Juneteenth falls on a Saturday, June 19th this year. Here at Codecademy, we’re taking Friday, June 18th, off as a team to pause, reflect, and learn.
We believe that everyone belongs in tech — and that the future is brighter when the power of code is equally attainable by all. As we work towards this goal, it’s important for us to reflect on and celebrate the milestones throughout history that have paved the way for a more welcoming, inclusive, and diverse tech industry.
Interested in taking the day to reflect and learn with us? Check out this list of Juneteenth resources gathered by members of the Codecademy team.
In addition to a section for learning about what Juneteenth is, you’ll notice our guide is split into several categories for celebrating, reflecting, and acting. These categories contain resources to help us learn, celebrate, and support the Black community.
Learn
The first step in celebrating Juneteenth is understanding what the holiday is all about. We’ve put together some resources to help you gain a better understanding of this important part of American history.
Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863. But it wasn’t until two and a half years later — on June 19, 1865 — that the last group of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned they were finally free. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of those that were enslaved in Confederate States and has been celebrated each year on June 19 since 1866.
This video from Vox explores Juneteenth and why all Americans should honor the holiday.
Read through the following articles to learn more about the history and meaning of Juneteenth:
Celebrate
Celebrating Juneteenth is about honoring Black history and culture by understanding its impact on the world we live in on a local and global level. We’ve rounded up some ideas for ways to commemorate the day, along with resources for finding celebrations near you.
You’ll notice that several of these ideas are in NYC, home of Codecademy HQ. But we’ve also included links for finding celebrations no matter where you are.
Reflect
Reflecting on Juneteenth is about recognizing and understanding the prevalence of racism on an interpersonal, intrapersonal, institutional, and structural level. Dive into these resources to learn more about anti-racism and allyship.
Act
Taking action is the most important next step to creating large-scale change. Support the Black (coding?) community by donating to or volunteering with organizations like:
Whether you’re interested in freelancing, contracting, or working full-time, you can work from home. The tech industry has truly embraced remote work, not only because of the prevalence of virtual collaboration tools but because a remote workforce enables the employment of the best and brightest from all over the world.
Maybe you got a taste of the work-from-home life and can’t imagine going back to the office. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of tech careers that allow you to work remotely. Below, we’ll explore 6 careers in which you can work from home, including their responsibilities and required skills, and show you where you can get started.
In the video above, John, a Software Engineer at Smartsheet, explains how front-end development allows you to combine your programming skills and creativity, describing the role as “the intersection of art and logic.” You can also expect a decent salary, as Front-End Developers earn about $106,637 a year in the U.S.
2. Back-End Developer
While Front-End Developers are responsible for a website’s visual elements, Back-End Developers manage the servers and systems they rely on. They also create the databases and infrastructures required for client-side applications using tools like Node.js, Git, and SQL.
In the video below, Doug, one of our Senior Back-end Engineers, takes a closer look at the role’s responsibilities.
Like their counterparts on the front end, Back-End Developers are in high demand, and an experienced one can earn as much as $122,445 in the U.S.
3. Full-Stack Engineer
A Full-Stack Engineer is a Jack (or Jill) of all trades, capable of both front-end and back-end development. While they may not have the same breadth of knowledge as those who specialize in either field, they know enough to build a complete website or application from scratch. In the video below, Taylor, a Full-Stack Developer and Tech Consultant, sheds more light on the role.
As with the two preceding roles, Full-Stack Engineers have a booming job market that’s expected to continue growing by up to 8% by 2029. Plus, their salaries average around $108,089 in the U.S.
4. Data Scientist
A Data Scientist works at the intersection of software engineering, statistics, and business, using data to help organizations meet their goals and drive their decision-making. Data Scientists have one of the biggest job markets — ranking 3rd in LinkedIn’s list of last year’s top emerging jobs in the U.S. — as businesses rely on them to find new uses for their data.
As Catherine, who manages our data science team, explains in the video above, Data Scientists use programming languages like SQL, R, and Python, to collect, manipulate, and analyze their data.
Still, it’s hard to concisely summarize a Data Scientist’s responsibilities as they vary between companies. One company may simply require reports on patterns and trends, while another requires their Data Scientists to perform predictive analysis, build machine learning models, and more.
Because of their multifaceted responsibilities and skills, Data Scientists are paid handsomely and can expect an average salary of $113,309 in the U.S.
5. Software Engineer
The term “Software Engineer” is a catch-all that describes anyone who uses programming to solve problems. Software is abundant in our society, so you can find Software Engineers in practically any industry, including web development, mobile development, and even game development. Xavier, one of our Senior Software Engineers, provides an overview of their responsibilities in the video below:
The specific tools you’ll use as a Software Engineer will depend on your specialization, but fundamental skills include an understanding of data structures and algorithms and proficiency with command line and various programming languages.
The demand for Software Engineers is even higher than that for web developers, with their job market expected to rise by 22% over the next decade. On the other hand, their average salaries are a bit lower at around $92,046.
6. Data Analyst
There’s a bit of an overlap between Data Analysts and Data Scientists. People often confuse the two, but they’re actually quite distinct. The key difference between the two is that Data Scientists use advanced tools and algorithms for predictive analysis and machine learning, while Data Analysts are primarily concerned with analyzing data to find trends and patterns.
Like Data Scientists, Data Analysts use tools like Python, R, and SQL to access large databases, query the information they need, perform calculations, and create graphs and tables. Data Analysts can work in many different departments within a company, mining data for information that can inform decisions, designs, or even accounting.
Where to start preparing for remote tech jobs
To help you launch your career in any of the fields listed above, check out our Career Paths.
In each of our Career Paths, you’ll learn the skills and knowledge you’ll need to excel in your future role and use them to build a portfolio that’ll illustrate your skills to potential employers. We’ll also provide tips on how you can ace your future interviews, along with a certification that you can feature in your resume.
Ready to get started? Use any of the links below to take your first step toward your new remote career.
(1) Beier, M. E., & Ackerman, P. L. (2005). Age, ability, and the role of prior knowledge on the acquisition of new domain knowledge: Promising results in a real-world learning environment. Psychology and aging, 20(2), 341.
(2) Chi, M & Koeske, R. D. (1983). Network representation of child’s dinosaur knowledge. Developmental Psychology, 19(1), 29-39.
(3) Recht, D. R., & Leslie, L. (1988). Effect of prior knowledge on good and poor readers’ memory of text. Journal of Educational Psychology, 80(1), 16.
(4) Willingham, D. T. (2006). How knowledge helps: It speeds and strengthens reading comprehension, learning-and thinking. American Educator, 30(1), 30.
As adults, we are so used to this kind of thinking that we are hardly aware we are doing it, and even less aware that young people are still developing these important metacognitive skills. More importantly, as adults we can think about our thinking (like you just did). We have the gift of age (acquired metacognitive skills) and the curse of knowledge (being unaware of how much we know compared to what students may know). Our job as educators is to help students notice and articulate the strategies they use to solve problems, both successful and unsuccessful, and reflect on that process.
HOW TO IMPROVE METACOGNITION
The good news is that there is plenty of research indicating that we can teach metacognitive regulation to students through explicit instruction, lots of modeling, and practice. Several large studies and reports have taken on the task of researching the ‘how’ of teaching metacognition. (Dignath and Büttner (2008), Hattie (2011a), Hattie et al. (1996), the EEF Guidance Report and Getting Started with Metacognition. Overall, evidence-informed recommendations for improving metacognitive skills recommend that teachers:
Explain the benefits of metacognition (‘Good learners think about their learning, because it helps them make good decisions and learn from mistakes’).
Be explicit about strategies to use (‘It’s important to plan, monitor and evaluate as we solve problems’; ‘We can use planning tools to help us’).
Model (‘First I will…’).
Relate to context and/or subject (‘The first thing I’ll do is look at the periodic table. I will…’).
Incorporate verbalization of thinking, including Talk Tasks prompts and protocols (‘Let’s Think, Pair, Share…’).
Practice, practice, practice (‘Remember when we… – let’s use that strategy again here’).
MODELING: MODELING IS A MUST
The best teachers know what they know and show how they think through modeling. Modeling is the vehicle for sharing the teacher’s learning process with students. When we model our thinking, we let learners inside our heads so that they can understand what expert thinking sounds like.
This live demonstration of our thinking, as we think aloud in front of the class, reveals deep understanding of the mysteries of the mind, including when one solves a maths problem, writes a sentence, reads difficult text, sets up an experiment, etc. Teachers should do this repeatedly, providing numerous examples of the thinking process, naming the steps, and providing structures along the way. Naming the steps they take when solving a problem is important because novice learners will be using their working memories to sort through other information as they think; this allows them to focus on developing useful learning strategies, versus missing key information due to cognitive overload.
Whether you’re a new or seasoned developer, you’ll need to know how to work on a dev team. Some developers prefer to work alone — believing that they’re more efficient while working independently — but an effective team is more than just the sum of its parts. Plus, there are several reasons why you might need to collaborate with your team, such as:
The project could be too large for one developer to complete on their own
The project could involve several technologies, and one developer isn’t going to be an expert in all of them
The project has a deadline, and it can’t be met by one person
In any of these situations, there are multiple ways you can improve your team’s collaborative effectiveness. Matt, a developer from Ohio, shares 10 tips for working on a dev team. Read on — or watch the video below — to learn more.
1. Make your work easy to understand
Have you ever come across code that was impossible to read? Code that is difficult to understand can slow down a dev team’s process and hurt the final product. Other developers on your team should be able to understand the purpose of every function or file included in your code. In the video above, Matt recommends ensuring that your work is easy to understand by:
Using style guides. Style guides provide conventions for naming functions, making comments, and more. Following these guides make it easier for everyone to understand each other’s work.
Keeping your files organized. This makes it easier for everyone on the team to find what they need.
Naming your files, functions, and variables well. Always write full descriptions of your files without using abbreviations to make it easier for others to access and use them.
2. Write out documentation ASAP
As Matt explains, documenting your work helps in several ways because it:
Keeps everyone on the same page
Makes it easier to jump back into older code
Enables asynchronous collaboration
Helps track and resolve bugs
Although documentation may not seem like an important part of your skillset, it’s crucial to facilitate the kind of communication that produces successful applications. Therefore, you should document every step of your process.
3. Make sure everyone knows what you’re working on
Keep your teammates informed about your projects as you complete them. You don’t need to update them on every step along the way, but you should let them know when you start and finish. Send a message to your team, or synopsize your agenda during your next meeting. Letting everyone know what you’re working on helps your team avoid overlapping efforts, improve productivity, and eliminate redundancy.
4. Prioritize tasks
Depending on the team you’re working on, you may have tasks assigned to you, or you may have to claim the tasks you want to do. Prioritizing your tasks — or listing them in order of importance — ensures that you’re focused on the right thing at the right time. This may include keeping a backlog, which consists of less vital tasks that developers can work on between larger projects.
5. Limit work in progress by working together
Matt recommends working with your team using a “swarm and destroy” approach. Swarm and destroy is the opposite of divide and conquer, which involves everyone working on their specific tasks. With swarm and destroy, everyone works together. If someone seems to be falling behind, they can reach out to their teammates for help.
6. Have regular stand-ups
A stand-up is a quick, daily team meeting where everyone shares their progress with their individual tasks. Stand-ups can encompass each of the three tips above — keeping everyone informed, prioritizing tasks as a team, and lending a hand when necessary.
7. Think as a team
The team should aim for a mutual accountability mindset. Although it may be human nature to serve your own interests, this often doesn’t help (and might even hinder) your team’s progress. Matt uses a sports team as an example, explaining how if one player does what they want — even if they do it very well — their efforts accomplished very little if the whole team loses. Thinking as a team, making each problem everyone’s problem, helps the entire team win.
8. Follow your leader
Every team needs a leader. Not only do they help keep everyone focused, but without one, it can be harder to resolve disagreements and roadblocks. If your team doesn’t have a leader, establish one as soon as possible. This way, when hang-ups arise, they don’t derail your dev team’s overall process.
Using a leader to decide the outcome of conflicts saves a lot of time. Still, if you disagree with someone — including the leader — it’s important to voice your opinion tactfully.
9. Do code review
As Matt explains, reviewing each other’s code improves the overall quality of the end product. If your dev team doesn’t have an established process for code review, try to institute a code review policy. Code reviews are helpful because they:
Ensure that all code is up to a certain standard
Allow for systematic testing
Keep developers accountable for their work
10. Use pair programming
Lastly, Matt recommends employing pair programming, which involves two developers working in tandem. While one developer writes the code, the other acts as a navigator — spotting errors, thinking one step ahead, and searching for any solutions their partner might need. In this way, the navigator helps guide the coding process, and the end result is more stable code.
Even though pair programming requires two people to work simultaneously, it may save time in the long run that you might otherwise spend debugging.
Pair programming can be a powerful tool but should only be used when needed. Simpler tasks can probably be handled on your own. Still, it’s important to make sure everyone is open to collaborating on occasion. It’ll make the work go by faster and easier.
With these ten tips, you can improve your team’s communication, productivity, and collaborative efficiency. They’ll also help your team work together as a cohesive unit. Plus, as you support each other, your projects will become less stressful and more fun. If you want to learn more skills that’ll help improve your effectiveness as a developer, check out our catalog.
Wondering if you should learn HTML? If you’re interested in designing websites, the answer’s a resounding yes! HTML is one of the cornerstones of web development, as developers use it to structure a website’s content. Essentially, it’s the code that dictates where all the website elements are and how they appear to the user.
Still, learning HTML can be valuable even if you aren’t pursuing a career in web development. Below, we’ll explore the benefits of learning HTML to help you decide if it’s right for you.
7 benefits of learning HTML
As you’ll see, there are many benefits to learning HTML, and they extend far beyond becoming a web developer. Still, web developers are in high demand, and HTML is a great skill to have in your tool belt if you decide to look for a new job in the future.
1. HTML can help you build your own unique website
There are plenty of beautiful website templates on sites that let you build your own, using elements and an easy-to-use drag-and-drop system. But, if your goal is to have a website that stands out from the crowd, you’re going to be glad you learned HTML.
HTML allows you to customize your website or build your theme from scratch. It also allows you to create and organize the elements of your website, like images, text, tables, or forms.
2. You’ll no longer have to wait for your IT team
Do you have to reach out to your IT team any time there’s a typo on your company’s website or newsletter? If so, you might have found that it took a while for them to get your request as they’re often busy with other projects.
With HTML, you could spearhead these improvements and fix errors as you find them. It’s also a great way to impress your boss, as they’ll likely be thrilled to hear that you learned a new skill and took the initiative to help the company.
3. HTML helps you understand how to make things more accessible
Semantic HTML tags form the basis for good accessibility practices, as they allow screen readers to determine where different elements are on a web page and how they’re formatted.
Learning how to make your website accessible is crucial. Not only does it help maximize your audience, but it’ll also help demonstrate that your company values inclusivity. In another post, we take a closer look at why accessibility is so important.
4. Knowing HTML helps you collaborate more effectively with technical teams
If you’re a project manager, copywriter, or instructional designer, you likely work with developers quite often. Learning HTML is a great step if you’re looking to collaborate more effectively with your technical teammates.
Basically, being familiar with HTML helps ensure that you and your technical teammates are on the same page. This helps save time and streamline communications as you’ll have a better understanding of what it’d require to implement your new ideas.
5. Your designs can shine with HTML
Maybe your skills and desired career lie more on the design side of website development. If you want to showcase how your graphics or layouts might look for a client, knowing a little HTML will help.
You don’t need to be a pro to put HTML to good use. Even with just the basics, you can create mock-up designs to illustrate your ideas to your clients. This will also help you save time you’d otherwise spend editing your design, as you’ll be able to get feedback on your project sooner.
6. HTML skills will open up more income-generating opportunities
As you can see, HTML is a valuable skill — even for non-technical professionals. Still, it’s also a great choice if you’re looking to switch careers or venture into freelance development. Front-end engineers are highly in demand, and HTML is a core component of their skillset, so you’ll want to learn it if you’re considering entering the field.
7. HTML can help you to learn other coding languages easier
Learning how to code can be difficult. When you’re just starting out, it’s easy to get intimidated by complicated syntax and various functions and methods. For many, it helps to start with a programming language that’s relatively easy to learn. Stetim94, a volunteer moderator on our forums, explains:
“The advantage of HTML and CSS is that they are relatively easy to learn, and you will see quick progress. So that certainly helps.”
Once you start learning HTML and using it to build your own websites, you’ll see that coding doesn’t have to be hard. You might even feel confident enough to start learning other languages.
Where can I learn HTML?
Whether you’re pursuing a career in development or simply looking for a valuable addition to your skill set, HTML is a great choice. Plus, it doesn’t take long to learn. In our Learn HTML course, you’ll learn the language’s basics and start using it to structure web pages in no time. Once you’ve got the basics down, check out our other courses on web development.
Can you believe it is almost summer? Celebrate it with this free summer printable poster featuring pastel fruits and leaves. It comes with a quote that “Summer is a state of mind.” Do you agree with that? What is your favorite time of the year?
I’m usually drawn to bold color shades and neon for summer crafts, but I often use pastels this year. They are more subtle and make the printable blend with any place you decide to decorate. Pastel prints are great for children’s rooms, offices, or bedroom walls.
Free Summer Printable Poster
I like designing posters because I think they are really universal decorations. They are perfect both for the seasonal office accent and the house decoration. This poster is easy to print and it size is 8 x 10 inches.
For Personal Use Only.
What types of decorations are your favorites? Do you like posters with quotes or would you prefer more graphics ones? I would love to know that so please let me know in the comments below!
If you are looking for more Printable Freebies, make sure to check our free printables library
Looking for something specific?
If you have an idea for a printable, let us know in the comments! We are always looking for inspiration. If you decide to print today’s Free Summer Printable Poster, make sure to share photos of your decorated room with us via Instagram or Twitter.
Are you looking for ways for your students to learn more about Juneteenth? Below we offer five teaching ideas for exploring the holiday and its significance via a variety of media, including photographs, recipes, art and a podcast interview.
But before you dig into this collection of suggested activities, we also offer two brief excerpts from Derrick Bryson Taylor’s explainer article “So You Want to Learn About Juneteenth?” to provide some background on the holiday and its relevance today:
Juneteenth, an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, has been celebrated by African Americans since the late 1800s.
But in recent years, and particularly following nationwide protests over police brutality and the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and other Black Americans, there is a renewed interest in the day that celebrates freedom.
The celebration continues to resonate in new ways, given the sweeping changes and widespread protests across the U.S. over the last year and following a guilty verdict in the killing of Mr. Floyd.
He then explains the origins of the holiday:
On June 19, 1865, about two months after the Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House, Va., Gordon Granger, a Union general, arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African Americans of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended. General Granger’s announcement put into effect the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued more than two and a half years earlier on Jan. 1, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln.
The holiday received its name by combining June and 19. The day is also sometimes called “Juneteenth Independence Day,” “Freedom Day” or “Emancipation Day.”
Teachers, do you already teach Juneteenth? Let us know in the comments or by writing to LNFeedback@nytimes.com.
1. Listen to a historian discuss Juneteenth.
Listen to a 25-minute podcast interview with Dr. Daina Ramey Berry, a professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin, in the 2020 “Daily” episode “The History and Meaning of Juneteenth.” As you listen, choose to focus on one element of the podcast:
I. History What are the major historical events described in the podcast? Take notes as you listen and then create a timeline that tracks the original Juneteenth to celebrations today.
II. Podcasting techniques In the beginning of the podcast, how does Dr. Berry paint a picture of the first Juneteenth? How is that picture made vivid through audio and editing techniques in the podcast? What emotions do you feel as you listen to her recount what happened? What strategies does the host employ to effectively facilitate the conversation?
Congratulations to Shannon, Julia and Montgomery, who wrote about a fisherman’s hairdo, an intense athletic practice and a poisonous berry bush. Each of these students used several challenging vocabulary words to bring their characters and scenes to life.
Shannon Arnold, age 14, Mark T Sheehan High School, Wallingford, Conn.
The JAUNTY fisherman’s pride was in JEOPARDY. After a tragic piranha attack, his beloved chestnut locks were left GNARLED and patchy. His kindly wife BESEECHED that he WEND his way to the hairdresser and shave it. He, however, was IMPERVIOUS, and remained determined to — somehow — make his new look work.
Julia Mills, age 17, Mercersburg Academy,Mercersburg, Pa.
I exhaustedly WEND my way through the woods. My life’s in JEOPARDY. I WARILY try differentiating the edible berry bushes from the poisonous, but their resemblances are UNCANNY. I choose randomly. I chew slowly. My LAMENTABLE approach to this QUANDARY backfires, and my TRANSIENT munching ends soon thereafter. Wrong berries.
Montgomery Singer, age 17, Choate, Wallingford, Conn.
That day, Coach MANDATED 110% effort. Our TREPIDATION was tangible as the pain neared. We knew our QUANDARY: complete the exercise or put our positions in JEOPARDY. We BESEECH him, pleading for an alternative. His JAUNTY demeanor was impervious to our attempts. He bellowed, “Pain is TRANSIENT. Glory is immortal.”
By Betty Vandenbosch, Chief Content Officer at Coursera
Today, I am excited to announce the Global Master of Arts in English Language Teaching (ELT) Leadership from National Research Tomsk State University (TSU), ranked one of the top five universities in Russia. This English-language degree is the first fully online master’s program in ELT from a Russian university.
On Coursera, we now offer six degrees from Russian university partners, having added five degrees over the last year.
The newest degree on Coursera from TSU is designed for students anywhere in the world to jumpstart or advance their ELT or education management career, preparing them for a wide range of roles, including a senior teacher, leadership position in a language school, or a job within the government sector.
English is by far the most commonly studied foreign language in the world. In Russia specifically, there is an acute need for English teachers with over 30,000 open jobs, according to Gartner TalentNeuron™ data.
To best prepare for their ELT careers, students can tailor the program’s curriculum by choosing one of two tracks — or combine courses from both. The Advanced Classroom Practitioner track is for teachers who want to further their careers, while the Education Management track prepares future ELT leaders and educational administrators.
In this two-year online program that contains bi-weekly live sessions with world-class faculty, students will learn and apply the latest pedagogical, leadership, and management strategies to teach online or in-person. Students will create and deliver lesson plans, practice classroom management, and even teach virtual classes. Upon graduation, students earn an internationally recognized TESOL certification along with their M.A.
“At TSU, we pride ourselves on the international environment we have created on campus. Our online degree program on Coursera truly breaks campus boundaries. Now, people all over the world can earn a TSU degree, without relocating or moving,” said Eduard Galazhinsky, Rector of TSU. “We are eager to welcome students from different countries — from India to Chile — to the TSU community, where they can make life-long connections and networks with their peers.”
All courses in the program are taught by leading international faculty members, including professors from the University of Oxford, University of Sheffield, and TSU as well as industry experts from Shanghai, Stockholm, and Moscow. The teachers integrate their global perspectives into the curriculum to prepare students for positions anywhere in the world.
TSU has already reached nearly 500,000 learners through their open courses on Coursera. We are honored to work with them as they expand their offerings and enable students from around the world to earn a high-quality, flexible degree from one of Russia’s best universities.
