Word of the Day: edifice

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February 3, 2022

The word edifice has appeared in 51 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Oct. 15 in “The Visionary Community of the Harlem Y.M.C.A.” by Sandra E. Garcia:

The most prominent building on West 135th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard in Harlem is not an elaborate church or a stately apartment building but the 90-year-old Y.M.C.A. But despite its bulk, the edifice — with its brick facade, 14-story tower and tall sign with the letters “Y.M.C.A.” blazing in red neon each night — can be easy to overlook: It’s been a mainstay of the neighborhood for so long that its residents sometimes forget to notice it.

Daily Word Challenge

Can you correctly use the word edifice 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 edifice can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.

If you enjoy this daily challenge, try one of our monthly vocabulary challenges.

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.

AI Has A Diversity Problem — This Accelerator Gives People The Tools To Fix It

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February 2, 2022

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AI Has A Diversity Problem — This Accelerator Gives People The Tools To Fix It

Coming up in the tech industry, Tony Effik was used to being “the only person in the room” — sometimes even the building. “There weren’t a lot of people like me around, and those that were were few and far in between,” Effik, who identifies as Black, recalls.

As a Managing Director at Google and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Columbia University, Effik was committed to nurturing young people of color one-on-one in his own professional life.

In 2020, the death of George Floyd compelled Effik and his wife, Perky Noah-Effik, to found the Black and Brilliant Advocacy Network, a pipeline for Black talent aimed at diversifying the workforce.

In AI, for example, minority groups are severely underrepresented, with Black people comprising only 4% (or less) of the staff at companies like Google and Microsoft, according to a report from the research institute AI Now.

“There are careers with fences around them,” Effik says. “Like, you know there’s a career called AI and it’s hot. You can see it, but you can’t get over the fence — you need people on the other side to help you out.”

In 2021, Codecademy partnered with Black and Brilliant to launch an AI Accelerator to help combat this very issue. For 10 weeks, participants studied everything from programming and data science to user experience and the ethical and business sides of AI. Established professionals coached learners on soft skills that they’d need to excel in their careers.

It’s “deeply satisfying” to hear success stories about learners who went through the accelerator program, Effik says. “The people who came through the program were probably on their way there anyway, but we just gave them a nudge and a little support.”

Here, Effik explains the work Black and Brilliant is doing to diversify AI, how mentors can give you superpowers, and what people need to know to be part of AI’s “massive revolution.”

What initially interested you about tech?

“I grew up in a low-income household. My mother was a cleaner, but she bought some very early computers for me and my siblings just for fun. But then we got a Commodore 64. It was an insane thing for her to buy for us because, if you talk to people in my age group in Silicon Valley, that’s what they had — and I was living in social housing in the projects. No one else in our neighborhood had a computer.

After that, I quickly got into writing machine code and BASIC. I didn’t get great at it, but I got interested in the ecosystem and subculture around it. Then, my school got one of the first computer rooms in the district — a DEC Vax Minicomputer system with green monitors. I started writing in C, Fortran, and Pascal, and I never got really great at it, but I got very comfortable around computing.

Then, I started working at this publishing company. One day my boss came into the office and said, ‘There’s this new thing called the Internet — we’ve got to go big on the Internet.’ And I was like, if no one’s an expert on the Internet, I can be that expert, and that was kind of what really propelled me.

I always had a thirst for knowledge and understanding of new and innovative things.”

What piqued your interest in data science and machine learning?

“I believe every few years, there is an on-ramp where the normal rules change and you can jump levels. If it weren’t for the Internet, I’d still be at the grassroots. When social media happened, I saw a bunch of people come up, and that helped me jump a few levels.

I feel data science, including AI and other disciplines, is the next on-ramp. I saw a lack of people of color in that space, they were missing this on-ramp. I couldn’t just sit on the sidelines and watch this, so I asked myself, ‘How do we bring more people in?’

AI is going to be ubiquitous and pervasive — from checkout systems and ordering online to medical diagnostics, everything is going to have some type of AI in it. I want to make sure that our people are at the table and ensure that they’re future-proofing their careers, because it’s just a massive revolution.”

Have you ever had a mentor?

“There definitely have been people that have guided and advised me and that I’ve learned from, but I’ve never really had somebody who I called on regularly or who I looked at in that way.

That’s actually something our community suffers from. But what you’ll find in more privileged communities is that they might have an uncle, a grandparent, a friend of the family who will be like, ‘Hey, you’re doing that thing? Did you realize there’s this other thing you could do?’ Or, ‘Come and talk to me next week.’ We don’t have that.

What a mentor does is essentially teach you the soft skills and ‘cheat codes’ — the things that you should know but don’t.

I think frequently with our community, you’re just making these decisions by yourself, like an island in isolation. It impacts your confidence, your decision-making, your ability to feel motivated and inspired, even your sense of belonging and inclusion. Mentors kind of give you a superpower — like a boost of confidence.”

What inspired you to form Black and Brilliant?

“After George Floyd’s death, conversations we weren’t having a year ago, we were suddenly having in the office. It was my first time talking to my boss at the time about my ethnicity and what it meant to be a Black man.

But the other conversation that came off the back of that was the fact that most of my bosses have been white men. A lot of people would say, ‘I want more Black people on the team, but I just can’t find the talent.’ And then I’d say, ‘I’ve got a lot of Black friends who said they can’t find the opportunity.’ It just sounded like a classic matchmaking problem in engineering.

So, I started the Black and Brilliant hashtag with my wife. What would happen if people could just search LinkedIn for #BlackandBrilliant? Then they’d already have the pipeline. We tagged 30 or 40 people and asked them to tag more people. I woke up one morning and there were 10,000 people tagged.

We’d do panels and networking events, and we formed different communities and subgroups. But then I realized that I was much more interested in taking a cohort of people and meaningfully impacting them. ‘Near-ready’ people — those who already had some of the technical skills or potential — and just helping them get over the fence. That’s when the AI Accelerator was born.

The most powerful thing was that I had a network of amazing people — Black, white, and Asian — who were already on the other side of the fence and could act as coaches in teaching the soft skills. I got some amazing people to do one-on-ones, hangouts, things like that. It was an amazing experience, and the Codecademy Team just took it to the next level for us.”

What advancements in (or applications of) AI are you most excited about?

“Everything we’re doing through our phones with virtual assistants and conversational processing was a really massive breakthrough. We have seen AI manifest in ways that still seem like magic, even today. I’m interested in that, but I’m also interested in operational or enterprise AI: You can make forecasts and predictions, and use it to guide decision-making.

We’ve seen it become pervasive in areas like finance and law enforcement with fraud detection, and I think enterprise AI is going to be even more far-reaching than what we see today. I’m passionate about that, because that’s more day-to-day for me in terms of the work I do, and it’s also very important in terms of representation because AI can be used in hiring to decide whether you’re going to be on the shortlist or not. It’s not the AI we think about day-to-day, but it’s the AI that we need to be plugged into and aware of.”

What advice do you have for BIPOC individuals who want to get into AI?

“Be courageous. You’re frequently going to walk into rooms where you’re the only one. You’re frequently going to be challenged that you’re not as good as everyone else. You’re going to have moments where people around you will say things that don’t sit well with you. There are going to be moments where you want to say things that are authentic to you but may not fit in that room. So you’re constantly going to be challenged, and over time that can wear you down, or it might even prevent you from stepping into the arena in the first place.

Being able to stand confidently in that room, standing confident in who you are and having a true and deep belief about your capabilities is very important. Your belief comes from you just knowing your stuff — there’s no shortcut to that. Become really good at this thing, and benchmark yourself against the very best. Aim for the mountaintops not the foothills.”

Conversation has been edited for clarity and length.

Lesson of the Day: ‘Covid Test Misinformation Spikes Along With Spread of Omicron’

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February 2, 2022

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Lesson of the Day: ‘Covid Test Misinformation Spikes Along With Spread of Omicron’

Lesson Overview

Featured Article: “Covid Test Misinformation Spikes Along With Spread of Omicron”

In the wake of Omicron, additional testing and breakthrough Covid infections among vaccinated people have created the perfect recipe for misinformation about the coronavirus.

In this lesson, you will think about rumors you have heard and learn about some of the ways that falsehoods have been able to grow during this stage of the pandemic. Then, you will have several choices for thinking more about misinformation, whether by reading the related “Annotated by the Author” version of this article, by fact-checking Covid information you come across, or by considering one recent issue with misinformation and deciding what should be done.

Warm-Up

On TikTok, Instagram and other social media recently, have you seen videos of at-home Covid-19 tests displaying positive results after being soaked in drinking water and juice?

If so, how did you react when you saw them? If you were suspicious of these viral posts, how could you have investigated them?

These viral videos pushed the false narrative that rapid coronavirus tests don’t work, and are just part of a spike in misinformation about Covid-19 tests that has surged because of the highly infectious Omicron variant.

Here are four quick steps to stop the spread of misinformation from the News Literacy Project. How helpful might they have been if applied when you saw one of the viral videos mentioned above?

In general, how do you get your Covid information? What sources do you trust? Why do you consider them trustworthy?

Questions for Writing and Discussion

Read or listen to the article, then answer the following questions:

1. How did people on TikTok and Instagram try to make it look as though coronavirus rapid tests don’t work? How have health experts responded to these false claims?

2. How have far-right websites created, and helped to spread, misinformation about Covid testing?

3. What role does misinformation play in efforts to keep the pandemic under control?

4. What are the primary categories of Covid misinformation ? Have you seen or heard of falsehoods in recent weeks or months?

5. Why does Kolina Koltai, a researcher at the University of Washington, say we are in an “opportune moment” for false narratives about the virus?

6. How have web companies, like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, responded to questions about misinformation on their platforms? What is your reaction to their responses? Do you think they are doing enough or do you think they should take a more active approach to dispelling falsehoods?

7. According to the Food and Drug Administration, what is the actual risk for a false positive or a false negative result? How can these inaccuracies be avoided?

8. How does John Gregory, deputy health editor at NewsGuard, describe the “misinformation industry’s pattern” during the pandemic? Have you witnessed this? Give an example.

9. The article ends with several paragraphs describing viral Facebook posts claiming that the Centers for Disease Control had withdrawn support of P.C.R. tests. How does this example demonstrate how falsehoods can grow, spread and re-emerge online?

Going Further

Option 1: Go behind the scenes with the journalist who wrote this piece.

Davey Alba, the technology reporter who wrote this article, covers online disinformation and the global harm it does or The Times. She has annotated this piece for us, describing how she does her job, and how she uses data and evidence from experts to help buttress the article with facts to debunk lies.

Now that you’ve read the article itself, read her commentary. What is one thing you learned — whether about Covid, about disinformation, or about the job of a reporter? What is one question you’d like to ask someone who covers online disinformation for a living?

If you are participating in this year’s STEM Writing Contest, which runs from Feb. 2 to March 9, you might consider misinformation and disinformation as topics.

Option 2: Spot Covid misinformation on the platforms where you spend time

Using what you learned in this lesson and tips like these from the News Literacy Project and these from Snopes, the internet fact-checking organization, practice pausing, looking for sources and generally fact-checking any information you come across. If everyone in your class is doing this, you might even create a kind of gallery walk of debunked Covid rumors that like this article, explains what the false information was, where and how it spread and how it has been proven false.

If you take this on, the News Literacy Project even has advice on “how to speak up without starting a showdown” if you need to discuss with friends or family false information they have posted.

Option 3: Consider one recent issue with misinformation and decide what should be done.

The most popular podcast on Spotify, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” drew criticism from hundreds of medical experts for spreading “societally harmful” misinformation about Covid-19. What, if anything, do you think the streaming service should do about it?

Do you think that Spotify can claim, as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have, that it should not be responsible for moderating content posted to its platform? Or do you think this case is different,because unlike most social media platforms, Spotify paid Mr. Rogan for his podcast?

Let us know what you think by posting your thoughts here, on our related Student Opinion question.

Want more Lessons of the Day? You can find them all here.

Word of the Day: broach

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February 2, 2022

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The word broach has appeared in 23 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Sept. 6 in “Told to ‘Find Arthur,’ I Stumbled Upon My Future at the U.S. Open” by Kurt Streeter:

Bollettieri thought for a moment, then he motioned for me to come closer. “Find Arthur,” he instructed, “and ask if he will help.” Bollettieri meant Arthur Ashe, whose Wimbledon win had sparked my tennis ambition. The two had teamed up to help other minority players attend the academy.
If Arthur would fund part of it, Bollettieri said he would also help.
I ended up asking my father to find Ashe and broach Bollettieri’s idea. It seemed too daunting a task for me to pull off. But dad always pushed me, always looked for ways to help me stand on my own two feet. He had taught himself tennis after his college basketball career ended, and pretty much insisted I learn tennis too. Now he told me it was my job, and mine alone, to make the pitch.

Daily Word Challenge

Can you correctly use the word broach 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 broach can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.

If you enjoy this daily challenge, try one of our monthly vocabulary challenges.

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.

How Do You Celebrate Your Culture Through Food?

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February 2, 2022

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How Do You Celebrate Your Culture Through Food?

Feb. 1 marks one of the most important holidays in Vietnam, South Korea, China and other Asian countries: Lunar New Year. Do you celebrate this holiday? Are you looking forward to the Year of the Tiger?

The festivities begin with a feast the night before, and can last for two weeks. The foods — longevity noodles, dumplings, lumpia, steamed fish, tang yuan — often symbolize promises for a better year ahead.

Do you have any special cultural or holiday traditions that involve food?

In the article “In Singapore, Lunar New Year Is a Multicultural Feast,” Clarissa Wei writes about how the ethnic diversity of Singapore shines through the food prepared for the celebration:

For about two decades, Shila Das has brought her chicken curry and nasi biryani to her best friend, Wendy Chua, for their Lunar New Year celebrations together in their native Singapore. They start the day with those dishes, then have hot pot.
The women, both 51, began spending the holiday together as teenagers, watching lion dance troupes perform in the wide atrium of Ms. Chua’s grandfather’s house. Nearly three decades ago, the ethnically Chinese Chua family tasked Ms. Das, who is Indian and Vietnamese, with presiding over its household’s New Year lo hei ceremony, a Singaporean tradition centered on yu sheng, one of the country’s most popular New Year dishes. Ms. Das led the family in tossing the ingredients, flinging raw fish, crackers, slivered carrots and pickled ginger into the air while shouting auspicious phrases in Chinese. (Lo hei means “tossing up good fortune” in Cantonese.)
“Just imagine. In this Chinese house, there’s this Indian girl that stands on the stool and leads the lo hei every year,” Ms. Das said.
Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 1 this year, is celebrated in Singapore primarily by members of the Chinese diaspora, who make up three-quarters of the population. They include those who are Hokkien, Cantonese and Teochew from southeastern China; Hainanese from the island province of Hainan; Hakka, a migrant group spread out all over China; and Peranakan, who have been in the region for over 400 years and also have mixed Malay and European ancestry. Each ethnic group has its own set of traditions, but years of living among one another, and among other peoples like Malays and Indians, have created the island’s colorful and distinctive culinary fabric.

And in the article “It’s Lunar New Year. Get Ready for Some Fruit.” Alyssa Lukpat reports on the beloved holiday tradition of eating and giving fruit:

In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, Daphne Wu would wait for a pomelo to ripen.
Her family would buy at least one every year and set it on the counter. It got sweeter and sweeter as the New Year approached.
Pomelos, which are similar to grapefruits, are said to bring prosperity to whoever eats them, but they are notoriously difficult — and time-consuming — to crack open.
The practice of peeling the fruit together brought Ms. Wu’s family closer, and the taste of the pomelo was just a bonus. “It’s amazingly sweet,” said Ms. Wu, 33, a web designer and a co-founder of the Cut Fruit Collective, an organization in the San Francisco Bay Area that supports Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Eating, and giving, fruit are among the customs that many Asian families, like Ms. Wu’s, practice for the Lunar New Year. This year, the holiday will fall on Tuesday, as the moon enters a new phase and ushers in the Year of the Tiger. Celebrations often last two weeks.
Lunar New Year traditions vary among Asian cultures, but their goal remains the same: to bring luck and prosperity. There are other traditions, too, such as exchanging red envelopes containing money and eating long noodles for a long life.

Students, read one or both of the articles, and then tell us:

If you celebrate Lunar New Year, do you participate in any of the food-related traditions you read about, such as sharing a big meal with family and friends or eating and giving fruit? If not, what did you learn about this holiday? Do the traditions remind you of any that you practice in your own culture?
If you don’t celebrate Lunar New Year, choose another special food-focused holiday your family or community celebrates. What kinds of foods do you eat? Who does the cooking? What does the preparation look like? Are there any special rituals, like the lo hei?
Certain Lunar New Year foods hold special meaning: Long noodles symbolize a long life; whole poultry signals abundance; dumplings represent family unity and togetherness for the year ahead; and apples are said to bring peace. Think about the holiday you’ve chosen to write about. Do any of the foods you eat have special meaning or symbolism?
Why do you think food is such an important part of so many cultural traditions? How essential is eating, preparing and sharing food in your culture? What does it mean to you?
Are there recipes that have been passed down through your family that honor or celebrate your culture? Describe one that is special to you and tell us why.

How Much Have You Learned About Black History?

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February 2, 2022

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How Much Have You Learned About Black History?

In “How Negro History Week Became Black History Month and Why It Matters Now,” Veronica Chambers and Jamiel Law tell the story about how Black History Month came to be:

Black History Month has been celebrated in the United States for close to 100 years. But what is it, exactly, and how did it begin?
In the years after Reconstruction, campaigning for the importance of Black history and doing the scholarly work of creating the canon was a cornerstone of civil rights work for leaders like Carter G. Woodson. Martha Jones, a professor of history at Johns Hopkins University and the Society of Black Alumni presidential professor, explained: “These are men [like Woodson] who were trained formally and credentialed in the ways that all intellectuals and thought leaders of the early 20th century were trained at Harvard and places like that. But in order to make the argument, in order to make the claim about Black genius, about Black excellence, you have to build the space in which to do that. There is no room.” This is how they built the room.

The article explains how Carter G. Woodson, the son of formerly enslaved people who went on to earn his Ph.D. at Harvard, is now known as the “father of Black History.” He created the first Negro History Week in February 1926.

Dr. Woodson believed deeply that a celebration of Black history would have lasting impact on future generations of leaders. As he reportedly told an audience of Hampton University students, “We are going back to that beautiful history and it is going to inspire us to greater achievements.” Determined to lead the charge to study that history, Dr. Woodson announced the first Negro History Week in February 1926.
He chose February because it was the month in which both Lincoln and Douglass were born. After Lincoln’s assassination, his birthday, on Feb. 12, had been celebrated by Black Americans and Republicans. Douglass Day, which was observed on Feb. 14, had grown in popularity since Mary Church Terrell had started it in Washington in 1897. Dr. Woodson saw Negro History Week as a way to expand the celebration of these two men and encourage Americans to study the little-known history of an entire people.

The article concludes by discussing the continued relevance of Black History Month today:

Why does Black History Month in particular, and the study of Black history overall, still matter so much? “There’s no question that history is and continues to be a battleground. The origin stories that we tell matter a great deal for where we set the bar and how we set the bar going forward,” noted Professor Jones of Johns Hopkins. “So when you talk about people like Carter G. Woodson, these are men who knew that if you don’t rewrite the history of Africans and people of African descent, if you don’t rewrite the history of the United States through the lens of Black history, if you don’t make that record and if you don’t make that case, there are [false] stories that will expand and go toward rationalizing and perpetuating racism, exclusion, marginalization and more.”

Students, read the entire article, then tell us:

What have you been taught about Black history in school? Do you feel that it is a subject that has been accurately and thoroughly taught? To what extent do you feel that the neglect and distortion of Black history, which was so common in schools in the past, still lingers today?
How have you learned about Black history outside of school, from your family or community or through your own exploration and curiosity?
Black History Month is not just about ensuring the study of Black history; it is also intended to be a celebration of the achievements and accomplishments of Black Americans. Do you feel that the month has helped accomplish that goal?
What did you learn about the origins and meaning of Black History Month from the article? What was most surprising and memorable?
An argument that some people make about history months in general, whether celebrating Black people, women or Native Americans, is that they confine the history of a historically marginalized group to a single month, when instead these histories should be fully integrated into education all year. What do you think? Do history months succeed in promoting complex and important histories that are otherwise neglected? Are they ever counterproductive? Why?
How Black history is taught in schools is still argued today. For example, a new Texas law forbids teaching that “slavery and racism are anything other than deviations from, betrayals of, or failures to live up to, the authentic founding principles of the United States.” A recent Florida rule bans the teaching of the 1619 Project in public schools. Published in 2019 by The New York Times Magazine, the 1619 Project “aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.” And to date, more than 20 states — including New Hampshire, Michigan and Arkansas — have introduced regulations that restrict teaching about race and racism. What do you think of these efforts to restrict how schools teach about Black history, race and racism?
What topics related to Black history would you like to explore in more depth, either in school or on your own? Why?

Top 10 Learning Systems for 2022

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February 2, 2022

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Here we are again.

The Top 10 Learning Systems.

Not for 2021 though, but for 2022.

This year, a bit a difference than in years past, as it relates to a couple of areas.

a. A mini-report – more of a detailed comparison with charts and data will be available for purchase – next week (2-8-22). I will provide links to where you can purchase this report. 100% of the proceeds will go to three animal shelters I am a patron of.

b. The functionality/skills capabilities which made up a big part of the systems comes directly from the Learning System template that is available for you to use. Some of the questions regarding privacy/security and customer support were included as part of the analysis. Vendors who have been certified by TCWG for Customer Support, received additional points compared to those who have demurred or declined to seek certification for their customer service and support.

I believe that support should not be taken lightly and a vendor who has gone through the certification process and validated (on-going) is heavily committed to top-tier support. Anyway, just an FYI with that.

Key Points to Note

Vendors did NOT HAVE to be in FindAnLMS.com to be considered for any of my rankings or awards. While I want to have the best of the best on the free comparison site, it is not a requirement or plays any role in the decision-making process.

There is no pay-for-play here. No quid pro quo. There wasn’t any fee for submission, no fees for selection, zip, nada, nothing. This is an independent analysis with weights assigned to different areas and categories, as it has been done in the past.

The analysis covers 1,000 learning systems around the world. It may no difference whether a vendor was LXP or LMS or Learning Platform or TXP or Skills Platform or Whatever I want to call myself system.

Skill capabilities/functionality as a whole is still in the infant stage (across the industry). This will change by the end of the year, as many of the vendors in the rankings are adding more capabilities and functionality around it.

When reviewing these rankings, please be aware that I am looking at each of the systems, in a different way, or perspective than you might. Always do your due diligence. Always make sure the system you select, truly aligns with what you need and wish to accomplish.

Tap into FindAnLMS.com for additional comparisons and details with the vendors who are in the rankings, and in the platform. With the exception, of Pluralsight, I’m thrilled to announce that every other vendor in the rankings is on the platform. If a vendor has been certified by me, for customer support, it will be noted.

Ranking Factors

People always want to know what I am looking at or considering when I conduct my analysis.

What isn’t relevant

How many clients they have? Unless the numbers are going down, the total they have isn’t a factor. There are vendors who are very picky on who they want as a client, based on user size or industry, and then there are vendors that if you are breathing, they will take you as a client.
Sales numbers. The majority of the industry are private, and extracting sales data is always tricky. Yes, there are vendors who will tell me, their sales numbers for whatever their fiscal happens to be, but way more won’t. Ranges of sales is a common one to provide, but again, it is hard to validate. What I always find interesting is that a vendor won’t say their sales revenue numbers for the year but will espouse the percentages – an increase of 132%. To which I say, from what exact number? Anyway, not a factor.
Number of end users. Never relevant to me. If my target are clients under 900 employees, how can I honestly be compared to someone whose target are clients over 25,000? Number of end users makes fine marketing copy for a vendor and a press release. To me? Hey, happy for you, not relevant.
White papers, case studies any of that stuff. ZERO relevance. They are all marketing materials. Nobody is publishing a case study on some client that hates them or experienced ungodly misery.
How much money the vendor raised. Not relevant. Raising capital has nothing to do with actual sales data. Total projections here. And BTW, it doesn’t mean the vendor has a better system than someone who decides not to raise funds.

Relevant

UI/UX – Learner side – Always a huge role. If you are going customer education/learning the last thing you want is a dated front-end. That will land like a lead balloon. You have one chance to impress, never forget that. For the employee side, how easy is it to use and navigate? Does it have widgets/blocks of information that is essential or relevant to my job role or skills (if applicable)? What is the layout? Is it fluid or congested? The same applies to customers BTW. I did split the learner side based on whether I am an employee vs a customer and looked at those perspectives. They should be slightly different to be quite honest. I mean, do I need an assigned playlist, if I am selling courses to customers or clients? (The answer should be no).
UI/UX – Admin side. Very important. Again, how fluid is it? Can anyone figure out how to navigate to find and tap into key capabilities to enter, edit or delete information? Can metrics and data be accessed quickly and will it tell the story of the learning or training? Is it relevant or is it just buzz? How do I add content/courses? Do you offer batch (you want this) or not? Can someone with no background in L&D or Training, be able to use the system to identify key skill gaps or content that is relevant to whatever the target is? If your system is focused on customer learning/education, is the admin side designed for it or not?
Metrics and Reporting. Very relevant. It is all about the data, you need the right data to make an informed decision on the person’s learning or training for whatever. If it is customer learning – sales numbers are important to see, trend lines around which content is selling or isn’t very few vendors list the most popular or least popular courses/content (regardless of if it is B2B or employee) – vendors who offer that data are ahead of the game. Segmentation is important here as well. A single data point tells me what exactly? Slice and dice can provide further insight. Plus, never forget that some systems rely on the “tap to complete” as a key indicator for their A.I. to work but showing only what is completed on your metric side, isn’t as key, especially for customer education/learning. Completion tells only part of the story. I looked at any skills data, if it is tied to job role or not, what is being presented (if available).
NexGen – Relevant. Any vendor who tells you that playlists or content curation isn’t important, clearly is using Lycos as their search engine of choice.
Mobile. Relevant. I want systems that offer on/off synch with a native mobile app. And if they are in the customer ed/learning segment, can be white labeled for that client. Sadly, there are systems that still lack the first two items, and many in the customer ed segment lack the white label. One system that I really like, failed to crack the top two, due to the lack of a native mobile app, and on/off synch. It is 2022 people. What are you waiting for? 2040?
Overall functionality and capabilities – there are trends here. Some stuff is basic, forget password, for example, others a tad more complex – depending on the system – employee only focused, combo, or customer learning/Education – the functionality should align to that target audience. I am still stunned that there are vendors out there, who are not ADA508 or similar compliance in 2022. And yes, there is a vendor in the top 10, that isn’t. Thankfully it is on their roadmap for 2022.
Machine Learning – Vendors not just in our industry, but others push the system is using A.I., however that is somewhat misleading. It is machine learning based on an algorithm and a set of data it was trained with, and from which continues to be updated and enhanced with on-going data sets. It is only beneficial if the data is truly reflective of what it is outputting or focused on. I want to know what a vendor’s ML can do, and how it works in the system. Again, there are systems where you must complete any piece of content, in order for the recommended playlist to show recommended content – the algorithm presents this. But the data is skewed. Why? Because I am forced to complete the content, even if it is not relevant to me. One of my favorite systems does the complete it aspect. They know who they are – and are aware of my feelings around it.
Support/Service – Very relevant. A vendor is never going to tell you their support is awful, but I do know of vendors whose support is awful, so yeah, it weighs here.
Remote Workforce – This is a new aspect to the rankings, does the system truly align and offers the right capabilities for a remote workforce? For example, what impact does a VPN have on accessing the content in the learning system? What is the minimum browser(s) version and which ones will it work with? Vendors love to say browser agnostic, but trust me, nobody is accepting IE version 6 here. Nor does Opera or Brave work with every learning system. There are vendors, if you ask, that will tell you the minimum of Chrome for example that will work with the system.
Connections and Customization – How customized can the system go? I have no issue with a turnkey only, but there are vendors who can go full throttle. APIs should work without any problems. If a vendor offers Open ID, I think that is a plus.
Pricing. Yeah, this year, I weighed into. Vendors that had the “all-included” scored a bit higher in this category, than the buy this, then if you want that, buy this or that. You are not forced to use certain functionality, but you never know when you may want it. If a vendor is IMO, charging way above the average pricing, they lost a few points in this category. I based the pricing calculations on bands (which the majority of vendors use). Pricing Scale is via a range and identified as $-Low, $$-Avg $$$-Above Avg, $$$$-High) – Based on 2,500 active users, before any form of negotiations. I went with a benchmark on average pricing and hence the $$.

The Rankings

Because a mini report is going to be made available, this year’s blog post will contain less information about each system, than in the past. I decided on a PRO vs Weakness angle since systems are getting more ubiquitous than ever before.

Rankings go from #10 to #1. This year, there are two vendors who tied for #2.

Every vendor was given the option to provide screen shots.

#10 ACCESS LMS

Pros

System is designed specifically for the FS market. Compliance capabilities play a crucial role here, and the system taps into it.
Comes with a quiz game capability, that is engaging, interactive and fan to use and play tying in your own questions.
CPD is part of the mobile app, and a nice slection of content with curation capabilities
Renewed focus on their target which has resulted in an improvement to UI/UX for learners and administrators
Systems comes with content/courses for compliance in the FS space
Easy to use on the leaner side, Admin side is easy to use

Weaknesses

Late to the game with NexGen capabilities, still lacking
Metrics are sufficient for most, but it needs an advanced segmentation and data to levarege the full power of the system

Pricing Scale (Based on 2,500 users) – $$$

Access LMS is employee-focused system. If you have any of the other ACCESS solutions, it appears as part of your workspace.

Access competes well against SuccessFactors, SumTotal, Kallidus and Talent LMS.

#9 Docebo

Pros

The add-on Discovery, Coach and Share is well worth it – This is the “coaching”, “ask an expert/experts”, curation piece. You need to have Learn though, before you can purchase it.
Docebo Learn is the LMS. Very nice UI/UX on the learner side, pretty easy to navigate and figure out. The Admin side is more streamlined with groupings that make sense
Analytics and Metrics wise – the best option to go with is Learning Analytics (another add-on). Learning Impacts (Add-on) is far better than what you get out of the box with Docebo Learn, but LA takes it to a whole new level. You can also purchase LA as a standalone and tie it into your own LMS, I found that intriguing.
When you purchase Learn you receive “Content”. Content is Docebo’s third party marketplace, thru GO1. You – the client still needs to purchase the courses/content to use in the system if you choose this route. GO1’s most popular subscription is the “all you can eat model”, which means you pay per seat for the entire massive library
Docebo Learn is a full-functionality LMS, with some components of an LXP (and has been for a while). In my template they scored very high on the features tab. Skills are another matter.

Weaknesses

Docebo outsources some of their implementation/configuration to partners. I’m not a fan of outsourcing implementation/configuration simply because there is no transparency on the track record of the partners. If you purchase in Europe for example, you are sent to a partner in Europe. Fine. But when you have support issues who is going to resolve them? The partner or Docebo? Usually a partner will offer support for an additional fee. In the States, Bluewater is the partner you want; however, they are also a partner of Cornerstone, and thus, if you are deciding between Cornerstone and Docebo, Bluewater is contracted to be Cornerstone first partner.
The Admin side has been tweaked, but I feel it needs a refresh in terms of overall design – i.e. UI.
The metrics that come out of the box with Docebo Learn are, IMO, not that beneficial nor modern in terms of look. If you go with Learning Impacts, at least the data visualization looks far better and some of the data is quite beneficial. If I was Docebo, I’d sunset the metrics out of the box, and replace them with Learning Impacts.
The Suite is not all-included. Docebo Learn and Content is a bundle, and Discovery, Coach and Share is an add-on to Docebo Learn. Docebo Shape is very underwhelming – pass on it, Analytics, I already covered, and then there is Flow, which doesn’t make that much sense to me. Docebo also sells Connect, as an add-on to Learn. Connect allows you to create your own APIs – without programming langugage and create your own push/pull data sets. It has a nice UI/UX and flow, but it has a learning curve, and is pricey.
Docebo Skills is at a very early stage. They have skill ratings, and overall, based on my data sheet for skills scored 58%. That is higher than average, but surprisingly low for a system that is strong on the functionality side, scoring at 98%.
Mobile is so-so

Pricing Scale: This gets a bit tricky, because monthly active users’ model – which focus on the “up to” in your proposal. I admit I got confused briefly, and I know how the model works. If you purchase only Docebo Learn (which comes with Content – but still an additional cost) – $$ If you purchase Learn
+ Discovery, Coach and Share (which I recommend) – $$$. Docebo is a combo system. They compete well against SAP Litmos, Learn Upon, Talent LMS, SumTotal, and eloomi.

#8 Absorb LMS

For my analysis, I went with a few of their add-ons, which included Infuse, Engage and Analyze. The Create LI is their authoring tool, and while it will work for the vast majority, it isn’t a must need. It is far better, on the above avg side when comparing to other learning system vendors’ authoring tools. Absorb LMS is a combo system.

Pros

UI/UX on the learner and admin side is very fluid, easy to use, and robust. There is a lot of options on the administration side, and the home dashboard is tight. I like that I have some options there as well.
The catalog for learners is visual and sharp. Eye attention is clear, and types of courses are too.
As with many systems, you can change up the banner/header of the system.
The analytics you want is with Analyze. They will be far superior to what comes out of the box.
On my administrator and Learning Environment scales, they scored 100%
Absorb is a Certified Customer Support Vendor, the toughest certification program in the industry
Offers a 3rd party marketplace
Native apps for mobile with on/off synch and the ability to check bandwidth speed and make modifications (huge win)
I like that you can have multiple certificates per a course/content. This is not common in the industry but opens up a lot of options.
Compliance and Regulatory is quite good, including digital signature
E-Commerce and Multi-Tenant scored very high

Weaknesses

Content Curation and Digital Coaching are a work in progress
They scored around 50% for Machine Learning functionality and playlist capabilities – However a stronger and superior playlist capability (ies) are coming in mid 2022.
Analytics out of the box are underwhelming
This is a system that requires add-ons, rather than everything is included. I can see perhaps the advanced analytics being an add-on (the route many vendors are going), but Infuse, Engage and even Create should be part of the suite.
The front-end can be cumbersome with too much stuff, but again, you can remove what you want as the admin
On the skills tab side of things, Absorb slides into the majority of the industry – poor. However, they do have all of the skills validation capabilities – 100%, including a future tech one. So, kudos there. (I prefer the term validation to assessment).

Pricing Scale – If you go only with Absorb Learn – $$, if you go with what I analyzed – $$$; Absorb is a combo, they compete well against Docebo, SAP Litmos, Learn Upon, Meridian, and Axonify.

Roll the Scroll

#7 Pluralsight

This learning system breaks the rankings for the first time. It is 100% skills-based system around technical skills. I stress, this, only technical skills. There are learning system vendors who offer Pluralsight in their marketplace, which is odd, since it isn’t just content per se.

Pros

UI/UX on the learner side is fantastic. Easy to navigate, rich and luxurious is how I would describe it. Admin side, ditto.
Easy to see the experts you can select from, and other options such as boot camps, sims/sandboxes, and certification programs
From a technical skills platform only, they are by far the best
Compliance and Regulatory scored high, they lack digital signature in the platform
Certification Prep is awesome, so is the Inventory Activity. I can see each of these in a variety of learning systems.
Analytics are very strong. Top tier.
Native mobile app, on/off synch

Weaknesses

Skills specific functionality (based on my template) was well above average, but not the best, scoring 69%. Yet, for skills analytics they scored 100%, so there are hits, with some of the misses. Based on their roadmap, I do expect them to break into the upper 70’s to low 80’s by the end of the year.
Zero for Microsoft Teams (at the moment)
NexGen was solid, I was expecting better, especially around digital coaching – which has some power to it, just not all
Lacks video skills validation – which to me, seems would be a necessary feature benefit
Admin area needs to improve, way too many misses for a system such as this

Pricing Scale – $$$$ Pluralsight is a skills-based system focusing only on technical skills. While they slide heavy towards employees, I see them as a combo, with some clients.

Roll the Scroll (uh, you click) – Learner Home Page, Certification Prep Center, Inventory Activity

#6 Cornerstone LMS

This analysis is based solely on Cornerstone LMS and not on xPlor. The Cornerstone LMS is a full featured, very strong LMS that comes with content anytime (3rd party marketplace, but you purchase the “all you can consume plan”), a lot of NexGen functionality and top-tier skills capabilities.

Pros

#3 in NexGen Rankings for 2021
#1 Skills Management Learning System for 2021 – they Scored 87% the highest in the industry
Learning environment and Administration scored 100%
System offers native mobile apps with on/off synch and a nice set of capabilities
This is a very robust system – breaking with over 85% of my learning system template on the functionality side; 100% with vILT, Playlists, Curation to name just a few
The system really comes with the functionality of an LXP
Learner UI/UX has improved greatly, the best look in the system to date
You can go full customization here with the system – pretty much the sky is the limit – additional costs

Weaknesses

They outsource implementation and configuration to partners. Again, I wish they provided their clients a scorecard of data regarding each partner (I made the same argument with Docebo too). The best is Bluewater, who if you go with them, select their support instead of Cornerstone. Think this way, who is going to know your system inside and out? The partner who is configurating and implementing it or Cornerstone? The downside to partners is it is a mixed bag. Some are good, some are not, err so-so.
System needs a refresh on the admin side. While solid in some areas, needs improvement in others.
For a system that is strong with digital coaching and skills capabilities, it is befuddling that they are poor with video skills validation. While it is true, that the majority of vendors in the industry, lack these features, it is surprising nevertheless that a vendor such as Cornerstone is part of that group.
While they push the narrative of customer learning/education (using the legacy term extended enterprise), their messaging indicates something entirely else – employees specific. Especially when you push L&D as the key group.
Analytics – data visualization wise needs an overhaul. It just doesn’t align with the system in terms of look and feel. I understand why they went with xPlor, but to me, they should have focused first in this area or at least the revamp of the UI/UX on the admin side.
You cannot white label their mobile app

Pricing Scale: $$$ Cornerstone LMS is a combo, albeit heavily tilted towards employees. They compete well against, SuccessFactors, SumTotal, Gloat, EdCast TXP.

Roll the Scroll (Two versions of the Learner home page, you can create more: and one of the catalogs)

Top Five Learning Systems for 2022

#5 Schoox

A true TXP, combining talent development features with an LXP. They do offer basic level of e-commerce, which will suffice for some folks, but they plan to push further into e-commerce in 2022, thus making themselves a system that goes TXP with customer education/learning as an option. They have the multi-tenant capabilities.

Feature wise this is a very solid system, with a lot of functionality and capabilities
#8 NexGen Learning System for 2021
Scored 97% on my functionality scale, with perfect scores in Learning Environment and Administration, plus Manager and Instructor
Native mobile app with on/off synch
Certified in Customer Support
Nice analytics and metrics capabilities
Skills wise, the system landed with 64%, which is above average in the industry. They are targeting the upper 70’s, to low 80’s in 2022.

Weaknesses

Learner UI/UX and Admin UI/UX needs an overhaul. Schoox has recognized this and brought in new folks to update the system in 2022.
While 64% is nice, it is still a bit of a shocker for a vendor who prides themselves as skills-heavy focused – The biggest downer – Skills Playlists, and lack of digital coaching on the skills side
Lacks ADA508 or similar compliance. The good news is that in 2022 (by mid-year) they will be compliant, but still, why the wait?

Pricing Scale – $$$ Schoox is a TXP, which normally pushes employee-focused, but with the push more on the customer learning side, the system is now a combo. They compete heavily with Degreed (a TXP), EdCast TXP (a TXP) and Docebo.

Roll the Scroll

#4 Thought Industries

Thought Industries is a learning system focused heavily on customer learning/education. We are talking over 90% of their client base. As such, these systems tend to lack functionality you would see in systems that play heavy on the employee side, for example, workforce development and compliance and regulatory. Nevertheless, a CE/CL focused system should and must have functionality that cannot be found in a “combo” system.

Pros

#1 Customer Education/Learning System for 2021
Panoramas are fantastic, there is a lot you can do with each tenant that goes beyond what the majority of systems can do
Learner UI/UX is very good. Admin side is solid.
Scored in the high bracket for NexGen Learning Systems for 2021, I like that they are adding: AI in system can scan documents, courses, content, audio and video files and produce text results in a transcript or similar items, which is still lacking in the majority of the market.
One of the few vendors in the industry to have video skills validation with digital coaching and scenarios – While it is an add-on, I strongly recommend you buying it with the system. You can see picture in picture (in real time) with the coach and the customer; record via your mobile device, even record scenarios with your mobile too.
Robust yet easy to use learning system. For folks who are not experienced in Training or L&D, don’t fret – the system will be very effective for you. So, marketing and sales folks – this is a winner.
Metrics include a few tailored specifically for the customer learning side of the house
Customization is doable with this learning system
E-commerce is elite

Weaknesses

Lacks a native mobile app. It is on their roadmap for 2022, nevertheless it is by far the biggest miss in the system.
Admin metrics dashboard is really a nice touch, but it has limitations on what can be slid in there and selection options. While the majority of systems lack even these features, it was a surprise that there were not more options, and that it lacked a drag and drop mechanism (which is thankfully, appearing in many learning systems).
If you want skills capabilities, the customer learning/education focused market is at the infant stage (as are many learning systems that are combo and employee-focused). This is slowly changing in 2022, due to the competitive nature of running up against Combo systems.
With the lack of native mobile app, comes the inability to have white-label

Pricing Scale – $$ . They are one of only a few learning systems in the industry that focus solely on the customer education/learning market (aka B2B, extended enterprise). They compete well against Docebo (combo), Skill Jar (combo), Intellum (customer-focused) and Valamis (customer-focused).

Roll the Scroll

# 3 Learn Amp

Learn Amp is a complete learning system, there is no other way to say it. Okay, it has one miss (discussed shortly), but from an overall system standpoint it has quite a bit, from an LMS, to an LXP to skills capabilities that are above average in the industry.

Pros

Learner UI/UX is very good. They scored 100% on my learning environment and administration side. Easy to use, navigate and tap into for all learners.
Admin side – UI/UX is quite good too. Easy to figure out and choose.
#1 Learning System for mid-market (2,500 to 5,000) – referred to as mid-market Enterprise
#4 NexGen Learning System for 2021
Certified Customer Support by TCWG
Personalized recommendations based on an algorithm that does not require you to complete the content
3rd party content marketplace
Analytics and metrics are solid – with key data that will help you make appropriate decisions around your learning
Includes multi-tenant capabilities

Weaknesses

Metrics need to have an advanced option – with stronger segmentation
Lacks a mobile app, although they have it on their roadmap for 2022
Skills capabilities are average, a work in progress, that should improve in 2022 – based on their roadmap
Lacks e-commerce, which is fine if they were only employee-focused, but they are a combo

Pricing Scale – $$ Learn Amp is a combo system. They compete well against, Docebo, SAP Litmos, THRIVE, eloomi and 360Learning.

#2 (A Tie)

EdCast TXP and Degreed

I’ve written a pretty extensive analysis between these two vendors, along with Fuse.

EdCast TXP will be presented first, followed by Degreed. I will try not to regurgitate the analysis above.

EdCast TXP Pros

#1 NexGen Learning System for 2021
#2 in Skills Capabilities with 77%
Very nice UI/UX on the Learner side and the Admin side
Includes quite a bit of LMS capabilities, including classroom management (it is an add-on, aka LMS Light).
Skills Studio is a plus – requires a learning curve, but once achieved will help administrators
Advanced Analytics exists – but it is an add-on cost (i.e. not included)
Analytics and metrics out of the box that comes with the system will be sufficient for most folks
Microsoft Teams capabilities are better than Microsoft Viva Learning – In fact, it is the best in the industry – i.e. EdCast’s MS Teams capabilities
Skills tied to job roles plays heavy here – will continue.
Skills Bookmarklets in your extensions bar is very impressive – best in the industry
Can heavily customize the system, far more than Degreed
Certified Customer Support

Weaknesses

System lacks on/off synch with their native mobile apps
Manager area is relatively weak, although many features are on the roadmap for 2022
Multi-tenant capabilities out of the box are on the roadmap for 2022
While I like the UI/UX on the system, I believe it needs a refresh for 2022

Pricing Scale – $$$$ – Not including any of the add-ons . EdCast TXP is employee-heavily focused. A combination of a talent development and LXP. They compete well against, Degreed, Fuse, Docebo, SumTotal.

Roll the Scroll

#2 Degreed

Total TXP here. Fun fact – they were the first LXP on the market, but they no longer call themselves that. They are another vendor that goes with some add-ons, which while a couple are understandable, one isn’t.

For in-depth analysis, please read the Battle 2.0 post.

Pros

Nice UI/UX on the learner side, admin side is good too
Skills capabilities scored #3 in the entire industry at 72%
First vendor to have skills ratings with skills levels
Analytics and metrics out of the box are a mixed bag – One screen is slick with the metrics that are relevant and key data; the other side is dated UI with some metrics of relevance
Robust system on NexGen capabilities
Offers the bookmarklet extensions
Guidebooks is a home run- best product add-on in learning system for 2021 (sadly it is an add-on, additional cost, that comes with Degreed Intelligence)
Opportunities tied to skills another winner (and yes, an add-on)

Weaknesses

Skills Coach as an add-on. Makes no sense. They slide it under Degreed Intelligence (add-on, which is quite nice, think advanced analytics), but Coach isn’t fully what I would think digital coaching is all about, and secondly, isn’t a fit for DI.
They need a refresh on the Learner UI/UX
For an “upskilling platform”, it is surprising to see they lack any video skills validation tied around digital coaching and scenarios, especially business scenarios – either as boot camps or sandbox. I’m not talking about technical skills here, rather, general business skills.
Recommendation engine is based on “complete” on any content. Thus, even if it isn’t relevant to you, but you click complete because it is assigned, it impacts the algorithm. This goes against why WBT – aka online learning was created in the first place.

Price Scale – $$$$ – And that is not including any of the add-ons; Degreed is a TXP. They compete well against Schoox, EdCast, Cornerstone.

Roll The Scroll

#1 Learning System for 2022

Fuse

Repeat here – but for some in-depth please read Battle 2.0

This is not a system for everyone. I say this because the entire approach is wrapped around communities and groups. Thus the UI/UX looks far different than what you usually see in a learning system. To me, this is truly a human-centric/focused learning system. Many systems pitch learner-centric, but they feel like you are in a lab or a museum, almost bland with some notable paint. The system has a lot of “on roadmap” for 2022 – track record for roadmap has been excellent.

Pros

#2 Learning System for NexGen 2021
#1 Learning System (5,000 to 10,000) Enterprise
Learner UI/UX overall is nice, needs a refresh which is on their roadmap for 2022
Analytics and metrics are the best in the industry (comes with the system) and provides the key indicators you will need for your learning and training. Data that matters from engagement to consumption.
Content curation is outstanding – scrolls the net to pull down free content that is relevant to your search, coming in 2022, you will be able to ask questions in your search – “What do I need to become a marketing professional?” – for example, and it produces specific to that question. Similar to what someone would ask when conducting a web search.
66% for skills capabilities, way above the mark for the industry as a whole.
System has LXP functionality, with strong LMS capabilities.
Certified Customer Support from TCWG

Weaknesses

E-commerce, especially since Fuse is eyeing the customer education/learning market; Fuse does offer multi-tenant capabilities though.
As noted above, the UI/UX needs a refresh – but as noted above, it is on their roadmap for 2022.
Biggest minus – they only support SCORM 1.2. They need to add at least xAPI.
MS teams capabilities are lacking, but they are on the roadmap for 2022.

Pricing Scale – $$$ – Everything is included. Fuse is a combo. They compete well against, Degreed, EdCast TXP, Docebo.

Roll The Scroll

Bottom Line

There you go.

The Top 10 Learning Systems for 2022.

Don’t forget, that the min-report, a perfect addition to these ratings will be available next week. I will be listing the places you can purchase and download it from.

E-Learning 24/7

7 Apps Created By Black Developers Inspired By The Black Community

By

onlinefreecourse

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February 1, 2022

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7 Apps Created By Black Developers Inspired By The Black Community

This Black History Month, we’re celebrating Black-owned apps that support and elevate the African American community.

From an app that connects you to Black hair stylists to an investment app for kids, these innovative apps are useful for BIPOC individuals and allies, and also address issues that disproportionately affect the Black community. Taken together, the apps are proof that you can use coding to address systemic issues and make a difference.

Here are seven Black-owned apps that are inspiring us:

We Read Too

Kaya Thomas wanted to make it easier for young people to find books written by people of color and featuring main characters and authors who look like her. So, she built We Read Too, a mobile database with hundreds of picture, chapter, middle grade, and young adult books.

Thomas has lots of professional experience developing apps (she worked as an iOS engineer at Calm and Slack, and has a degree in computer science from Dartmouth), but she clearly remembers the a-ha moment when the power of coding clicked. “Once I realized that anyone can create an app, it was a huge moment for me to understand that I can build real things that people can use and put it out for them to be able to access,” she told Apple.

“Technology can sometimes seem like such a black box, this magical thing,” Thomas said in the Apple interview. “But once the veil was ripped away, I realized I could build something that could potentially solve problems.”

Learning to code can be frustrating — here are some common obstacles that beginners encounter, with advice about how to overcome them.

Why we love it: There are more than 900 titles on We Read Too, but if you see one that’s missing, you can easily send suggestions through the app.

Download We Read Too from the App Store and Google Play.

EatOkra

In charge of picking the next restaurant for date night? Consider checking EatOkra, a database for Black-owned restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and eateries around the country. The app EatOkra was founded by Anthony and Janique Edwards, a couple who wanted to discover Black-own eateries in their own neighborhood in Brooklyn.

Edwards worked as a software developer and always wanted to build his own app. “But most importantly, I wanted to gain new skills for the next development job down the road,” Edwards told Travel Noire in June. “So what’s better than building a product that people are using?”

It took Edwards 14 months to build and launch the app, but word spread quickly about the app. In 2020, as people prioritized shopping at Black-owned businesses in the months following the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests, EatOkra saw a 4000% spike in users, the founders told MarketWatch. The app now has more than 400,000 users.

Why we love it: Beyond promoting brick-and-mortar restaurants, EatOkra also keeps you posted about local events, like Black food festivals, brunch parties, and grand openings.

Download EatOkra from the App Store and Google Play.

Liberate: Black Meditation App

Listening to a guided meditation through an app is one of the easiest ways to learn how to meditate, but finding a platform or instructor that fits your specific goals and vibe can be a challenge. That’s why Julio Rivera created Liberate, a meditation app led by BIPOC teachers and designed for the Black experience.

Rivera, who identifies as Black and Latinx, was a computer programmer working at Priceline.com when he decided to expand on his knowledge and learn to build apps. “I self-taught myself how to build iPhone apps with the kind of background in programming,” Rivera told Remezcla. “It was pretty straightforward.”

As someone with an avid meditation practice, Rivera was eager to share the benefits of mindfulness with a broader community. “When I realized that there was not a lot of resources out there for folks of color, it was like, ‘Well, of course I can build something, and not only to help my own practice selfishly but the practice of others,’” he told Remezcla.

Why we love it: The meditation sessions on Liberate address nuanced issues related to race, like coping with microaggressions, healing from racial trauma, and finding community.

Download Liberate from the App Store and Google Play.

Goalsetter

Most 8-year-olds don’t ask their parents for investment accounts for their birthdays, but that’s exactly what Tanya Van Court’s daughter wanted for her 9th birthday.

The unconventional gift inspired Van Court to start Goalsetter, an app for kids that gamifies financial literacy. “In that moment, I knew that if I could get every Black child to say that, I could change the world for our community,” Van Court, who was formerly an exec at Nickelodeon, told BET.

As a Black woman in fintech, Van Court feels uniquely positioned to help educate the next generation of savers and ultimately close the racial wealth gap that persists between Black and white people in America. “[N]ever before in the history of America has there been a Black woman-owned tech and financial education company that is targeted at our children,” Van Court told AfroTech.

Why we love it: There’s a feature on the app called “Learn Before You Burn,” which freezes a kid’s debit card until they pass a (fun and meme-heavy) financial literacy quiz each week.

Download Goalsetter from the App Store and Google Play.

Kickstroid

If you’re a sneakerhead who’s constantly checking your social feeds for the latest trends and shoe news, take note: Kickstroid is a new app that uses artificial intelligence to help sneaker fans track shoe prices on the resale market, learn about sneaker culture, and follow favorite brands. David Alston and Nicco Adams, friends and self-proclaimed sneakerheads, built the app as students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

To the co-founders, the app’s mission goes deeper than their interest in fashion: “Sneaker culture is so rooted in Black culture and Black vision,” Alston, who has a computer science background, told InputMag. “Yet a lot of people on the technical side [of the sneaker industry] don’t look like us.”

Why we love it: Kickstroid hosts virtual sneaker battles on the app, where users share photos of their favorite kicks and vote on their favorites — but they’re surprisingly high-tech. “As each user votes on a picture, our AI-based sneaker detection algorithm scans each photo to identify the sneaker, break it down by its visual characteristics, and then use that information to help create personalized metrics for that user,” the co-founders told AfroTech.

Download Kickstroid from the App Store.

Official Black Wall Street

Mandy Bowman used to keep a spreadsheet with a running list of Black-owned businesses — then she turned the directory into an app called Official Black Wall Street.

“The idea for the website came first, but I really wanted to get to the app,” Bowman, who worked in marketing and social media prior to starting Official Black Wall Street, told Essence. “I wanted to make the search as easy as possible, to the point where we can literally let people know, ‘Okay, there’s a business next to you right now that you should walk into.’”

Today, thousands of Black-owned businesses around the country (plus Canada, the Caribbean, and the United Kingdom) are listed on the app. Whether you’re looking for a gym or coffee shop to try, or need to find a doula or insurance agent, having Official Black Wall Street on-hand makes it way easier to buy Black.

Why we love it: In addition to brick-and-mortar shops, Official Black Wall Street also lists online shops so you can buy products straight through the app.

Download Official Black Wall Street from the App Store and Google Play.

Swivel

Longtime friends Jennifer Lambert and Jihan Thompson co-founded Swivel in 2016 after struggling to find local hair salons and stylists who specialize in working with textured hair. The app allows you to read reviews, book appointments, and pay for services directly through the app interface.

“Neither one of us knew how to code when we started, so that was our biggest initial technical hurdle,” Thompson, a former magazine editor, told Elle. Building an app was “a big challenge,” Lambert, who was a lawyer prior to Swivel, said in the Elle interview. “But…it’s been extremely rewarding to see what we’re capable of figuring out on our own.”

Why we love it: You can search for hair salons based on the hairstyle and hair type. Before you book, the app also connects you to the stylist or salon’s Instagram, so you can be sure to do your research ahead of time.

Download Swivel from the App Store.

Feeling motivated to take the next step with your own app idea? Here are the best languages to learn for mobile app development. From there, check out our skill paths that teach you to make an app from start to finish, like Build iOS Apps with SwiftUI and Build Basic Android Apps with Java.

Mobile Development Courses & Tutorials | Codecademy

Every year more and more people rely on mobile devices to meet their needs. Where websites used to be the gold-standard, people now rely on mobile apps. The technologies used to create these apps are expanding and improving quickly, so it’s an exciting time to start learning Mobile Development!

“Why I Code”: The Black Developers Learning How To Build The Future

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February 1, 2022

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“Why I Code”: The Black Developers Learning How To Build The Future

Everyone has a different path to coding. For some people, coding is an outlet to express yourself and be creative, while others seek out programming skills that will help increase their earning potential. And for many folks, coding is a tool that enables them to address problems and inequalities within their communities.

In honor of Black History Month, we’re celebrating the Black learners in our Codecademy community who are helping to shape a more diverse and inclusive tech industry. Here, a few of them share the reasons why they pursued coding, the advice that they wished they had when starting out, and the Black leaders in tech who are inspiring their journeys.

Samson R., front-end developer

Why I code: “I am someone who can generate tons of ideas and wants to get started on everything. I started coding because I believe it allows me to pursue passion projects. Not having to look elsewhere for a coder saves both time and money, plus it means I can keep changing and redesigning as my idea develops.

“Outside of the implications of coding that look good on a resume, I think coding actually does boost my skills, which are actually useful to most jobs. Problem-solving and logic are the main two. Learning to code is like an exercise session for the ‘left’ side of my brain.”

What I wish I knew: “Like everyone else who started programming, the only thing I cared about was writing code. For me, coding was some kind of magic: You type something on a keyboard and a computer instantly shows your result on the screen. This magic started to come to the end when I began to face real-world problems. The number one thing I wish I knew was that programming is not about coding, programming is about solving problems with coding.”

Black programmer, technologist, or mentor who inspires me: “Ivy Barley.”

Jalyn A., student

Why I code: “I started coding because I wanted to explore the different ways I could use technology to solve problems within my community. Technology is flexible, accessible, and powerful. Learning how to code opened the doors to an entirely new way of thinking and solving problems.”

What I wish I knew: “It is not as scary as you think it is. When I started learning to code from scratch, I was really scared and overwhelmed, because I knew absolutely nothing about coding and it looked really complicated. However, I realized that once I became familiar with how to code in different languages, everything was not as difficult as I originally thought it would be.”

Black programmer, technologist, or mentor who inspires me: “Joy Buolamwini.”

Tyra C., front-end engineer

Why I code: “I started coding because I wanted a career where I can express my creativity, be challenged, and where failure isn’t a bad thing.”

What I wish I knew: “It’s okay if you don’t land your first tech job in six months, it’s far more valuable to understand the programming fundamentals and principles, rather than tutorial hopping.”

Black programmer, technologist, or mentor who inspires me: “Bukola on YouTube.”

Fialeta M., student

What I wish I knew: “I wish I knew about better resources to learn how to code (like Codecademy!) and also about Black coding groups for support.”

Black programmer, technologist, or mentor who inspires me: “I see a lot of Black software engineers working at a FAANG [Facebook (Meta), Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Alphabet (Google)], company, and they inspire me to keep pushing towards my ultimate goal.”

Tiffani G., executive assistant

Why I code: “I’ve always been interested in technology since I was little. My family says I could work the remote as a 1-year-old. When I found out that coding allows you to build apps and websites, I’ve wanted to learn. I took some coding courses in school but didn’t realize I could do that for a living.”

What I wish I knew: “Failing is okay, and in fact, encouraged. In school, it’s so taboo to get things wrong. You miss points and get bad grades when you fail. You don’t always get credit for trying. But in learning to code, it’s okay to fail, because in failing, you’re actually learning. And then you’ll fail less and less until you’re great at a concept or language. Then you can move on to the next thing and start failing your way to the top again!”

Black programmer, technologist, or mentor who inspires me: “I really look up to Jeremiah Peoples, Bree Hall of Bytes of Bree, and Nicole Young. Their YouTube channels have really helped me on my coding journey and they inspire me to keep learning.”

Donté L., product marketing for Codecademy

Why I code: “I wanted to increase my earning potential in the tech industry by learning increasingly desirable technical skills like HTML, JavaScript, and SQL. I also wanted the ability to build my own website and automate personal tasks, such as updating my personal budget.”

What I wish I knew: “There are multiple ways to achieve a result in the coding world. Different programming languages can be used to build a piece of software. It’s just a matter of personal preference (in the case of a professional job, it’s a matter of what the company uses).”

Black programmer, technologist, or mentor who inspires me: “Black women in tech inspire me the most. That includes people like Arlan Hamilton, who founded Backstage Capital, Morgan DeBaun, who founded the digital media company Blavity, and Kimberly Bryant, the founder of Black Girls Code.”

How To Land Your Dream Job As A Machine Learning Engineer

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February 1, 2022

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How To Land Your Dream Job As A Machine Learning Engineer

People with machine learning skills are in high demand. According to Forbes, the global market for Machine Learning Engineer jobs is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 42.8%. And that’s no surprise because machine learning is now used in nearly every industry — from healthcare to agriculture to energy.

If you’re excited about artificial intelligence, algorithms, coding, data, and automation, a career in machine learning could be the right fit for you. It could also give you an average salary of $114,579, a figure that’s expected to increase by 13% by 2026.

So it should come as no surprise that there can be a lot of competition if you’re trying to land a job as a Machine Learning Engineer. The good news is that, while there’s no singular path to getting hired, there are a few tried and true ways to increase your chances of landing your dream job in this exciting field.

First, narrow down the industry you want to work in

As a Machine Learning Engineer, you can take your pick as far as which industry to work in — machine learning is used in finance, manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, food and beverage, advertising, energy, and automotive just to name a few. So we suggest focusing your job search on one or two sectors that you’re really interested in.

For example, if you’re a career changer who worked as a bank teller, you might consider looking for a position with a finance company. Your background could bring a unique perspective to the company, and give you an advantage during the interview process.

While you’re narrowing down which industry you want to work in, you’ll also want to consider the size of the companies you’re looking at. Larger companies may have more opportunities for advancement, but you may have a narrow scope of responsibilities. At small-to-midsize companies, you may have more responsibility, which has its own pros and cons.

Learn, learn, learn

Machine Learning Engineers have a particular set of skills, no matter which industry you decide to work in. And the competition is high, so you really have to know your stuff to land a job.

In addition to knowing a handful of programming languages — Python being the most popular language for machine learning — you’ll want to focus your learning on basic computer science principles. You should have a strong grasp of algorithms and data structures, data visualization, statistical modeling, quantitative analysis, and cloud computing.

Other programming languages and some typical tools you’ll see listed on machine learning job descriptions include R, C++, Java, TensorFlow, Pytorch, Scikit-learn, NumPy, Pandas, Apache Spark, and OpenCV.

Each company will have its own requirements, but to prepare for a career in machine learning, you can brush up on or learn new skills you frequently see in job posts.

Get experience

Once you feel confident in the basics, you can look for ways other than a full-time job to gain experience. This might look like a personal project, freelance gig, or volunteer work.

Don’t worry if you can’t find a project or volunteer work that specifically involves machine learning. Can you find a company looking for a Python programmer for 10 hours a week? Great — that’s real-life coding experience that will get you one step closer to a full-time role.

Build a strong portfolio

Creating a portfolio that showcases all of your best work is one of the most productive things you can do to increase your chances of getting hired for any technical position. It’s how you’ll grab the attention of the hiring manager and prove you can do the job they’re looking to fill.

Your portfolio should include sample projects as well as a GitHub profile containing all the code you wrote over the past several months. If you’re looking for project ideas or ways to add work to your portfolio, a number of our Skill Paths have portfolio projects built into the curriculum, like Analyze Data with Python and Build Deep Learning Models with TensorFlow.

One bonus of building a robust portfolio is that you gain a lot of experience while working on all the projects you include in your portfolio. Also, your portfolio will include a lot of the same information that you’ll put on your resume, so spending some extra time on your portfolio will probably make building your resume a bit easier.

Prepare for the interview process

Being prepared for each step of the interview process is crucial. It’ll usually kick off with a phone screening where you should be prepared to answer why you’re interested in the position, as well as questions about your background and your familiarity with certain tools you’d use on the job. If this screening goes well, the next step is oftentimes a technical interview.

Technical interviews are more in depth, and you’ll be asked a variety of questions related to machine learning, as well as other technical and behavioral questions.

A few tips for the technical interview:

You’ll most likely be given a challenging scenario during the interview and asked how you’d approach it. They may ask about how you would preprocess, augment, and acquire data. You may also be asked to execute the code on a computer or given a whiteboard or sheet of paper. So you might want to practice hand-writing code to be prepared for different scenarios.
You should expect to be asked to solve a larger technical task. This might be something you’d do over a day or two and turn back in. Before turning in your code, write a short report that outlines the steps you took to solve the problem. Clarify which code you wrote and which code you copied and pasted, and be sure to add functionality to the code you pasted into your project.

Hiring managers expect you to use some existing code but also want you to demonstrate what else you can do. Don’t forget to include tests for the code you wrote.

There’s always a chance that you won’t know the answer to a question. Prepare for how you’ll respond if you don’t know, and don’t let that influence the rest of your interview.

One way to respond to questions you don’t know the answer to is to explain how you would find the answer. Discuss what resources you might use and your general approach to dealing with knowledge gaps.

Getting a job as a Machine Learning Engineer is an involved process that requires a chunk of time, but it’s worth it! Not only is your earning potential high, but you also have the option to work in a lot of different industries on a variety of challenging and interesting problems.

Interested in going down this path? Check out some of Codecademy’s machine learning courses and brush up on your skills.

Machine Learning Courses & Tutorials | Codecademy

Machine Learning is an increasingly hot field of data science dedicated to enabling computers to learn from data. From spam filtering in social networks to computer vision for self-driving cars, the potential applications of Machine Learning are vast.

Python Courses & Tutorials | Codecademy

Python is a general-purpose, versatile, and powerful programming language. It’s a great first language because it’s concise and easy to read. Whatever you want to do, Python can do it. From web development to machine learning to data science, Python is the language for you.

Daily Word Challenge

What initially interested you about tech?

What piqued your interest in data science and machine learning?

Have you ever had a mentor?

What inspired you to form Black and Brilliant?

What advancements in (or applications of) AI are you most excited about?

What advice do you have for BIPOC individuals who want to get into AI?

Lesson Overview

Warm-Up

Questions for Writing and Discussion

Going Further

Daily Word Challenge

Like this:

We Read Too

EatOkra

Liberate: Black Meditation App

Goalsetter

Kickstroid

Official Black Wall Street

Swivel

Samson R., front-end developer

Jalyn A., student

Tyra C., front-end engineer

Fialeta M., student

Tiffani G., executive assistant

Donté L., product marketing for Codecademy

First, narrow down the industry you want to work in

Learn, learn, learn

Get experience

Build a strong portfolio

Prepare for the interview process

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