like Canva to create something that is visually compelling and piques the interest of others.
If you’ve ever opened up the terminal on your Mac, then you may have wondered what to do next. What exactly are you supposed to type in when you see that retro-looking cursor?
While most of us control our computers with a mouse, the keyboard can also be heavily utilized to interact with it. Developers on macOS and Linux machines use Bash every day to work with files and applications and save time or make the most of limited computing resources.
In this article, we’ll go over what Bash is, what it’s used for, and how to get started with Bash.
What is Bash?
Bash is a command-line interface shell program used extensively in Linux and macOS. The name Bash is an acronym for “Bourne Again Shell,” developed in 1989 as a successor to the Bourne Shell.
“What’s a shell?” you ask? A shell is a computer program that allows you to directly control a computer’s operating system (OS) with a graphical user interface (GUI) or command-line interface (CLI).
You actually use GUI shells all the time. For example, Windows 10 is based on the Windows shell that allows you to control your OS with a desktop, taskbar, and menus.
With a CLI shell like Bash, you type commands into the program to directly control your computer’s OS. Opening up the terminal on your Mac or command line in Linux will look similar to consoles and integrated development environments (IDEs) for other programming languages such as R, Ruby, or Python. You can type commands directly in the command line or run Bash scripts to perform longer and more complex tasks.
Advantages of Bash
One of the biggest advances in computer software development was the introduction of windows and menus, so what’s the point of going back? People use CLIs like Bash because they still have a few distinct advantages over GUIs. Let’s explore some of these advantages.
Access your operating system more efficiently
People use Bash when they want to control their computer or OS without having to navigate menus, options, and windows within a GUI. As we pointed out earlier, with CLIs like Bash, you usually don’t even need to use your mouse. You can navigate through your computer’s OS without your fingers ever leaving your keyboard.
For example, if you want to quickly create, edit, or delete multiple files, it’s easier to use Bash instead of finding each file by pointing and clicking on multiple directories.
Plus, using Bash instead of a GUI is less resource-intensive since your computer doesn’t need to dedicate resources to rendering graphical output. This makes Bash an attractive option when you’re already running multiple programs, a virtual machine, or otherwise have limited computing resources to work with.
Input and output with text files
Bash makes it easy to create and edit text files, including CSVs. And, since text files are one of the most common ways to store and process data, Bash is great for performing tasks like:
Preparing and curating data.
Sorting and filtering through data.
Cleaning and updating data.
Data Scientists love Bash because it helps them pre-process large datasets quickly and efficiently. And, even if you don’t need to work with big data, Bash is helpful in many other contexts. For example, two common tasks that people perform on their computers are:
Looking up files within a folder.
Searching for files that contain certain text.
When you do these tasks with the GUI, there’s no way to easily record your results. But with Bash, you can copy and paste your results or write them to a text file to use as input in another programming language.
Automate with ease
Bash also makes automating tasks on your computer much easier. This is especially useful when part of your job involves repetitive functions.
Suppose that you’re a cybersecurity expert at a company, and part of your job is to make sure that new hires’ laptops are configured correctly. You could use the GUI to navigate through menus and windows with points and clicks, then adjust settings as needed.
Or, you could write a single Bash script that does the same thing on any new computer. No more pointing and clicking, and no more worrying about whether you remembered to do everything on your checklist.
Run any programming language from the same application
Whether you’re a Data Scientist or a Back-End Developer, you probably have several programming languages installed along with multiple IDE applications. Bash is a way to centralize how you run scripts in different languages so that they can effectively communicate with each other. For example, you can use Bash to:
As long as the programming language is installed on your computer, you can access it with Bash.
Can you use Bash in Windows?
While Bash is famous for being the go-to CLI shell in Mac and Linux, Windows uses Command Prompt and PowerShell to perform the same functions as Bash. But, it’s now possible to install Bash on Windows 10 to provide almost the same functionality as Bash in Mac and Linux.
Most importantly, programmers who use Bash in Windows can run the same commands and utilities to query, create, edit, run, and delete files and directories.
How do you learn Bash?
Bash is a programming language as much as it is an application, which means that Bash comes with its own syntax. And, while you can look up how to use individual Bash commands as you need them, most developers find it much easier to learn all the basics at once with an introductory online course on Command Line.
The biggest advantage to learning Bash is that it’s so widely used. Even if you’re working in another programming language like Python or Ruby, it’s worth learning Bash because many languages support Bash commands to pass data and information to and from your computer’s OS.
Bash makes life easier for developers
Whether you’re pulling together data files as a Data Analyst or configuring servers as a Back-End Developer, learning Bash will make your job easier and faster. In fact, you’ll find that developers who know Bash have a head start when it comes to finding a job to start their development career.
What other skills should you have as a new developer? Check out our Career Paths, which have helped developers-in-training put together the right skill set to get you noticed by hiring managers.
More and more people are leaving their jobs in search of better opportunities, a change of pace, better pay, or more flexibility. And, for some, even though they’ve been doing the same job for many years, switching to a new career brings something money can’t buy: personal fulfillment.
But, some people think that because they’re not in their 20s and fresh out of college, the job market isn’t open for them. Luckily, this isn’t true, especially when it comes to tech jobs.
Read on to learn why age isn’t a significant factor in the tech sector and how having many years of experience in the workforce can be a powerful asset in landing your career-changing job.
1. Age is nothing. Getting the job done is everything
With the emergence of disruptive technologies and business models, organizations today need solid results to keep pace with the rest of the market. This requires people who can get the job done. It doesn’t matter if you have a college degree, if you’re young, or if you’ve been around a few years — if you can produce results, you’re marketable.
This is particularly true for tech professions. Coding skills don’t come with an expiration date, and older programmers can bring skills and experience to the job that younger workers lack. If you know how to address the needs of a business using code, you can land a great job with impressive pay.
The key is first to learn the skills you’ll need to do your job, then practice them, and then develop a portfolio. In most cases, you can build your portfolio while you’re learning to code.
For example, in any of the courses listed below, you’ll have the opportunity to complete projects that you can include as examples of your work in your portfolio. Plus, referencing these projects is a great way to illustrate your skills in an interview.
Some of our coding courses include:
2. Your years in the workforce can be an asset
With age comes valuable experience — experience that can’t be earned in a classroom. And regardless of how much work someone does when starting out, there are some skills that you can only develop over time and in different circumstances.
Take soft skills as an example. Soft skills are those you use to solve complicated problems and collaborate with your teammates. These skills are important as, depending on your role, you’ll likely be working with other teams and departments as you build software. Plus, soft skills are transferable — so all your experience with problem-solving and collaborating will apply to your new career.
3. Experience working with different teams
In the tech world, the team atmosphere is often the go-to structure. When checking out new positions, highlight the experiences you’ve gathered from working with professionals from varied backgrounds. Here are some skills you can mention during your interview or consider including on your resume :
Adjusting to different types of people
Understanding the strengths of people from different cultures
Knowing how to navigate complicated conflicts
Understanding how to remove personal feelings from a situation and knowing when they can be an asset
Knowing how to make different kinds of stakeholders happy
4. Experience solving problems
Problem-solving is at the heart of the tech industry. This applies to coding, network design, cybersecurity, machine learning, and virtually every other discipline.
In any tech job, your responsibility is to use technology to meet a goal or address a need. Knowing how to approach different kinds of problems can go a long way towards making you an effective team member.
For example, even if your technical experience is limited right now, you may have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to:
Solving problems from a higher-level perspective by keeping big objectives in mind while developing solutions.
Addressing small issues in a way that enables the larger solution to be more successful — understanding that the devil is sometimes in the details.
Creatively approaching a situation using different or unexpected tools.
Thinking outside the box when you need a solution that fixes a new issue.
5. Experience handling changes
Change is central to the tech industry, and if you’re interested in pursuing a career in tech, adapting to both personnel and technology-based changes will be necessary. Here are some reasons why a more experienced professional may handle these changes better than someone who is newer to the workforce
Personnel changes
When a new team member joins your squad, it can come with its own challenges. But with years of accepting and learning from new players, an older individual may adapt faster than others.
This holds true whether the personnel changes are horizontal or vertical — involving people you work alongside or those you report to. For instance, the transition can be tough when a new supervisor joins the team and has a very different management style than you’re used to. But, the skills needed to adjust are generally the same — regardless of the industry or discipline you’re working in.
Your ability to adapt to changes can make you a powerful asset in a tech job. This includes when a company has to outsource an element of their tech to a service, such as a cybersecurity company or a software provider. The ability to work well with new faces and minds can make you a valuable team member.
Changes in technology
No one understands the need to adjust to new technologies and people more than those who’ve been in the workforce for many years. With so many new technologies introduced into your personal or professional life, you’ve learned valuable skills that have helped you adapt to technical and other changes.
For instance, when iOS first came out, it was different for everyone, but soon, people were swiping and long-tapping their way through new apps and processes like it was second nature. The older you are, the more adjustments you’ve had to make, and this is an asset that’s not easy to come by without many years of experience.
Making the switch with us
With our courses, we empower professionals at all career stages to pursue the path they’re passionate about by making the process of learning new technologies and programming languages straightforward. You also get to work with others and build an impressive portfolio along the way. Sign up today for free to learn more.
RAM is a computer’s short-term memory. It’s a key part of a computer’s performance, affecting your ability to game, surf the web, stream, and more. Read on to learn more about RAM, why it’s important, and how much you need.
What does RAM mean?
RAM stands for random access memory. Every computing device, including your smartphone and tablet, has RAM. It’s a type of memory that your computer calls on for applications and data you’re currently using.
Without enough RAM, your computer’s performance will be sluggish and frustrating. Without RAM, computers can’t function.
RAM is different from your computer’s hard disk drive, solid-state drive (SSD), or optical drive. Those drives are your computer’s long-term memory. They also take longer to read and write from.
Data is only kept in RAM for as long as it’s being used. Once you shut down your computer, any data stored in RAM is lost.
What does RAM do?
RAM keeps your computer running quickly. When you open your 20th browser tab or load up a save file from your favorite game, RAM ensures this happens relatively quickly. If your computer had to dig into your hard drive or SSD for everything, your load time would be significantly slower.
If you’ve ever found your computer running slowly or struggling to load programs, there’s a chance the issue is your RAM.
Let’s use a cooking example. Think of RAM as your refrigerator — it holds all the ingredients you need right away. On the other hand, your computer’s long-term memory is more like a freezer. You can still use the ingredients it stores, but it takes a little longer.
RAM is anywhere from 20 to 100 times faster than your hard drive. It’s what allows your computer to do things “instantly.”
How does RAM work?
Let’s say you need to work on a Word document. When you open Word, your computer loads the application into RAM. If you’re opening a Word document, your computer will copy that document from your hard drive to your RAM. As you work on your document, you can make changes in real-time because RAM is fast.
But, RAM only offers temporary storage. That’s why it’s important to either save your work regularly or turn on auto-save. If the power goes out while you’re working, and you haven’t saved your document, any work you’ve done on the Word document will be lost.
RAM speeds up your computer by making previously accessed information available quickly. For example, when you first start your computer and open a program like Word, it takes a short while to load. If you close it and reopen it later without shutting down your computer, it’ll load faster because it’s being loaded out of RAM instead of the hard disk.
Why is RAM important?
RAM is important because it influences the speed of your computer. Waiting for a program to load can feel like an eternity. For businesses, even a small delay spread over hundreds or thousands of people cuts into productivity.
Intel found that older, slower computers can make an employee as much as 29% less productive, costing up to $17,000 in lost productivity. The same study found that waiting for an older PC to start in the morning can take up to 11 hours per year. While loading times largely depend on what type of storage a computer has (e.g., hard drives vs. SSDs), RAM still plays a role.
Every piece of software needs a minimum amount of space and memory to run smoothly. If there’s not enough room, the software may run slowly or not at all, leaving you frustrated and spending time troubleshooting instead of working, playing games, or streaming your favorite show. Similarly, trying to run multiple programs at the same time with low memory can force paging to the disk, which can really slow things down.
Of course, computer performance involves more than just RAM. It also depends on how your RAM and CPU work together. A powerful processor is also critical to computer performance.
What are the different types of RAM?
Now that you know what RAM is used for, let’s look at some of the different types of RAM:
Static RAM (SRAM). This type of RAM has been used since the 1990s. It has lower power consumption than other types of RAM, but it’s more expensive to produce and has less memory.
Dynamic RAM (DRAM). Along with SRAM, this is the other basic type of RAM. It’s typically used in system memory and video graphics memory. It’s cheaper to produce and has a greater memory capacity than SRAM.
Single data rate synchronous dynamic RAM (SDR SDRAM). This is a type of DRAM that allows more instructions to be completed simultaneously. It’s been on the market since the early 1990s.
Double data rate synchronous dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM). This RAM is twice as fast as SDR SDRAM. DDR4 is the most advanced version of DDR SDRAM, offering more advanced signal processing, greater memory capacity, and lower power consumption.
Graphics double data rate synchronous dynamic RAM (GDDR SDRAM). This RAM is designed for video graphic rendering. It’s usually used with a dedicated GPU on a video card to create high-definition graphics.
What’s the difference between RAM and other types of storage?
People often confuse RAM with ROM. Even more confusingly, ROM also refers to a type of memory.
ROM stands for read-only memory. It’s located on the motherboard, and it contains your computer’s most essential information. As the name indicates, ROM can’t be changed. It can only be “read.” RAM, on the other hand, is constantly changing.
Hard disks and SSDs are non-volatile, which means they don’t lose data when there’s no power. RAM does lose its data when power is cut. The power connection is what allows RAM to work as quickly as it does.
There are also CDs, DVDs, memory cards, and USB devices. Unlike RAM, these storage devices are used to store data externally.
How much RAM do you need?
The amount of RAM you need depends on what you use your computer for. There’s a minimum amount necessary to run the operating system, of course — but you’ll need more than the minimum for your computer to run smoothly.
RAM is typically measured in gigabytes (GB). More GB can help with multitasking, but speed also matters. Computers, tablets, and phones have anywhere from 2 GB to 32 GB. Here’s how it breaks down.
4 GB. This could work for someone who only browses the web and works with Microsoft Office.
8 GB. This allows more multitasking and light gaming.
16 GB. This allows for more serious gaming and video editing.
32 GB. This is a good set-up for professionals like designers and game developers. It allows you to edit 4k videos and model 3D environments.
64 GB. This is a good choice for engineers working on machine learning, feature film editing, and 3D graphic design.
RAM speed is also a consideration. Typical DDR4 memory runs between 2,133 MHz and 3,000 MHz. Channels, which link your RAM and CPU, also make a difference. Most memory sticks have at least dual-channel support, which means there are two lanes between one memory slot and the motherboard.
What does RAM have to do with gaming?
RAM plays an essential role when it comes to gaming. That’s because games are loaded into RAM so you can have a smooth, responsive gaming experience.
Without enough RAM, games may lag, which can be extremely frustrating. Even worse, they may not run at all.
Generally, 8GB is a good baseline for playing AAA games. Some games may need more. If you’re doing anything else while gaming, like streaming, chatting on Discord, or watching YouTube or Twitch, 16 GB may be a better fit.
Along with your computer’s RAM, you’ll also want to pay attention to your video card’s RAM, or VRAM. If you’re playing games at a high resolution, you’ll need a lot of VRAM. Typically, you’ll need at least 8 GB of VRAM if you’re playing in 4K and 2 GB to 6 GB of VRAM if you’re playing at 1080P. Still, this varies depending on the type of game you’re planning to play or develop.
What is RAM used for in programming?
RAM plays an important role in programming. Depending on the types of projects you’re working on and the software you’re running, you may need more or less RAM.
If you’re running virtual machines, for example, you’ll need significantly more RAM. A virtual machine uses software instead of a physical computer to run programs and deploy apps. A virtual machine uses its own operating system and functions separately from other virtual machines.
If you’re working on a simple website or app, you’ll likely need significantly less RAM. If you’re considering a career in programming, you probably have enough RAM on your computer to get started.
Getting started in gaming, programming, and other IT careers
If you’re just getting started with game or software development, the good news is that you don’t need much RAM. You’ll be able to do a lot of your coursework with 4 GB, but you may want to upgrade to 8 GB or more as you advance.
To get started in gaming or programming, you’ll need to learn one or more programming languages. Popular languages to start with are:
Python. This is a general-purpose, beginner-friendly programming language.
Ruby. An intuitive, easy-to-learn programming language often used for web development.
C++. This speedy, efficient programming language is used in software and game development, robotics, virtual reality, and scientific computing.
Another option is to combine learning a programming language with learning a skill like game development. Our Skill Path Create Video Games with Phaser.js is a beginner-friendly class for those who want to create their own game, start learning JavaScript, and Learn Phaser.js. Phaser.js is one of the most popular HTML5 game frameworks.
We also offer Learn A-Frame if you’re interested in virtual reality (VR). A-Frame is a popular open-source web framework for building virtual reality experiences in a web browser. You’ll be able to complete VR projects that you can include in your portfolio.
Of course, these are just a few paths to get started in IT. Whether you’re looking for your first job or looking to change careers, it’s easy to get started. Just choose a beginner-friendly course and jump in.
Not sure where to start? We’re here to help. Reach out in our forums or on our Discord server, and we’ll steer you in the right direction.
Use your imagination to write the opening of a short story or poem inspired by this illustration — or, tell us about a memory from your own life that this image makes you think of.
Tell us in the comments, then read the related article to learn more.
Want more Picture Prompts? Find them all in this column.
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.
The display cases at the Atlanta jewelry store Icebox teem with Cuban link chains, watches called bustdowns covered edge to edge in diamonds, gold pendants in dozens of designs. It is the ne plus ultra of contemporary hip-hop luxury. And over the last three years, Icebox has built a secondary business atop this phenomenon, starting a YouTube channel filled with videos of rappers coming in to salivate and shop.
But often, the most striking characteristics of these lavish 10-minute videos aren’t the ostentatious pieces of jewelry, or even the artists themselves. The clips are among the most soothing places on the hip-hop internet, conveying a powerful sense of calm, of relaxation. They capture the safe spaces of the rich and otherwise flamboyant — watching Icebox videos is like being let in on a secret. More than a million people subscribe to the store’s YouTube channel.
Daily Word Challenge
Can you correctly use the word ostentatious in a sentence?
Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.
Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.
If you want a better idea of how ostentatious can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.
Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.
Which band has the most No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and tops Rolling Stone’s list of the greatest artists of all time? Which band’s 1965 hit “Yesterday” is the most covered song in history? If you know the answers to these questions, you might be interested in the yearlong master’s degree program the people in the photo above have just begun. Based at the University of Liverpool, in the band’s hometown, it is entirely devoted to the Beatles.
What is your reaction to a program like that? Does it sound like fun? Like a fascinating learning experience? Or does it seem more like a waste of time and money?
LIVERPOOL, England — On Wednesday morning, as a new semester began, students eagerly headed into the University of Liverpool’s lecture theaters to begin courses in archaeology, languages and international relations.
But in lecture room No. 5 of the university’s concrete Rendall Building, a less traditional program was getting underway: a master’s degree devoted entirely to the Beatles.
“How does one start a Beatles M.A.?” asked Holly Tessler, the American academic who founded the course, looking out at 11 eager students. One wore a Yoko Ono T-shirt; another had a yellow submarine tattooed on his arm.
“I thought the only way to do it, really, is with some music,” she said.
Tessler then played the class the music video for “Penny Lane,” the Beatles’ tribute to a real street in Liverpool, just a short drive from the classroom.
The yearlong course — “The Beatles: Music Industry and Heritage” — would focus on shifting perceptions of the Beatles over the past 50 years, and on how the band’s changing stories affected commercial sectors like the record business and tourism, Tessler said in an interview before class.
For Liverpool, the band’s hometown, the association with the Beatles was worth over $110 million a year, according to a 2014 study by Mike Jones, another lecturer on the course. Tourists make pilgrimages to city sites named in the band’s songs, visit venues where the group played — like the Cavern Club — and pose for photos with Beatles statues. The band’s impact was always economic and social, as much as a musical, Tessler said.
Throughout the course, students would have to stop being simply Beatles fans and start thinking about the group from new perspectives, she added. “Nobody wants or needs a degree where people are sitting around listening to ‘Rubber Soul’ debating lyrics,” she said. “That’s what you do in the pub.”
In Wednesday’s lecture, which focused almost entirely on “Penny Lane,” Tessler encouraged the students to think of the Beatles as a “cultural brand,” using the terms “narrative theory” and “transmediality.”
Students, read the entire article, then tell us:
Now that you’ve read the article, what is your reaction to a yearlong graduate degree devoted entirely to the Beatles? Did anything in the article change your initial opinion?
Is there some subject that you’d love to spend a year studying at a university, or in some other formal setting, with a group of equally interested classmates? What and why?
Is your subject a practical one that can lead to a career? If not, can you think of ways that you might use it in a future job or other kind of role?
In considering what you might study in college, do you think you’ll be more motivated by preparing for a future career, or by learning about subjects that truly interest you? In your opinion, are those equally respectable paths for a young person to take? Why or why not?
The article suggests that the Beatles and their music have shaped culture and history. What other musical artists, if any, would you argue deserve similar degree programs? Why?
Want more writing prompts? You can find all of our questions in our Student Opinion column. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate them into your classroom.
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.
Growing up, Platinum always seemed this word, that well, I couldn’t really figure out. Oh sure, I experienced it in Chemistry (why are Chem teachers always so weird?). Excluding that, I was left in a daze.
When my sister got engaged her ring was platinum. At that moment, I knew that platinum must mean pricey, not everyone will receive it, and that elite had to fit in there somewhere (you have to know my sister to understand).
There are gold picks. Best in Class picks – I have them as well as an award category. Silver picks, never though Sapphire picks, which uh, yeah, definitely would be odd.
A Platinum pick though, well, that should say something beyond just gold, or silver, or ruby or whatever.
Platinum is an award that says “okay, you have a good system, but you know what, there are some things there, that take you to a whole new level, an upper tier than the rest of the industry.” It doesn’t mean, that you have the most features, or functionality (especially skills – which is a whole other ball of wax, as a whole in the industry). Nor does it mean that you are the best in selling your system or marketing it.
Platinum takes several components that as a whole, along with trend lines (a first) to identify systems that either are on their way for a wonderful 2022, or have started out and done quite a bit in less than a year (i.e. they launched early in 2021), or were elite in 2021, and stayed that way thru the end of the year.
Think of them as in the upper tier. Top 30 (out of 1,000 – my cutoff).
What played a role for Platinum
Each of these items, had points assigned to them.
Trend line – Where were they are the start of 2021, and where are they now – upward is clear, but what other items are playing into this – it is always a set of factors, not just one
Top system in 2021 awards – did they continue thru the year? Some did, some did not – which is why you won’t see CrossKnowledge here. Sure you can continue to land customers, but did you really have a sound strategy or approach? OR were you just muddling around?
UI/UX aligns to your target audience. If I am focusing only on FS and no other industry, will my system align to it correctly? How strong for example, is my compliance capabilities? If I pitch I am NexGen – am I really? Not surprisingly, many are not.
If you focus on front line workers, blue-collar – does your system have those feature sets and capabilities that meet the needs of those folks? No surprise here, many do not – they skew office workforce, and toss in a couple of items, that uh, are still office workforce driven.
Are you hitting your roadmap? This is major. Yes there are always variables that are beyond a vendor’s control, but a vendor should meet at least 70% of their roadmap. Bonus: where those features you were focusing on for your roadmap make strong business sense around learning and training in 2021?
Features and Functionality – What percentage of my RFI template on the functionality tab did you achieve? The same on Skills – which again as a whole, the industry is really in the low percentiles.
Learning System Focus – this means if you are focusing on Enterprise, what in the system says that? If you are heavily focusing on customer education – again, do you have everything that you need to really do well in that market? No surprise, many vendors do not.
Metrics – How robust? This plays a big role for the 2022 awards, especially for the top 10, but for the Platinum, it still is a factor.
Are you all included or add-on?
Company culture – It may not seem like a big deal, but I can tell you first hand, it does. If you only knew.
Are you in the Customer Excellence Pledge program? I’m thrilled that some of the vendors who are in the Platinum level are – they are committed to checks and balances with a stringent program. Those who did, should and did receive more points for support.
The Platinum Picks are from around the world. I didn’t focus on X country versus Y country. I focused on the system.
Country Call Out
Australia
Canada
Netherlands
Denmark
England
India
Israel
United States
Italy
Germany
France
Sweden
Introducing the Platinum Picks – Roll Call
In alphabetical order.
Vendors who signed the Customer Excellence Pledge, a stringent support certification program, are noted by (CEP). These vendors adhere to a checks and validation program throughout each year, to ensure that you receive elite support, beyond someone just telling you that. Please remember the number one reason why people leave/hate their learning system is lack of support.
If the system is on the FindAnLMS.com platform it will be noted as (FAL). By accessing FAL you can learn more about each vendor, more details, user ranges, price ranges, implementation times, and features. You can compare them, save them as favorites, even request a quote.
Vendors are not required to be on the platform for consideration for any rankings, awards, etc. The goal of FAL is to list the best systems in the world – it is our foundation, and what makes FindAnLMS unique in the industry.
Absorb LMS(CEP),(FAL)– To really take the system to a whole new level, I recommend the following to buy (Absorb LMS plus Infuse, plus Engage, plus Analyze). If you want a strong built-in authoring tool, that can get close to a commercial one, then add Create LI. While I wish Absorb offered a learning suite where all these mods were included at no additional charge, at this time, that is not the case. Still, the Analyze – advanced analytical data is outstanding, and far surpasses what Absorb LMS currently has – so I recommend it, even if you choose not to buy the other options.
Access LMS (FAL) – #1 system for the financial services market in 2021. It is adding some new capabilities in the upcoming quarter, which is a huge win.
Acorn LMS (FAL) – Not well-known outside of APAC. Screams potential.
Agylia (CEP) (FAL) – Always has been mobile focused and driven. In this past year, the system has pushed itself up another level with functionality and capabilities, especially in CPD.
Cornerstone Learning (FAL) – I recommend buying Cornerstone PXP (name may change) along with Cornerstone Learning and Content Anytime (which you receive, but you still have to purchase the 3rd party content – via an all you can “access model”). If you want to turn Cornerstone Learning into a TXP – then add Careers module too. PXP is Cornerstone’s LXP. Cornerstone Learning has scored in my NexGen Grid the last two years, in the leader side. For 2021, I can tell you that it will achieve this again, with an extensive level of NexGen capabilities. This is noted because sadly the moniker of “Traditional” has stuck, and the system is far from that.
Degreed (FAL) – A TXP (Talent Development plus LXP – I changed the term “talent development to TXP” to reflect those vendors who meet all the reqs to be a TD system, so interchangeable terms). – The opportunities module is extra, but worth it – if you are mapping skills to job opportunities within the company. They have an advanced metrics module coming soon. No word yet on if it is an additional cost or included. This is a top tier system.
Docebo(FAL) – This is the Learning Suite, but you do not get everything included in said suite. Rather, Learn plus Content is a bundle – the starter you will need. Content – still requires you to purchase the 3rd party content – the most popular being an “all you can view and access”. The digital coaching, content curation, ask an expert is an add-on (additional yearly cost) to Learn. The add-on is wonderful, so a definite buy, if that is something you want.
As for the rest of the suite – Learning Impacts is far better data visualization wise than what is out of the box for Docebo’s Learn. However, I’d recommend Learning Analytics as the key buy for advanced analytical data. You can even tie in your other data streams from salesforce, BI tools, heck just about anything. It’s impressive. Recommendation: Learn plus Discovery, Coach and Share add-on; buy Learning Analytics mod and ask for Content (it comes with Learn).
D2L (Corporate)(CEP) (FAL)– This system gets better ever year. Extensive functionality that is not mentioned nearly enough in their marketing or site, thus many folks are unaware. The system has multi-tenant, digital coaching with video skills validation, Grids and so much more.
EdCast TXP (CEP) (FAL) – #1 Learning System for 2021 (2021 awards), continues its strong capabilities and frankly everything else throughout the year. Skills DNA, Skills Studio are the latest feature sets, and EdGraph is now included (a BI – business intelligence – component). One of the few systems in the industry, that can do a complete deep configuration, that goes beyond what you see or can do. That is a lot. The offer customer academies (for customer education), may be an additional fee (depends on use case).
Eurekos(CEP) (FAL) – Lots of capabilities, including one feature that no other CE focused system offers today – actually no one in the learning system space offers it. That feature launches late Q4. Skills is coming in 2022.
Fuse (CEP) (FAL) – The UI/UX on the learner side, isn’t similar to anything else you will see – and as a result, may not align. But if you see “groups/communities” as an essential core, with learning and all the other training and knowledge goodies wrapped within it – well.. Only system today, where you can ask questions in the search and view content – similar to what you can and what folks do when they search the web. Thus – what do I need to become a graphic artist? – pulls up the content tied to that question. Rather than the usual – “graphic artist” that so many systems follow. The metrics is in the top two – best I’ve seen in 2021. BI power that comes with the system at no additional charge.
Gyrus Aim(CEP) (FAL) – Scored high for a reason – does an exceptional job with capabilities and support across the board. Plays very well in Large Enterprise and Enterprise.
(FAL) – You get a lot with the IMC suite. More well known in Europe, not so much elsewhere.
Intellum (FAL) – Customer Education focused system, that plays heavy in the tech space – but is not limited there. This is a robust system, which surprisingly has a lot of skills capabilities even though that is not common in the CE focused market (its changing – i.e. the market). You can even white label/custom label the mobile app (an additional fee) to your brand. Please note – you must have at least 4,500 active/end users for the platform. That is Intellum’s minimum.
Instilled LXP (FAL) They are definitely more of a learning platform. Accepts any type of content including SCORM, AICC, xAPI, videos, PDFs, links and so forth. Watershed LRS is on the back-end. Comes with a video editing tool and so much more. A hidden favorite.
Juno Journey(FAL) – A TXP. Interests still plays an essential role, which I see as a must in today’s business environment. UI/UX is definitely different, but it is a system, I can see learners really liking.
LearnAmp(CEP) (FAL) – Feature-rich, UI impressive system. The latest capabilities include an enhanced recommendation skills level engine whereas learners receive recommendations for content, event (ILT & vILT). On top of that, it identifies these skills whereas people can coach or mentor them to improve. I really like the new community option whereas you can have Instagram like feeds and LinkedIn like search directories.
Learnster (FAL) – I noted that it is defiantly different, and so it is. Again, not a common look, nor common approach. But, after all, who wants common?
MATRIX – System that offers quite a bit – continues to get better every year – this year it breaks truly through.
Origin Learning – Fractal LXP – How many systems can you name where navigation (within a mobile app) can be handled by your voice? With Fractal you can. This is just one of the cool feature sets this LXP with some LMS functionality offers. Big wins include agent composer – hard to explain, and they describe it a bit odd in their marketing. You have to truly see it.
Pluralsight Skills – Luxurious look for technical skills. This is 100% for technical skills, with experts, boot camps, sims and certification programs that go beyond what is common. The luxury aspect, well it matches the price point. Best technical skills platform on the market.
Raven360(FAL) – Combo platform, that does quite a bit, including offering features such as a sim capability that isn’t just about tech skills. Can play well in the customer ed space, does fine in Enterprise.
Rockstar Learning Platform(CEP) (FAL) – We will..We will Rock you! Okay go with it. This is an up and coming platform, launched in early 2021. Alright breaking thru the pack. It’s a work in progress, jump on the band motorbus. Digital coaching included.
SAP Litmos (FAL) – If you ignore the bot that pops up on their web screens (an irritant), the system itself has a lot to offer. The metrics need an improvement, but the sytem has NexGen written all over it.
Schoox(CEP) (FAL) – Outstanding Talent Dev Platform (aka TXP). If you can can get buy some of the UI challenges, you will find a system that skills driven, lots of capabilities and feature-rich. Mobile apps, slick metrics – including comparison of skills to improvement of knowledge, punches the ticket.
SkillJar (FAL) – They push the customer ed focus thing a bit too far, since they are not at the 85% threshold, more like 50 to 55. However, this is a very solid and higher tier system. Works as a combo. Definite player.
SmarterU(CEP) (FAL) – Another system that slips under the radar. Has a lot to offer, and this is, IMO, the best version yet. Potential to exceed.
Studytube – One of the combo systems that truly is an LXP plus LMS plus built-in authoring tool. Another under the radar.
Thought Industries (CEP) (FAL) – #1 Learning System for the Customer Education/Partner Training market in 2021 and honestly, I’m not seeing any system steal that title from them in 2022. Soon to be released (late Q4, early Q1 2022) Atlas (a new component) just pushes it up to a whole new level. Helium (Coming in 2022), adds to it. Skills is a work in progress. Sadly, no mobile app until mid 2022.
Valamis(FAL) – Another vendor who pushes the customer ed angle, but then goes out and buys a vendor who plays more around employee development. That said, this is a very solid system, with lots to offer. Can custom label the mobile app to your brand. More of a combo system (audience wise). Depending on the direction, they could tap even higher in 2022.
Platinum Picks
A bit of a different angle here, rather than going down the line, as they say, this will be by group – as in who competes with who, typically – thus, if you are looking at one vendor, for say employee training in a certain space, here are the others to look at, that are truly competitors, and here are some outliers who offer XYZ but are not seen as a core competitor, rather, a possiblity.
Customer Education /Partner Training/B2B or B2C – may be referred as “extended enterprise”
The Core – These are the vendors who are at least 85% customer focus, 15% employee (thus slide under Customer Ed focused)
Thought Industries
Intellum
Eurekos
Others that compete heavily against them – but are more combo (usually skews more towards employees only, but think say 50-50 (50% internal employees vs 50% customers, again, so are 70-30 or 60-40 – there are exceptions – i.e. skew more customer, but not at 85% marker. These vendors do compete and win deals.
Absorb
Docebo
Skill Jar
SAP Litmos
Fuse
EdCast TXP
Valamis – More customer oriented.
Raven360 – Better suited for customer.
Splinter – Combo Systems – You are focusing on your office workforce, but still offer customer education or similar. Again, the core for your learning is your office/internal workforce.
Learn Amp
Fuse
Cornerstone
Absorb
D2L
Docebo
SAP Litmos
Schoox
Acorn LMS
SmarterU
Studytube
Learnster
IMC
Gyrus Aim
Agylia
MATRIX
Valamis
Raven360
EdCast TXP
Degreed
Systems where the focus is only your office workforce (could include front line workers, blue-collar workers).
Learn Amp
Access LMS (Specifically Financial Services)
Absorb
EdCast TXP
Fuse
Cornerstone
D2L
Degreed
Pluralsight Skills
Schoox
Gyrus Aim
Studytube
Learnster
IMC
Agylia
Acorn LMS
SAP Litmos
SmarterU
Origin Fractal
Bottom Line
You will see a lot of announcements. Best in Technology. Best in Showcases. Best in Hot food. You get the idea.
Platinum Picks are those systems who have met a set of variables; scoring high enough to place them into an elite level, in the learning system space.
Lachezar Arabadzhiev is the founder and CEO of SkildLabs, an e-learning solutions company that takes businesses from the ideation stages of all type of learning or training experience to a complete product.
Working with a variety of different e-learning platforms, SkildLabs takes clients from brainstorming, storyboarding, script writing, to filming, video-editing, effects and platform configuration.
Lachezar spoke to the Alison Blog about his experience of running SkildLabs as CEO. From the vital skills required to manage a company, to how he spends his day, Lachezar offers professional advise and tips on how to be a successful CEO in the modern workplace.
fff
Hi Lachezar, tell us a bit about yourself!
I started my career in digital marketing for tech companies. I worked for a start-up and then I worked for Microsoft in core marketing for products like Visual Studio, Microsoft Azure and Hololens. I got to see the operational structure of a very large company and it was very digital savvy in terms of learning. I was responsible for the marketing around channels like Microsoft virtual academy and channel 9. And so though it was marketing for developers and IT professionals and it was very technical, I did also get to see the learning side of it. That got me into the whole e-learning industry and edtech.
However I didn’t really pursue it and, after that, I worked in the advertising world. I shifted gears into analytics and that really complimented the core marketing I had learned. In my last advertising agency role, I got to work with a lot of different businesses across all types of verticals and I learned a lot about client relationships. I created a training programme for one of the agencies and I feel like, throughout my career, I was always going back to learning.
Did you always want to be a CEO? If so, what attracted you to the job?
I’ve always had the urge to execute my own vision. I’ve always had a vision of how things should be done and of course mistakes will be made along the way but I was willing to take the risks to make the mistakes so that so I could learn more. You don’t get to have that when you work for somebody else. It wasn’t about being a “CEO”, I’ve never been a fan of titles. But I’ve always had my own ideas and it was really about the freedom and the fact that now I can execute my own ideas.
The other great thing is that I can take projects that I want to work on and work with people that I like to work with. I feel like that’s when you get the best out of yourself and the people around you. That’s when you put yourself in an environment where you can be the most creative and that’s when ideas come up. That was really the enticing bit.
What has been your path to your current job?
Two years prior to creating the company, I started doing online courses. I had all this experience with doing courses and training programmes with the agencies, and then all of the work at Microsoft. So I started building these courses and I launched the first course in 2019 on Data Visualisation. I built a whole curriculum, shot all the videos, did a combination between talking head and screencast. Building a course is almost like creating a business because you start with nothing. Then I really started thinking more about the edtech industry and obviously during the pandemic there was an incredible boom of people wanting to take courses and change the way they learn. Education is being completely transformed at the moment.
What has been the most important skill you’ve had to develop as a CEO?
I think resourcefulness is a key skill when you’re running a company. You’re in control of what projects you take on but that’s a responsibility as well. You have to figure out how you are going to use the resources that are available to you. When it’s not a huge company you don’t have a lot so you have to be smart about the resources you use. That’s something I’ve exercised and practiced in the past but now it’s even more accentuated and that’s something that I like.
I like combining things that don’t really go together. I think that’s why the courses I create are unique and really well received by people. I’ll combine, let’s say, analytics and creative design. I like to combine things that normally don’t seem to go together but when combined in the right way are really powerful. You can see that in the training and learning experiences that SkildLabs create.
What does a typical day look like for you as a CEO?
We’re still in the first six months of the company and I’m sure that every six months it’s going to be different. When you create your own company, work is more than 9 to 5. It lasts the whole day because a lot of different things are coming your way. Normally what I’ll try to do is to have a couple of priorities and top projects that I’m working on and, in the morning, I’ll check where those are headed and what has to be moved along. I split them between things I have to have an active part in and things where my role is more passive. With the active things that need my attention, I look after them first so they can keep moving.
And then on certain days, I don’t arrange any meetings. This is really important and something I didn’t get in other jobs. In order for you to come up with a new idea or see something new you almost have to leave a day of just thinking. You can’t force creativity. This is how I’ll come up with the next idea for a learning experience or a collaboration we can do with a partner or client. I leave gaps so I have that opportunity to be creative.
What skill do you have to use the most in a typical day?
I try to make a distinction between analytical thinking and analytics. People think that analytics is all about numbers but analytical thinking is something that I try to practice and use as a skill. It’s really about applying data and quantitative information and using it to make decisions or come up with new ideas. There is so much data everywhere. Every company is producing data, every tool you open will have analytics, so using the vast amount of data that is out there to make decisions or spike your creativity, I think that’s really important. You shouldn’t be afraid of analytics as something that analysts and data scientists do. It’s pretty much what everybody should be doing now. You need to be data driven in your decision-making.
If you could recommend our Learners to upskill in one area in order to become a successful CEO, what would it be?
I never viewed myself as a salesman or thought that I would ever use that as a core skill but actually it’s very important. I think everyone should be good at sales to some extent. Because even if you’re applying for a job, you’re selling the skills that you have and you’re explaining why you should be part of the company. You’re technically engaging in a sort of sales meeting. That’s one thing I felt I had to improve because, when you talk to clients, you have to make sure that you create a succinct pitch or offering.
What’s the best part about your career?
The flexibility and the freedom of choice. The fact that I can pick the projects and develop areas that before I would have had to wait for approval for a long time for, or that might have been considered risky. Whereas now I can just pursue a project or client and, though it might fail, at least I can learn from that. I feel that sometimes with companies they don’t always allow you to fail that fast and figure out if this specific project or prospect is for you. That flexibility and freedom to pick your own projects and work with clients that you want to work with, I think that brings out the best in you.
Check out the Alison Career Guide if you’d like to pursue the career path of CEO!
This week includes World Mental Health Day, a day on which attention is drawn to our mental wellbeing and that of others. After the pandemic and the struggles that have come with it, it’s perhaps a more important day than in years past.
To mark World Mental Health Day, we’ve compiled a list of five courses that will help shine a light on mental wellbeing by raising awareness and spreading education on the subject.
These courses range from providing the facts that could lead to preventive strategies, to courses that offer mechanisms for dealing with pre-existing conditions.
ff
Mental health is a broad definition that covers emotional, psychological and social well-being, as well as how we think, feel and behave. Understanding our own mental health and that of those around us greatly improves how we negotiate stress, interact with others and make important choices. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted critical mental health services in many countries worldwide, while the demand for mental health is increasing. This diploma course will provide important knowledge for your own wellbeing and those of others around you.
The pandemic and the resulting economic crisis have negatively affected many people’s mental health. New barriers and challenges for people already suffering from mental illness and substance abuse have been created. Educating ourselves about mental health issues and the many subsequent challenges that arise from them, means we are better equipped to assist our friends, colleagues and families who are struggling. Even a short course like this can result in the knowledge that can prevent a tragedy.
Psychology is the study of the mind and human behaviour. It’s a field of study that looks at how biological influences, social pressures, and environmental factors all interact and affect how people think, behave, and feel. With this course, you will gain a richer and deeper understanding of the science of psychology by studying core principles, field research, and clinical findings. By upskilling in this fascinating and evolving science, you’ll gain insights that can help you to help manage and overcome mental distress, as well as being able to help others.
A stressful lifestyle can put people under extreme pressure, to the point that they feel exhausted, empty, burned out, and unable to cope. People often use the terms burnout and depression interchangeably, whereas they have very different causes and treatments. Where depression falls under mental health, burnout is usually related to external factors like work or lifestyle. This course explains the main symptoms of burnout and depression and clarifies what treatment and support is required.
Intellectual disabilities can make communication extremely difficult. Around 1 in 5 people with an intellectual disability also have a mental health disorder, which can often go undiagnosed, untreated or just neglected. Learning how to support individuals with intellectual disabilities with mental illnesses is crucial in making sure that vulnerable people have access to the same care and compassion as everyone else. This course will provide an overview on the appropriate terminology to use and how to support and care for people living with intellectual disabilities.
