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What Have You Learned About Yourself During This Lockdown?

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What Have You Learned About Yourself During This Lockdown?

You may have heard the advice to keep a diary during this pandemic, both to understand yourself and to create a record of an extraordinary time for the future. In “The Quarantine Diaries,” Amelia Nierenberg writes:

As the coronavirus continues to spread and confine people largely to their homes, many are filling pages with their experiences of living through a pandemic. Their diaries are told in words and pictures: pantry inventories, window views, questions about the future, concerns about the present.

Taken together, the pages tell the story of an anxious, claustrophobic world on pause.

… When future historians look to write the story of life during coronavirus, these first-person accounts may prove useful.

“Diaries and correspondences are a gold standard,” said Jane Kamensky, a professor of American History at Harvard University and the faculty director of the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute. “They’re among the best evidence we have of people’s inner worlds.”

But a “world on pause” affects teenagers differently than it does older generations, and Ana Homayoun reports that “Some Teenagers Are Creating New Rituals in the Pandemic” to cope. The article begins:

Throughout the country, school closures, remote learning and quarantine are redefining the American teen experience. Many are dealing with grief, trauma and loss that is compounded by the lack of school-day routine and inability to see friends in person or participate in activities that once consumed their lives.

While some had initially hoped that the shutdowns were only temporary and that they’d be going back to their classrooms for the end of the school year, most states have now ruled out that possibility. For teenagers, there are deep losses, but some are finding bright spots as well.

It’s clear that this pandemic has disproportionately impacted low-income families and racial minorities, and some students will experience significant learning loss. At the same time, some previously overscheduled and sleep-deprived students are surprised to find more time for sleep, less stress around completing schoolwork, and more time for simple activities like reading on the front porch, spending time outdoors or having a leisurely dinner as a family.

Students, read either or both articles, then tell us:

  • What have you learned about yourself while in lockdown? For instance, what aspects of life have been a struggle? What has been easy? Do you have new insights into what makes you happy — or into what makes you scared, bored or angry? Have you come to any realizations about your friendships or romantic relationships? What have you learned about your family and your role in it? What have you noticed about yourself as a student now that the usual structures of school life are gone? What do you want to remember from this time in terms of understanding yourself?

  • What rituals have you created during the shutdown that you hope to keep even as the world opens back up? Have you discovered any new passions or hobbies?

  • How self-aware have you been during this time? Have you been keeping a diary or reflecting some other way on how the pandemic is affecting you? Has it helped?

  • Has this lockdown clarified anything for you about what you want in the future? Why?

Students 13 and older 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.

Restaurant Food

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Restaurant Food

What restaurants have you missed the most during quarantine? What are your favorite dishes there?

Weekly News Quiz for Students: China, Dam Breach, Michael Jordan’s Sneaker

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Weekly News Quiz for Students: China, Dam Breach, Michael Jordan’s Sneaker

Above is an image related to one of the news stories we followed over the past week. Do you know what it shows? At the bottom of this quiz, you’ll find the answer.

Have you been paying attention to the news recently? See how many of these 10 questions you can get right.

Top 10 LXP/DLP Mid-Year Rankings

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Top 10 LXP/DLP Mid-Year Rankings

The market continues to grow, but with that growth numerous changes are taking place. Because of my new approach to the rankings for 2021, mid-year rankings are part of the selection process, and tracking of the Top 10, and those out of the top 10, will continue right up to final rankings for 20-21 for LXP/DLP and then the top five are placed into a “pool” if you will, of other top-ranked learning systems in various verticals and horizontals, for consideration in the 2021-22 Top 20 Rankings.

Prior to jumping into the rankings, here are some key takeaways that is happening right now in this segment of the industry.

Key Takeaways

1. The term LXP is fading. More and more vendors are calling themselves digital learning platforms (DLP).  Which is really the best route to go.  LXP is a)vague, b)never really caught on with most people, c)confuses folks to what it is, d)other learning systems not in this segment are using “learning experience” as part of their messaging, which again, confuses folks.  

2. Learner-Centric is being phased out.   The initial reason  on why the LXP market took off was the whole messaging push of these systems being learner-centric compared to an LMS, and that content-driven is a key angle to this, while LMSs are not that.  Which of course isn’t accurate, but anyway.

3. The main reason learner-centric is disappearing in overall messaging is directly tied to what is occurring in this segment as we speak.

  • Assigned learning is huge.  It is clearly becoming more and more incorporated into this segment, and as a result, can create misleading output on “recommended”, “most popular/trending” playlists that end users can see.

Scenario:  You have 5,000 learners in the LXP/DLP.  2,500 receive the exact same assigned content (which is always a “must complete” with due dates).  The others scatter on the assigned content, with some getting the same piece of content, and not necessarily the series.

The system, which is using machine learning, is looking at this data and therefore when it outputs on most popular/trending – the content in the assigned is going to be higher than anything else, because of usage.  And the cycle continues.  Recommended, same results.  There are a few vendors who say, that “most popular” is only based on that learner and what they are taking – but again, if it is assigned, and to me specifically, I’m going to be taking it. 

4. Vendors in this space want into the B2B/B2C (customer education, partner education, aka Extended Enterprise -EXE) market (includes associations).  The problem? Assigned for one isn’t something folks tend to do in this vertical, and secondly, you need e-commerce, oh and thirdly multi-tenant, and lastly, metrics aligned to this specific segment of the market. 

There are only a couple of vendors today, that can do this.   It is rare for someone running L&D to be doing customer training/education, especially if the objective is to make it a profit center. Who is doing it?  Majority are folks with “training” as part of their title (associations may list the title as director of education, fyi). 

5. Upskilling is all the rage.  Messaging is pushing heavy on this, yet you rarely see re-skilling, which from a current pandemic situation with the number of folks out of work, you would think someone would have a light bulb moment, and recognize that reskilling is a serious need. 

6. Some vendors are angling “performance support”, which I personally think is the wrong message.  See #4 – because that spin of performance support will go over like a lead balloon for folks wanting customer education.  You want performance support? Purchase either an HCM with performance management as a add-on or use a system that auto comes with performance mgt, along with their learning.

7. Systems are becoming so more and more like LMSs, and even a couple are inching closer to performance management systems.   Innovation is way down across the learning system space, and never more so, than is this segment.  Doesn’t mean everyone isn’t innovating, but if you are relying heavily on what your clients want, innovation typically doesn’t go hand in hand. 

8. Pre-assessment tied to a personality test, will be hot in 2021.  There  are systems with pre-assessment capabilities, but this is specifically tied to a personality test, and then the output is content based on your personality. 

CK Connect is designed specifically in this manner, and already two other vendors are building it as we speak.  A vendor in Lithuania, BitDegree does the same thing, although they do not push out content based on your results.  I’m a Paragon.

Top Three Features a series of vendors in this segment are adding

  • Manager capabilities
  • Classroom management – which uh, isn’t a good idea at the moment, rather they should be focusing on more event management feature sets, especially wrapped around vILT
  • MS Teams – Microsoft Teams integration. Some do a way better job than others. EdCast IMO is the best full integration I’ve seen so far. 

Before jumping into the rankings, I know some folks will be looking for the vendor, Fuse, who is not in the rankings.  Here is why:

  • The company is pushing the message that they are a NexGen Learning Solution, aka NexGen Learning Ecosystem.    The LXP message is out.
  • Multiple execs I talked at the company have told me, they do not see themselves as an LXP. I totally concur, for the last two years, I told them they are a NexGen Learning Ecosystem.
  • I like Fuse, but they are an LMS, and there isn’t anything wrong with that.  This is a solution that can be your hub and comes with enough to be a true NexGen Learning Ecosystem (i.e. your hub), which uh, they are. 

Top 10 Rankings

Every vendor in the mid-year rankings can be found on Findanlms.com (in the platform).  For a true comparison, login and select the vendors and you will see what each has and if it is different from the other.  Please note, the rankings – there is not a requirement to be in FindAnLMS, it doesn’t weigh or impact the analysis.  As I’ve mentioned so many times before, the goal is to have the best systems in the world on one platform, hence they are.

BTW for folks seeking Digital Learning Platform on FindAnLMS, select “DLP” in the system type.  Many vendors who are a DLP, still list themselves as an LXP, so best to do DLP first, then go back and change search type to LXP.

#10 360Learning – Totally a digital learning platform. They pitch themselves as the first collaborative learning platform, which isn’t accurate.  So, recognize it for what it is – marketing.  Marketplace is good.  UI/UX is outstanding. 

#9 Stream LXP –  From the folks at LearningPool.  The system has the basics for the LXP/DLP market including social, playlists, machine learning (they call it AI), strong curation with an automatic integration from Anders Pink (very good curation vendor) and the Learning Locker LRS (Learning Pool are the owners of Learning Locker).

The UI and UX is solid.  I am not a fan of chatbots in any learning system, and this one is no different.  Plus “natural language” is a serious stretch, but if it works for marketing, uh, good for them.   Management features, assigned learning and a solid content marketplace make up a few additional items.  

#8 Absorb Infuse – The very quiet sibling to the Absorb LMS, but one that should be on the hills of some famous place. Very good UI/UX on learner and administration side.  Mobile is strong.  Integrations are outstanding and so is the content marketplace.  

#7 THRIVE –  A very solid system, that continues to improve. I’d argue they are better suited under the moniker of a digital learning platform.  UI/UX is good. Skill management features include skill ratings and the ability to create your own library of skills and definitions (on admin side).  Coaching is okay and could use a few additional items (web cam coaching component for one). Marketplace is good. Mobile apps (iTunes and Google Play) exist.  Playlists offer a bit, but there is no “recommended playlist”, which is odd.

#6 CK Connect – I recommend reading my review on the system –HERE.  This is still a work in progress, but the potential just oozes. I still love the personality pre-assessment, especially since they have on their roadmap the ability for clients to upload their own personality pre-assessment to use instead of the one in the system.  Clever.  If someone says they can truly assign content that is personalized to you and can’t/doesn’t offer a personality pre-assessment, then it is not 100% truly personalized for you.   System is not in FindAnLMS, but will be by end of June.  System is a digital learning platform.  And can be purchased as a standalone (i.e. you do not need to buy CrossKnowledge Learning Suite).

Top Five

#5 Instilled LXP – What can I say but Ding Dong! Just a wonderful solution, especially if you are someone who has a lot of video content and want to tap into the playlists and all other standards you see in the LXP space.  The UI/UX on the end-user side is quite good and on administration the UI is equally strong.  The UX for adding content to your playlist on the admin side, still needs improvement.  Auto-transcription with search is outstanding. Data visualization rocks thanks to Watershed LRS which is in the system.  Mobile is quite good.  I always liked this solution, and it continues to deliver.  Still needs some things, but I think they are on the right path.  Now, just change from LXP to DLP and you are set to go.

#4 Learn Amp – Very strong digital learning platform.  If you are seeking a system with an eye towards assigned learning and all that contains within, then this is your system.  Feature updates (coming soon) include a new home landing page for end-users which shows their stats including most popular day of the week.  I personally loved the metrics they showed with the learner (they can see it). Skills management is good. This is a robust system, and learners can still select their own content (but you go to a screen on the system and it appears in a grid format, which IMO needs to change).  System lacks mobile apps, a bummer.  Data visualization on admin side, is good.  MS Teams integration is coming soon. UI/UX is outstanding.  Social is good, machine learning is equally good.  System is ideal for SMB/SME (small-medium size enterprise) and mid-market.  Can scale up to 10,000.  Content marketplace is good. 

#3 Origin Fractal LXP – An LXP on steroids is the best way to describe this platform.  Not as well-known, in fact, I suspect most people will be like, “who?”.  UI/UX is good. System has all the standards for the LXP market, but has additional items including e-commerce, a very strong coaching component, skills management is strong too – example: system can generate a playlist based on skill rating/skill level. Analytics include KPI option.  They are one of only a few systems that can scan documents, courses, content, audio and video files and produce results, which interestingly enough is a very popular feature among folks seeking systems, as of late.   Mobile apps are there for iTunes and Google Play, with on/off synchronization.  System has classroom management too. Solid marketplace. Bonus – Your system can be live ready to go in less than two months.

The Top Two

#2 Degreed – Whoa Nellie! This is really a very strong LXP in the space. The new learner UI is a major upgrade over the previous version. UX as well.  Admin side, well, with one of their views it is great, but they still show and outdated (for 2020) look with the analytics tied overall to the system.  Data visualization exists, but sheesh, time to change here.  Offers the assigned learning capability. Strong in that area too.

Skills management continues to be outstanding. Skill Ratings are still quite strong.  Coaching is good, but could be better.  Content marketplace is awesome.  Social well, same ol same, that I see elsewhere.  Playlists are very good.  I’m not a fan of the option to add on their new HR solution to the LXP, as I feel it changes the whole dynamic of what the system is supposed to be about – learning/training, and turns it into this amalgamation of talent development with learning pieces.  AKA as a talent management system.   Mobile is outstanding.   Capabilities you can do in mobile is quite good.

#1 EdCast – I know folks will compare Degreed to EdCast (and I recommend doing so on my FindAnLMS platform), and each system has their own strengths (future blog in June will do a true comparison of Degreed, Fuse and EdCast).  Learner and Admin UI/UX is outstanding. Playlists and machine learning capabilities are elite.  Their marketplace is fantastic and you can even search to find instructors and upload your own content and sell it to others (i.e. other clients in the system).   Mobile is good.  They just added classroom management, and manager features.  System can play easily in B2B/B2C and association space.  They offer a system specifically for SMB/SME called Spark, but between you and me, it is the exact same system as the EdCast platform itself, so you are not getting anything different.  Skills management is solid, but needs some additional items.  Digital coaching is solid, another area to improve upon.  Data visualization and metrics you can capture – outstanding.   Assigned learning is doable in the system, strong area.  I still find the learner-centric piece to be really really good though.

Bottom Line

There you go, the top 10 mid-year rankings of the LXP/DLP space. 

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30 fun things to do if your summer holiday has been cancelled

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30 fun things to do if your summer holiday has been cancelled

With summertime on the horizon, many of us were looking forward to vacations, Euro 2020, the Olympics, and more. 

Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic has put a stop to such grand plans. With travel restrictions and social distancing, summer 2020 will be quite different from what we’re all used to.

However, it doesn’t have to be a write-off. We’ve put together some inspiration for fun things to do if your summer holiday has been cancelled. Whether you’ve got kids or not, these ideas can keep you entertained during the warmer months.

1. Have a holiday-themed day

You might not make it to your dream destination this year, but you can try your best to recreate it at home. There are plenty of things you can do to get you in that holiday spirit. Why not order in some of the nation’s cuisine or even cook some yourself? You can also check out some of the local music, you might find a new favourite.

Now is also a good time to learn the language. Just think, if you learn now, you can have a chat with the locals when you finally make it on your trip! 

2. Have a home spa day

Even if a 5-star resort isn’t on the cards this summer, you can still take some time out to pamper yourself or someone special in your life. Buy (or make) some relaxing face masks, put on some chill music, and take a nice relaxing soak. 

You can also keep the healthy living theme going by learning about and creating some healthy meals. Before you know it, you’ll have your very own mindfulness retreat – the perfect remedy to a summer of social distancing.

3. Run a travel book club with your friends

There are few better ways to explore the culture, history, and intrigue of new places than through its literature. Try setting up a book club with your friends and read novels from writers from around the world. If your summer holiday has been cancelled, choose books set in the place you would have been, and have regular video calls to discuss your thoughts.

4. Write a summer romance novel

For you budding writers out there, now is an opportune time to write on your summer passion project. An in-person summer romance might not be viable, but that doesn’t stop you creating a fictional one. If you’re not sure where to start, our course on how to start writing fiction can help set you on the right path. 

5. Revamp your home

If you’ve got a refund for your planned vacation and want to divert the funds elsewhere, it could be time to redecorate. Whether you want to add some beautiful design changes, fix the niggling issues you’ve noticed during lockdown, or revamp your whole home, now is your chance.

For those who want to learn more about how our environments, their design, and sustainability all connect, check out our course on designing the human habitat. 

6. Run a murder mystery

Although you might not be able to indulge in the drama, intrigue, and mystery that come with a holiday with friends, a murder mystery can be a good replacement. Everyone gets a character and backstory, and you must work to figure out who the killer is!

With a digital murder mystery, you can invite all your friends to take part. All you need is webcam and mic, and you can get as creative with it as you like.

7. Try some time travel

Exploring the past can be the perfect remedy if you’re looking for fun things to do if your summer holiday has been cancelled. And, if you don’t have a time machine at the ready, there are several alternatives. You could check out a virtual museum tour to ‘visit’ ones you haven’t been to, for example.

You could also try one of our history courses and learn about ancient Rome or England in the time of Richard III. The possibilities are endless.

8. Take a ‘you’ day

Sometimes it’s nice to just have a day that’s all about you. Whether your birthday is coming up or is long since passed, you still deserve to treat yourself. So, why not draw up a list of all the things you like and tick off as many as possible.

Throw on your favourite film, order your ideal meal (or get someone to cook it for you!), mix your favourite cocktail. Do all of the things that make you happy, and get as many people in your household to join you as possible. You can even have a day for each of them too.

9. Do an at-home escape room

Escaping your house seems like the ideal scenario for lockdown living. And, although you may not be able to go far, an at-home escape room can make things more exciting. You’ll find that there are several virtual escape rooms you can do with friends online, and you can even have a go at creating your own one.

10. Have a virtual holiday

Thanks to the wonders of technology, you can now visit just about anywhere on earth from the comfort of your living room. Although it seems like one of the more sci-fi things to do if your summer holiday has been cancelled, it’s a very real thing. You can even get a VR headset that works with your smartphone.

Why not visit the Eiffel Tower? Or take in the beauty of Cambodia’s Angkor temples? It can be the perfect form of escapism until you can visit the place in person.

11. Start a new adventure

Sure, escaping to another country would be nice, but how about a whole different world? If you’ve never tried a game like Dungeons & Dragons before, now is the perfect time.  You can journey through whole other realms as a character of your choosing, taking on adventures and slaying monsters.

You can even play games like D&D remotely. All you need is to learn the basics and get your friends to create their characters. It’s fun, immersive, and is a unique one on our list of fun things to do if your summer holiday has been cancelled.

12. Try a cooking challenge

If you enjoy getting creative in the kitchen, why not take on a cooking challenge? Pick some ingredients from your cupboard/fridge and see what culinary delights you can whip up. You can check recipes for inspiration, and even challenge your friends. For those that live with their partner or roommate, try creating a dish each.

If you like the idea of healthy eating and want to learn more, our course on nutrition looks at how a good diet can benefit our physical and mental health.

13. Write a summer song

The long sunny days are perfect for song inspiration. So whether summer lovin’ happens so fast or you have the summertime blues, why not put your feelings to music? It can be a fun and rewarding use of your time.

If you’re not sure where to get started on your musical journey, you can always join our course on how to write your first song. You’ll learn the basics of how to get your first composition primed and ready to go.

14. Catalogue your collection

Most of us have some sort of collection. Books, CDs, films, Pokémon cards, spoons and any other paraphernalia can certainly be a passion project. So why not spend the time this summer to properly sort your collection?

Will you alphabetise your CDs? Arrange your films by their release date? Or sort your books by the place you purchased them? Not only can it help you rediscover your love for these things, but it can make your collection all the more neat and presentable.

15. Show and tell

When it comes to things to do if your summer holiday has been cancelled, learning something new is always fun. Whether you live with others or by yourself, you can challenge the other people in your life to learn about a new topic. If everyone tackles a different topic, you can then take it in turns teaching each other what you learned.

Check out our post on what to learn during lockdown to find some inspiration. We’ve also got many courses related to different hobbies, so you’re sure to find something fun and engaging. 

16. Learn mindfulness and gratitude

If your summer vacation has been cancelled, you might be feeling a bit fed up. If you’re seeking a bit of a mental boost, then mindfulness and gratitude can be the ideal remedy. Mindfulness is the process of being aware of yourself and your surroundings. It can help you relieve stress, and has many positive benefits.

Gratitude is the practice of being thankful for the things in life you have. Try writing a few points down each day about the good things and people in your life. It can help you feel much better.

17. Do Yoga

While we’re on the subject of mental wellbeing, Yoga is something that’s good for mind and body. Plus, just about everyone can get into. It’s a relaxing pastime that can help with your strength, flexibility, and overall fitness.

So, if your holiday has been cancelled but you still want to unwind, getting into Yoga can be the ideal thing. Yoga With Adriene is a great place to get started.

Things to Do Outside

If you’re tired of being indoors during lockdown, there are plenty of fun things you can do outside to mix things up. These ideas can give you some exciting things to do if your summer holiday has been cancelled.

18. Set up a water park

A visit to Splash Mountain might not be feasible this summer, but you can still have some watery fun at home. If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, you can get the paddling pool out, set up a slip n slide, and even get the water balloons out. It’s not just for kids either; everyone at home can get involved. Water fight, anyone?

19. Have a summer fête

With most of our favourite summer activities postponed, you might be struggling to think of fun things to do. Why not bring the kids festival atmosphere to your back garden? Set up some classic fair games such as a ring toss, can knock-down, and bowling.

Get a BBQ on the go, make some cakes, and have a juice (or beer!) bar. It’s something that can be fun for the entire household, especially if everyone has a go at making a stall.

20. Recreate the Olympics

We’ll sadly have to wait until next year to get the Tokyo Olympics on our screens, but don’t let that stop you. For the competitive among you, why not have a mini-tournament to settle some scores? Although pole-vaulting and archery aren’t advisable, there are plenty of activities you can recreate at home.

If you’ve got the space, ‘track’ events are always a favourite. You can also try things like basketball, shotput (beanbag), discus (Frisbee), long jump, and more. Divide into teams, create your own mascots, and see who can win the most medals. For sporty things to do if your summer holiday has been cancelled, they don’t come much better.

21. Have a Wimbledon-themed tennis tournament

Wimbledon is another summer staple that we’ll have to wait for. But again, you can recreate many of the joys the tournament brings at home. Of course, central to it should be the tennis, but there are many other delights you can bring too.

Get the strawberries and cream at the ready, grab a Pimm’s, fall out with the umpire, and see whether the rain holds off for one more match.

22. Grow your own produce

For the green-fingered among us, the run-up to summer could be an excellent time to start growing some fresh produce in your garden. The Royal Horticultural Society has some advice on timings, as well as some easy crops to grow. You’ll notice that many of these are superfoods, and you can learn all about them on our course of the same name.

23. Have a picnic

The joys of al fresco dining can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own garden. Picnics are one of the summer’s greatest treats, and you can enjoy some veritable banquets at home this summer. Make sure to get all of the classics for a great picnic, and make or buy the favourite dishes of everyone in your household.

24. Do a holiday photoshoot

With all of the fun things to do if your summer holiday has been cancelled, it’d be a shame if your photo album had blank pages. Instead, you should try capturing as much of your staycation adventures as possible. Get everyone to dress up in their summer best, strike a pose, and get creative.

If you’re a budding photographer, it can be the perfect opportunity to hone your craft. Take a look at our Digital Photography microcredential to take your skills to the next level.

25. Go camping (in your garden)

Camping is always a fun experience, even if it is only in your garden. Although not quite the wilderness (depending on how your garden looks), you can still get all the joys from a night under the stars. Make sure you have all of the essentials for your expedition, as well as plenty of provisions. You can even bust out the guitar and patio fire pit, just be sure not to disturb the neighbours.

26. Stargazing

This one depends a little on the conditions, but it can still be extremely fun. On a dark and clear night, you can sit out under the stars and get a view of the universe. Bring some blankets, hot chocolate, and an outdoor recliner and see what you can see. Don’t worry if your celestial knowledge isn’t the best, our course on the constellation of Orion can teach you a thing or two.

27. Go on a garden safari

Although it’s unlikely you have any Giraffes or Wildebeest in your garden, there’s still plenty to see. Gardens in the British summer are alive with creatures, and spotting them can be a fun activity for the whole family. If you’re not so hot at distinguishing your damselflies from your mayflies, the Seek App can help you identify your garden dwellers.

28. Have a night at the drive-in

Although a night at the movies might not quite be feasible at the moment, you can bring the silver screen to your home. If you have a TV that you can easily move or a projector, you can sit out, put on a favourite movie, and grab some popcorn.

29. Take an exercise challenge

If you’re looking for active things to do if your summer holiday has been cancelled, an exercise challenge could be just the thing. They’re ideal whether you’re aiming to set a personal best on a cycle or run, follow a structured workout program like P90x, or improve your overall fitness. If you’re in need for some inspiration, check out Joe Wicks’ daily workout.  

30. Map your local area

You might think you know your neighbourhood like the back of your hand, but there’s probably plenty you haven’t noticed. Head out for a walk with your household and see whether you can map out your local area. You’re sure to find plenty of interesting spots, shortcuts, and landmarks.

Introducing: FutureLearn Schools

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Introducing: FutureLearn Schools

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact in-person education around the world, millions of students are missing out on vital learning experiences. 

In order to help young students keep learning whilst schools are closed, we’ve launched FutureLearn Schools, a new initiative that offers school students aged 13+ free upgraded access to over a hundred of our short courses.

FutureLearn Schools is available now until September 2020 to every eligible student in the UK and Ireland and will be rolled out globally in due course. 

From cyber security and digital skills to fiction writing and history, over 40 world-renowned universities and institutions are opening up access to their expert educators and word-class course content so that young people can continue learning at home. Plus, teachers will be able to grow their in-house digital teaching skills and confidence with the know-how of FutureLearn’s nearly 10 years of online learning experience.

Students will be able to complete tests and earn certificates on courses they complete that can be used as evidence of their learning and to enhance job and higher education applications. All learners will also have ongoing access to the content of any completed courses for as long as they’re on FutureLearn.

Launched in collaboration with Pearson and Tes, teachers, parents, and students will also be able to access additional guidance and support, through initiatives like the Coronavirus support hub from Tes and support for parents and learners during Coronavirus from Pearson.

As well as learning from and engaging with university and industry educators, our platform will enable students to study in a peer-to-peer setting with other students through comments and discussion on every step of the course.

Teachers will also be able to use the platform’s features to track the progress and engagement of their students, as well as create and publish their own private short courses on the platform in order to support curricular learning. 

During these challenging times, it’s vital that young people can suffer as little disruption as possible to their learning and that teachers feel empowered to continue their work in a safe and engaging environment. 

FutureLearn Schools will alleviate some of the stresses surrounding teaching and learning during this time and ensure students leave lockdown with new knowledge, as well as the confidence and pride of knowing that they’ve studied with leading universities and educators from around the world.

Explore the courses on offer and sign your school up for FutureLearn Schools today.

Announcing Guided Projects: Gain Job-Relevant Skills with Short, Hands-On Learning Experiences

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Announcing Guided Projects: Gain Job-Relevant Skills with Short, Hands-On Learning Experiences

By Namit Yadav, General Manager, Rhyme

In our research interviews, we find that learners consistently share their desire to work on projects that will demonstrate to employers their ability to apply a skill, or use a tool like Google Sheets, Python, or TensorFlow. In addition, educational psychology research shows that projects help students learn how to use their new skills in real-world environments.

Today, we are excited to introduce Guided Projects, a new hands-on learning experience now available on Coursera. With Guided Projects, you can gain job-relevant skills in less than two hours with step-by-step guidance from an instructor. Because they require a smaller time commitment and provide practice using tools in real-world scenarios, you build the job skills you need, right when you need them.

From now until June 12, 2020, you can try your first Guided Project for free. Start exploring our catalog of Guided Projects, pick the one you’d like to try, and your discount will apply at checkout. 

Gain job-relevant, in-demand skills

Have you ever wanted to learn how to create data visualizations with Tableau? Or learn to create an informative presentation with Google Slides? Or learn how to use TensorFlow to classify images? 

With over 150 Guided Projects available now and hundreds more launching by the end of the year, you can learn a wide range of valuable, job-relevant skills. Projects cover everything from building foundational business, technology, and data skills, to learning techniques for transformational algorithms like neural networks and Markowitz models. Whatever your area of interest, Guided Projects offer focused and efficient ways to master in-demand skills. 

Curated Guided Project collections

We encourage you to explore all Guided Projects on our platform, but you can get started with curated collections that focus on learning specific data science, business, or computer science skills: 

The learning experience with Guided Projects

When you start a Guided Project, you’ll read an overview of the project structure, get introduced to your instructor, and see your learning objectives. You’ll then be prompted to open a tool called Rhyme to work on the project. Rhyme is a hands-on learning platform that provides a unique, side-by-side learning interface where you complete each step in a virtual workspace as you watch video instructions from your instructor on the other side of the screen. Your virtual workspace is a pre-configured cloud desktop, so all the software and data you need is available directly in your internet browser—you won’t need to install or download anything to start the project. 

After you complete the project, you’ll return to your course homepage and take a quiz to check what you’ve learned. When you pass the quiz, you complete the Guided Project and earn a shareable certificate that showcases what you’ve learned. 

With Guided Projects, you can feel confident about completing a project from start to finish because they’re self-paced, and an instructor guides you step-by-step. Most Guided Projects available on Coursera today are taught by instructors in the Coursera Project Network, a group of instructors who have demonstrated expertise in a tool or skill through industry experience or academic background in the topic of their project.

The future of hands-on learning on Coursera

The launch of Guided Projects is part of an ongoing effort to provide innovative, hands-on learning experiences on Coursera. We’ll continue to add opportunities like these—both within courses and as standalone offerings—as well as explore new ways for you to learn skills through interactive formats. 

Are you a subject matter expert in a job-relevant skill? 

If you’re interested in becoming a part of the Coursera Project Network and creating a Guided Project to help millions of learners around the world, please apply today. 

5

Word + Quiz: vagary

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Word + Quiz: vagary

: an unexpected and inexplicable change in something (for example, in a situation or a person’s behavior)

_________

The word vagary has appeared in three articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Nov. 13 in the Opinion essay “Why Do I Eat Pigs, and Give My Dog Her Own Cowboy Hat?” by Jennifer Finney Boylan:

The question of which animals are my friends, and which are to be dosed with chili oil, is troublesome. I spend hours pampering our flat-coated retriever, a self-involved creature who spends her days lounging around on the furniture and lapping out of the toilet bowl. But remind me again why Chloe the dog is my friend, but cows and pigs, to name two other living beings, are just fine to chop into pieces and enjoy with Sriracha sauce? Why are summer goldfinches a source of joy, but the squirrels who eat the seeds I put out for those finches my sworn enemies?

… The degree to which animals make us feel good about ourselves does seem like a strange metric for deciding the fate of other sentient beings, though. Some of those decisions involve life and death, not just who gets Special Songbird Mix and who gets the chili oil. Sometimes I fear that it’s all random, that in the end my friendship with Chloe the dog is just the result of vagary and caprice.

_________

Lesson of the Day: ‘Athing Mu Might Be America’s Fastest Teenager. How Much Faster Will She Be in 2021?’

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Lesson of the Day: ‘Athing Mu Might Be America’s Fastest Teenager. How Much Faster Will She Be in 2021?’

“Hey, guys.” “Hey, what’s up, everybody?” “Hey, everyone.” “Hi, everyone.” “What’s up, guys?” “Hey, it’s Lex Gillette.” “I’m a pro surfer.” “And I’m a canoe slalom athlete.” “Professional distance runner.” “Professional skateboarder.” “Coming to you from San Diego, Calif.” “I’m currently at home, of course. Where else?” “Where I’m staying indoors. Stay inside.” “Just heard about the 2020 Summer Games getting postponed until 2021.” “We heard the news the other day that the Olympics are going to be postponed for next year.” “It’s a pretty big bummer for us.” “Yeah. I heard that the Olympics will be in 2021, so.” “I think the whole situation has been a bit crazy.” “Man, it’s pretty crazy right now, right?” “At the moment, I’m literally packing up my life with the news that the Olympics have been postponed a year.” “This coronavirus, Covid-19, has changed a lot of plans, to say the least.” “We all worked so hard for this, physically and mentally, for this whole upcoming journey.” “I would be lying if I said there wasn’t a piece of me that was heartbroken. I was so looking forward to the Games this summer.” “And yes, that was my big dream, but right now, that’s not that important.” “It’s obviously something bigger than I think we all expected at first.” “And we are doing everything we can in our power to not go stir crazy in our house during this time of quarantine.” “We’re all kind of learning on the fly and taking it day by day and just doing what we can.” “I’ve been training in my backyard. I’ve been doing some workouts.” “My fiance and I have been training and cooking almost all day long.” “I’m doing some gym work in my home gym. Still able to run outside a little bit at this point.” “In Tahiti, we have the sun. We’re lucky we have the sun. We have the water right there.” “Trying to set up a home gym with some dumbbells, some barbells.” “Still going to skate, even if it’s not at the skate park.” “Just been surfing a lot and doing some gym work.” “Not exactly the prettiest gym we’ve ever worked out in, but it’s going to do the job. We’re going to work out.” “We built a little a gym at the park.” “Just getting used to training from home right now.” “Stay busy. Pick up something that you’ve never really done before.” “I’ve always wanted to play the ukulele, or play an instrument.” “So this is my sister Summer.” “What’s up, guys?” “And we are going on the trampoline.” “I do know this one little song. It’s pretty embarrassing but better than not knowing a song.” ♫ “… don’t know it.” ♫ [laughs] “As you can tell, I’m still learning and I’m not the most musically talented.” ♫ “Hope everybody is dealing with this OK. I don’t want anybody to go away.” ♫ “We’ve been doing some games, family games, and drinking coffee and eating chocolate.” “I mean, right now, I’m just spending time with my family, skating inside the house.” “Taking bubble baths. Exercising. Eating appropriately.” “Been here in the studio. I could play y’all something real quick.” ♫ [Rapping] “Yo. It’s like a million scenarios in my cranium, 20/20 vision all I see is packing the stadium. Pride in my chest, steam in my soul, medal round my neck, they gon’ see around the globe. Four years straight my eyes been on the prize. Medal on my neck, see tears on my momma’s eyes. It’s a lesson —” “Yeah. I can’t give y’all too much, but that’s what I’m working on.” “It’s definitely a little scary looking at this next year.” “It’s not what we wanted, but I think that’s the best decision.” “You know, as much as it hurts, I think it was the right call.” “And I think that, right now, what we’re going to need is a revision to be able to make some changes and alterations to ensure that the rest of this year will play out the way we want it to.” “And I am so incredibly proud to be a Paralympic athlete.” “And I’m really looking forward to getting even stronger, and hopefully bringing home some medals in the summer of 2021.” “On that note, I’m going to sign out.” “Wishing everyone a safe and healthy next few weeks.” “I just want to say, stay hungry, stay healthy, you know what I mean? And be positive, and you know, the best is yet to come.” “Looking forward to getting out of this on the other side, and hopefully get to compete at the Olympics.” “So be safe, take care of yourself. We will get through this.” “We’ll see you at 2021 Games, hopefully.” “Finished. Now we do what we all do in quarantine.” “We stay home, we stay safe.” “We watch Netflix and we eat food.” “Yes.” “Let’s go.”

Lesson of the Day: ‘What We Know About Your Chances of Catching the Virus Outdoors’

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Lesson of the Day: ‘What We Know About Your Chances of Catching the Virus Outdoors’

As states move to relax restrictions intended to fight the coronavirus pandemic, even the simplest outdoor activities seem fraught with a thousand questions and calculations. Is it safe to stroll on the beach? How about a picnic in the park? Or coffee with a friend at an outdoor table?

In this lesson, you will learn about the risks in going outdoors again and the precautions you can take to minimize them. In a Going Further activity, you will design a poster or public service announcement to inform others.

Take a moment to study the graph below of the level of human contact in various social spaces from this week’s “What’s Going On in This Graph?” feature. Then, respond to the following questions:

  • What do you notice? If you make a claim, tell us what you noticed that supports your claim.

  • What do you wonder? What are you curious about that comes from what you notice in the graph?

Feel free to share your responses on our What’s Going On in This Graph? page, which already has over 130 responses from teenagers.

Read the featured article, then answer the following questions:

1. What is the “good news” from a growing consensus among experts about going outdoors? On the other hand, what activities do experts express particular caution toward? Are you surprised by either?

2. The authors state that the different approaches taken by states to reopen have left many Americans “bewildered about what is safe behavior outside.” What examples from the article best support this claim? How accurately does the statement characterize your own understanding of what is safe and what is not? Would you say that you are largely bewildered or confused?

3. What is the ideal way to socialize, according to the article? What precautions can reduce your risk if you cannot meet that ideal?

4. What is viral load? Why is it essential to understanding why transmission rates are lower outdoors than indoors?

5. Why are pools and beaches considered areas of risk even if pool water, fresh water in a lake or river, or seawater exposure would be extremely low transmission risk?

6. What advice does the article provide about what to do if you encounter someone too close to you and they are not wearing a mask? Do you find it useful?

7. The article concludes:

Another worry: Because it can take two weeks for symptoms to appear after a person is infected, there is no way to know if you’re going to the beach or the park in the midst of an invisible local outbreak, experts said. It’s yet another reason to take precautions.

“If we now go back to the old normal and don’t follow the social distancing strategy anymore, it’s like a ticking time bomb,” said Peter Jüni, an epidemiologist at the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital. “You never know where it blows up and when.”

Do you agree with Peter Jüni? Will you continue to practice social distancing now that states are easing restrictions? How concerned are you about getting the virus now that states are reopening?

8. What did you learn from the article? What questions still remain about catching the virus outdoors? Which outdoor spaces and activities described in the graph and the article are you most likely to visit or engage in now that states are easing restrictions? Which will you still avoid? Explain why.

Option 1: Inform Others

How you can inform others about what you have learned from the article?

Who would be your target audience — teenagers, older adults or the general public? What message do you want to convey? What, specifically, does your audience need to know about the risks and recommended precautions for going outdoors again? What kind of language, images and graphics will grab their attention?

Here are two creative options you might try:

  • You might use information from the article or your own research to create a poster. You might use Canva or another design program to produce your designs. Use open-source images or create graphics that help get your point across. Be sure to cite all the sources you use. Then share what you made via social media or with peers at your school.

  • Or you can create a public service announcement using still photographs from this article, or from your own research, along with text, statistics and music. You might consider storyboarding your public service announcement, and if you have time, record, edit and share it with your class and your school. Scholastic provides some useful tips and a sample P.S.A. storyboard.

Option 2: Research a Question Further

The authors write that “even the simplest outdoor activities seem fraught with a thousand questions and calculations.” What questions do you still have?

Choose a question about the risks of transmission outdoors to research further.

You might start your research with the Times Coronavirus Topics page, or these Times articles:

Or use these online government resources:

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