A boom in electric-powered mobile devices is bringing what is likely to be a lasting change to New York’s vast and crowded street grid — and to cities around the world.
Have you ever ridden an e-bike or an e-scooter? What was it like? Would they work well where you live?
Do you agree with those who feel they are great for urban life because they are “affordable, better for the environment, take up little, if any, street space for parking and are just fun to use”? Or, do you side more with those who worry about the “significant safety challenges” they can bring to congested streets? Why?
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.
“People are so tired of these comfy sloppy outfits,” said Daniel Harris, 18, a freelance fashion consultant in Kingsport, Tenn. “We’ve gone through a year and some change of everybody being holed up in the house. Now we’re popping on those heels again and going out.”
Amen to that, professional trend watchers say. Markdowns of high-heeled shoes have dipped in recent months, one indication that those who can afford them are snapping up “heels” at full price, said Sidney Morgan-Petro, head of retail and buying for WGSN, a trend forecasting service in New York. Last year was an anomaly, so it may be too soon to call this a boom, Ms. Morgan-Petro said. “But high-heeled shoes are having a moment right now.”
Daily Word Challenge
Can you correctly use the word anomaly 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 anomaly 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.
The United Nations climate summit in Glasgow gets underway this week, with world leaders vowing to reduce the emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gases.
Which of the countries below is NOT among the the world’s four biggest emitters, which together are responsible for just over half of global greenhouse gas output?
The Times reports that there is aresurgence of interest in vintage clothes right now — partly because thrifting is “a fun way to play around without spending so much money (not to mention being conscious of sustainability).” But the article also suggests that playing with fashion after months of quarantine soothes “our collective ache to be noticed by other people again after feeling invisible for so long.”
Do you agree? Is thrifting popular among your friends? Do you personally like to shop for vintage items, whether clothes, home decor or anything else?
Where is the best thrifting in your area? What finds are you proudest of? Why?
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.
In “Kuya,” an illustrated piece by the artist AJ Dungo, he tells the story of his relationship with his older brother, who struggles with mental illness. He is proud of his brother’s courage, and he sees far beyond any negative labels that society might put on his brother.
Do you have meaningful relationships with family members? Choose one, and describe what the person means to you, and why.
Mr. Dungo writes the following text to accompany his illustrations:
Kuya (a term in Filipino culture used to address an older brother as a sign of respect.)
I asked my brother if we could take a walk together.
The simple act of walking is a triumphant feat for him.
When he was in his 20s, he shattered both of his heels when he jumped out of a window.
My brother has since been diagnosed with schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, Asperger’s syndrome and bipolar disorder.
Experimenting with medication for my brother has been a lifelong struggle. The side effects of these drugs in combination with his incident have significantly limited his physical abilities.
Time has healed some wounds. But his mental condition has limited him to a reclusive life.
Society has deemed my brother as mentally ill. But I prefer some other labels. Eldest. Artist. Uncle. Compassionate.
Courageous.
Kuya.
The steps that he takes to maintain his mental and physical health, despite all that he’s been through, make my heart swell with pride … and my feet too.
Describe a meaningful relationship you have with a family member. What are things you do together? Why is this person special to you?
In the illustrated story, Mr. Dungo describes his brother with six words: eldest, artist, uncle, compassionate, courageous and kuya. What are six words that you would use to describe your family member?
Mr. Dungo describes a stigma — a symbol of disgrace or shame — in his story: “Society has deemed my brother as mentally ill.” Why is mental illness often stigmatized, or looked down on, in our society?
Do you know anyone, including yourself, who struggles with mental health issues? Do you think the people around this person sufficiently appreciate and celebrate the person’s strengths, rather than focus too much on the person’s illness and struggles?
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.
Combating climate change is the civic duty of each and every individual on the planet. How we heat our homes, get from A to B and feed our families all has an impact on the climate and the health of the natural world. But we don’t just have responsibilities as private citizens.
The contribution of the world of industry, commerce, retail and services to climate change far outweighs that of private citizens in their homes. This means that we all have duties as employees to do what we can to limit the damage done by our places of work.
To mark the Climate Change Conference, we’ve selected 5 courses that can teach you invaluable ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your workplace.
Essential to making progress in the fight against climate change is improving people’s understanding of the pressing nature of what’s going on. The news cycle is full of examples of the increasingly frightening realities of climate change but not everyone reads the news or can connect the dots. This course gives a level-headed and insightful explanation of the science that everyone should know. Before trying to implement positive changes in your workplace, you should organise an office information day to make sure that everyone is on the same page.
Sustainability is a principle that needs to be applied to all workplace decisions. From what stockists you order supplies from to how you coordinate transport for business trips, you can always make a better and more environmentally sustainable choice. The green option is no longer the expensive option as the green market is rapidly expanding and driving down the price of the “eco option” across a variety of areas, from printer cartridges to canteen supplies. Many unsustainable choices continue to be made in the workplace simply because they are the way things have always been. Employers will listen if you arrive with a greener alternative that can be readily implemented to improve an existing situation.
Implementing wholesale changes to reduce the carbon footprint of your workplace isn’t something that happens overnight nor is it something that you can do lightly. In order to be sustainable for both the planet and the company, the existing financial situation of the company will have to be assessed, as well the affect that greener policies will have. Many initiatives such as introducing solar power or cycle to work schemes come with tax breaks. Accountants need to be aware of all these potential financial incentives to make sure that the company isn’t missing out on any benefits of going green.
The best way to manage waste is to prevent it. Waste management starts not with disposal, but with choosing raw materials and items that come with the least amount of packaging and collateral waste. This means that waste management needs to be considered at all points of the supply chain and at all levels of the business. This course looks at a variety of ways in which workplace waste can be managed, with an emphasis on the environment.
Every workplace, regardless of industry, needs to reassess its energy usage. The exodus from offices caused by the pandemic has greatly reduced the energy consumption of offices around the world. With the return to work, this reduced energy use is a positive that should be maintained. Solar panels are an unobtrusive, and increasingly inexpensive, way to reduce the fossil fuel dependency, and ultimately lower the energy bill, of companies across all sectors.
Mobile phones, tablets, PCs, TVs, and gaming consoles — because of these, gaming has never before been so accessible. With almost 3 billion gamers worldwide, the gaming industry is projected to bring in over $250 billion by 2025. Such a lucrative industry is bound to attract scores of new Game Developers intent on getting a piece of this rapidly expanding market.
If you’re considering a career in game development, there’s good news. As the industry grows, reports show that openings for Game Developers have increased by over 5%, and demand is expected to rise by over 2% annually, representing over 30,000 new jobs within a decade.
To help you decide if game development is right for you, we’ll explore a Game Developer’s role, responsibilities, and required skills in the paragraphs below.
What is a Game Developer?
A Game Developer does more than just the coding or programming required to create a game. They create the initial concepts and design new games, and then they develop, test, and maintain the games they release. They may do this as a freelance developer or as part of a design and production team.
Game Developer responsibilities
Since a Game Developer is involved in more than just the technical side of game development, they may assume various mantles at different creation, design, and production phases. Depending on whether they work alone or as part of a team, they may take an active role in any or all of the following phases.
Design
In this phase, a Game Developer or Designer comes up with the initial concepts and storyline for a new game. They also devise the framework of the game, whether it be a puzzle to solve, a series of obstacles to overcome, or enemies to defeat.
The mood (or “feel”) of the game, target audience, and market strategy are also established during this process, so there’s a clear purpose and intent as development continues.
Art
Game Developers create characters, objects, and environments in this stage using the concepts and storyline established during the design phase. The chosen colors and look of the game reflect the mood and feel chosen by the designer(s), and the graphics create an animated world where the game takes place.
Sound
Sound effects and music boost the mood and enhance immersion for users. Any audio tracks and dialogue that support the storyline must be created and recorded.
Programming
In this phase, Game Developers translate the concepts above into language a computer can understand. Various coding languages may be employed to solve problems, fine-tune performance, and mesh graphics and sound with the created environment.
Game Developer requirements
Some sources say you need a degree for a career as a Game Developer, but that’s not always the case. Many Game Developers don’t have a degree at all.
What’s most important is creativity, imagination, and knowledge of the fundamentals of game development. Remember that experience, a robust portfolio, and an attractive resume may go a lot further than a degree.
Required skills
Besides your creativity and imagination, what skills will you need to acquire to become a Game Developer?
Coding proficiency. The backbone coding languages for game development include C, C++, and C#, but Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, and HTML5 are also commonly used.
Math, physics, and problem-solving. A strong background in math and physics will help you translate your creative ideas into gaming experiences. Many potential employers conduct interviews to establish more than just coding experience. They want to see your problem-solving skills too.
Good communication and documentation skills. Whether you’re pitching your own game as a freelancer or working as part of a team, good communication and documentation may make or break any potential deal or strategy.
Knowledge of one or more gaming engines. Gaming engines are the framework used for building games. They’re also referred to as the “game framework” or “game architecture.” Some commonly used examples are Unity and Unreal.
What else will you need to become a Game Developer?
Ready to become a Game Developer? There’s a lot you can do to establish yourself in the industry and make this lucrative career choice a reality, such as:
Cultivate your creativity and imagination. Gamers are always looking for something new and exciting, so develop your story-telling abilities, stimulate your imagination, and get the creative juices flowing.
Build your portfolio. Use the games you make in your training to build a portfolio, and if you need a little help, check out our Career Center.
Create an attractive resume. Once you’ve got some experience under your belt, create an attractive resume that highlights your skills and experience to prospective employers and clients.
Take an entry-level position. Everyone has to start somewhere. Even as you further your training and education, accept an entry-level position to gain experience and establish yourself in the industry.
As every weekend jogger knows, it becomes difficult for distance runners to dissipate body heat in hot, humid conditions. Ice baths for the Olympic runners were set up in first aid and recovery areas inside Odori Park in Sapporo, where the marathon began and ended, according to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. Fourteen water supply tables were set up along the course, nine of them supplied with bags of crushed ice. Ambulances were to follow the runners during the race, the newspaper reported.
… At 30 kilometers, or 18.6 miles, Seidel ran at the front of nine runners as the course was dappled in shade. The temperature on the tarmac was above 100 degrees, according to the NBC telecast. Even some of the greatest runners who have faced the worst heat began to falter. Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya, who won the 2019 world marathon championship in brutal conditions in Doha, Qatar, where the temperature was still 90 degrees at midnight, fell away and began walking.
Daily Word Challenge
Can you correctly use the word falter 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 falter 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.
By Betty Vandenbosch, Chief Content Officer at Coursera
Today, we are pleased to announce that the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst, Data Analyst and Data Science Professional Certificates on Coursera have received American Council on Education (ACE®️) Credit Recommendations. Learners who complete any of these certificates are eligible to earn 10 to 12 college credits – the equivalent of up to four college courses.
American Council on Education (ACE) Credit Recommendations help learners gain access to academic credit for courses taken outside traditional degree programs. It is a powerful way of knocking down barriers for learners who have historically faced challenges accessing higher education. Although the decision to accept specific credit recommendations is up to each college and university, ACE recommendations make it easier for participating institutions to accept the certificates for credit toward a degree.
Entry-level certificates on Coursera, such as the three that have received ACE Credit Recommendations, do not require a college degree or prior tech experience. IBM’s certificates help expand opportunity by offering pathways—especially for non-traditional talent—to launch a career in cybersecurity, data analysis, and data science. Once learners secure a job in one of these growing fields, pursuing a college degree often becomes more feasible and can help with continued upward mobility.
Coursera and IBM are dedicated to helping individuals around the world access high-quality learning to prepare for digital jobs. We are honored to work with industry leaders such as IBM to expand access to meaningful higher education and employment opportunities.
