fbpx
Home Blog Page 420

Word of the Day: interminable

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
Word of the Day: interminable

The word interminable has appeared in 41 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Nov. 8 in “Striking Actors and Hollywood Studios Agree to a Deal” by Brooks Barnes, John Koblin and Nicole Sperling:

At 118 days, it was the longest movie and television strike in the union’s 90-year history. SAG-AFTRA said in a terse statement that its negotiating committee had voted unanimously to approve the tentative deal, which will proceed to the union’s national board on Friday for “review and consideration.”

… Ms. Drescher called the agreement “historic” in a post on Instagram. “We did it!!!!” she wrote. She and other SAG-AFTRA officials had come under severe pressure from agents, crew member unions and even some of her own members, including George Clooney and Ben Affleck, to wrap up what had started to feel like an interminable negotiation.

Can you correctly use the word interminable 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.

If you want a better idea of how interminable can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com. You can also visit this guide to learn how to use IPA symbols to show how different words are pronounced.

If you enjoy this daily challenge, try our vocabulary quizzes.

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 Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com. Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary. See every Word of the Day in this column.

New designs alert – Meet Allie & Mimi

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
New designs alert – Meet Allie & Mimi

New designs alert - Meet Allie & Mimi

We’re thrilled to unveil not one, but two brand new designs for your online presence! Whether you’re a lifestyle blogger sharing your passions with the world or a modern business building a chic brand identity, we have something exciting for you. Introducing Allie, a stunning premade WordPress theme, and Mimi, a beautiful premade Blogger template – both designed with a sleek navy and creamy color palette that’s perfect for making a statement.

For our WordPress fans, we present Allie!

This versatile theme boasts multiple homepage sections, allowing you to effortlessly showcase your latest content across various post categories. Whether you’re a food blogger with delectable recipe collections or a travel blogger highlighting diverse destinations, Allie makes it easy to keep your audience engaged. Plus, it includes two beautifully styled homepage sections – ideal for promoting your services, products, or anything else you want to bring to the forefront!

Allie - Premade WordPress Theme - Click for Live Demo

Styled homepage, blog, categories & more!

Don’t just take our word for it! Head over to our live demo and experience Allie’s stunning design in action. Explore the custom-styled homepage sections, browse the beautifully formatted blog layout, and see how seamlessly it adapts to any screen size with its responsive design.

There’s even more to discover, so dive into the live demo and see if Allie is the perfect fit for your WordPress website!

Click here for live demo

If you need help with WordPress or domain set up – I’m here for you! Send me an e-mail or contact via social media for free consultations.

Installation Included

Once you make a purchase, I’ll get to work creating a preview of your new design with all the changes you’ve requested.

Once you’ve given the preview the green light, I’ll install and set it up on your WordPress website – and don’t worry, this is already included in the design price, so no extra charges!

Allie WordPress Premade Theme is responisve - check it on different devices

With Allie, you can create a professional-looking website without any coding knowledge and impress your visitors with its sleek and modern design.

Blogger Fans, Meet Mimi

A Chic & Simple Template for Your Blog!

For those who love the elegance of Allie but prefer a streamlined approach, Mimi is here for you! This stunning premade template designed specifically for Blogger offers the same chic navy and cream color palette in a beautifully simple design. Perfect for bloggers of all stripes – fashionistas, travel enthusiasts, or anyone with a story to share – Mimi keeps things focused on your content, letting your voice and creativity shine through.

Mimi Blogger Premade template

Fully editable & customizable

Don’t let the simplicity fool you! Mimi is fully editable and customizable, allowing you to tailor it to your unique brand voice. Play with fonts, colors, and layouts to make Mimi your own. Plus, it boasts a responsive design that adapts flawlessly to any device, ensuring your blog looks stunning on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

Want to see it in action?

Head over to our live demo and experience the magic of Mimi for yourself!

Click here for live demo

What is C# ​U​sed ​F​or? 

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
What is C# ​U​sed ​F​or? 

C​#​ (or C​ Sharp​) is part of the C family of programming languages. It was developed by Microsoft in 2000 to meet the increasing demand for web applications that didn’t work with Visual Basic and C++. It’s versatile, capable of running on the Windows .NET framework and various open-source platforms, and many developers use it to build web and desktop applications. Let’s take a deeper look into C# and all the things you can use it for. 

Why should you use C#? 

C# has syntax that’s similar to other C-based languages, so it might be easier to pick up if you’re already familiar with C++ or Java. Plus, unique C# features like data types and generics make C# efficient, versatile, and maintainable. 

Take a look at this snippet of a basic C# program that calculates the area of a rectangle:

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // Declare variables to hold the length and width of the rectangle
        double length, width, area;

        // Prompt the user to enter the length
        Console.Write("Enter the length of the rectangle: ");
        length = Convert.ToDouble(Console.ReadLine());

        // Prompt the user to enter the width
        Console.Write("Enter the width of the rectangle: ");
        width = Convert.ToDouble(Console.ReadLine());

        // Calculate the area
        area = length * width;

        // Display the result
        Console.WriteLine("The area of the rectangle is: " + area);
    }
}

C# is a general​-purpose​ programming language, so it’s powerful and versatile enough for devs to build a wide range of applications. Still, it‘s most often used in three areas. 

Web applications 

C# is cross-platform, so you can use it with frameworks like .NET to build dynamic websites and apps that run on most operating systems. Check out our skill path Build Web Apps with ASP.NET to learn how. 

Windows applications 

Microsoft created C#, so the language is a great choice for developing Windows applications. The development process is smooth, and C# functions like its garbage collection works exceptionally well. 

There’s also a huge community around C#, so there are lots of resources to turn to when problems or questions arise. This dependable support and extensive documentation from other developers when building C# applications can help uncover​​ insights and new solutions when working on a project. 

Gaming 

Many Game Developers prefer C#. The Unity game engine, which is one of the most popular, uses C++ and C#. C# integrates with Unity and works well when developing mobile apps or​ ​console games. 

Cloud development

C# is extensively used for building scalable and secure cloud-based applications and services. Devs use Azure, Microsoft’s cloud platform, to create, deploy, and manage applications and services through a global network of data centers.

Learn something new for free

What are the advantages of using C#? 

C# has a relatively low learning curve, so it’s great for beginners who may be intimidated by more complex languages. Experienced developers love it too since its syntax is simpler than many other languages’, which makes it easier to create complex stacks of code and add multiple features to an application. Other advantages of C# include: 

  • C# is a marketable skill. It’s a staple for many tech roles in the US, and even if it’s not a requirement, adding it to your tech stack can give you an edge. 
  • C# provides a large library with high-level functionality when compared to languages like C++ and Java. 
  • C# has an extensive memory bank that reduces the time it takes for development and deployment. 
  • C# is highly scalable. Developers depend on scalable programming languages that are easy to maintain, and C# offers several attributes that help keep​​ applications consistent and reliable. 

​​​How does C​​​#​​​ work?​​​​​​ 

C# is flexible with features that support both functional programming and object-oriented programming (OOP). This allows you to build Applications Performance Management (APM) software, which offers insights into how an application will perform and ways to troubleshoot issues that may arise. Developers can implement an APM solution to optimize app performance during the staging, production, and post-production processes. 

C# code needs to be compiled before it’s executed. C# compilers return inputted code as an intermediate language (IL). This output is saved as either a .exe or .dll file. A just-in-time (JIT) compiler translates the IL code into machine code (also known as native code) which is then run by the operating system. 

There are several compilers developers can use when writing C#, including: 

  • Microsoft Visual Studio 
  • Visual Web Developer 
  • Visual Studio Express​ ​ 

Learn more about C# 

C# is a great choice if you’re looking for your next programming language, and we’ve got a wide selection of courses, skill paths, and projects that’ll build your C# skills. Sign up now to get started. 

8 Tips For Applying To Jobs In Tech If You’re Really Busy

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
8 Tips For Applying To Jobs In Tech If You’re Really Busy

If you’ve ever applied for jobs before, you know it can basically be a full-time job in and of itself. And it’s a long process that can sometimes take months.

Right now, you might be having an especially difficult time finding a job. A recent survey from ZipRecruiter found that it took workers longer to find a job at the start of 2024 than they did at the end of 2023. Only 46% of job seekers landed a new role in under a month, according to the data.

Some of the reasons why it’s such a time-consuming process are out of your control — you can’t get a hiring manager to devote more time out of their day to reviewing applications, and you can’t clear people’s schedules so they can do interviews sooner. Fortunately, there are some things that you can control when it comes to speeding up the job application process, even if you’re really busy.

Here are seven ways to make the job-hunting process more efficient and help you land your next gig.

Learn something new for free

1. Get clear on your goals

When you don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to your job search, it’s important to establish what your goals and expectations are so that you don’t waste precious time applying to a wide range of jobs that won’t actually line up with what you’re hoping to achieve.

The first step is figuring out exactly what you’re looking for in your next role. Try dedicating 30 minutes to putting your goals in writing. Are you looking for more flexible hours? The opportunity to manage a team? A new title that’ll help you advance in your career? What about your salary requirements? There’s a good chance that interviewers will ask you what you’re looking for in your next role, so be prepared and equipped with details.

You could also create a target list of companies that you’d love to work for and focus on their job boards. Thinking through the characteristics you’d like your employer to have is a good way to help you narrow down the companies for your list. For example, are you interested in working at a large company or a small company? Venture-backed or bootstrapped? Would you work for an international company?

Another way to approach this is by writing out your “must-haves” versus your “nice-to-haves.” Maybe health insurance, parental leave, and a 401k are in your “must-haves” column, and unlimited PTO and a sign-on bonus are in your “nice-to-haves” column.

Taking the time to figure this all out before you start sending in applications could save you time in the long-run so that you can narrow your search and focus on roles and companies that are more likely to be a good fit for you.

2. Optimize your LinkedIn presence

When you’re trying to make the most out of the little time you have for job-hunting, one thing you can do is focus your energy on doing the things that lead recruiters and hiring managers to you, instead of the other way around. In other words, let the employers do some of the work. “This is a very competitive job market, so we — the recruiters — are doing more proactive searching than ever,” says Danny Roberts, Senior Technical Recruiter at Codecademy.

Danny recommends starting with LinkedIn. “The secret is optimizing one’s internet presence as much as possible for SEO, especially LinkedIn profiles,” he says. A good place to start is setting yourself “available” for work on LinkedIn. When you turn this feature on, you can select to share your status with recruiters only or share with all LinkedIn members.

Another great way to get on recruiters’ radars is by using keywords in your LinkedIn headline and summary. You’ll want to pick out keywords that are directly related to the position you’re trying to get. You can find these keywords in job descriptions, and you can also get ideas by looking at the profiles of people who have the job you want. Pay attention to what keywords they decided to use and the phrasing they used.

Also, it may sound obvious, but keep your LinkedIn experience updated. When a hiring manager finds you on LinkedIn, they’ll scan your experience section to see if you have the background they’re looking for in a new hire. So you want to keep this section up-to-date with relevant details and measurable results to make sure you don’t miss out on any potential job opportunities.

Want more LinkedIn advice? Here are more tips about the do’s and don’ts of LinkedIn profiles.

3. Use job descriptions to help revamp your resume

When you’re starting out with the job-hunting process and want to revamp your resume, it can be hard to know exactly what skills and experience to include to get noticed, especially since hiring managers increasingly use applicant tracking systems (ATS), software that scans resumes for specific keywords and phrases.

But one way to make sure you’re including the right keywords is to find a few job postings that pique your interest and pull words and phrases from them to use on your resume. You’ll also want to include any specific tools, software, or technology that are often noted in the “Requirements” section. This way, you’re upping your chances of the ATS finding those keywords and flagging your application as a promising one. Learn more about how to read a tech job description and incorporate details from it.

Once you have a revised resume, run it through our job-readiness checker tool. All you have to do is copy and paste the job posting URL from LinkedIn or ZipRecruiter, enter details about your experience and skills, and the job-readiness checker will generate a report that identifies your knowledge gaps for a specific role.

4. Practice answering interview questions

You want to feel completely prepared for the interview before you get an interview request in your email inbox. Interviewing is a skill that you can get better at with practice.

Check out our Interview Simulator, your personalized tool to ace any job interview. Just input details about your experience, and the AI generates questions that simulate a real interview environment. You can tailor your practice session to match the specific role, your career level, and the company you’re targeting. Practice answering questions either verbally or in writing, and you’ll receive detailed feedback highlighting your strengths and areas for improvement. All you need is a free Codecademy account to get started. (For unlimited access, allowing up to five practice sessions a day, consider upgrading to a Pro or Plus plan.)

5. Set up a cover letter template to make quick edits

While many tech companies are moving away from cover letter requirements, it can be a helpful way to showcase what differentiates you from other applicants, especially if you’re just starting out or making a career shift. Thankfully, it’s not necessary to write a completely new cover letter for each job you apply to. But unlike your resume, where you can use one version to apply to similar jobs, you’ll need to make small tweaks to each cover letter you submit.

One way to make these edits as quickly as possible is to set up a template and highlight the text that needs to be edited, like who your letter is addressed to, the title of the role, and the name of the company. Here’s an example from the first paragraph of a cover letter.

Dear Hiring Manager,

I’m excited to apply for the Full-Stack Developer position at Reddit, Inc. My experience with both the back-end and front-end stacks, as well as my proficiency in Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and jQuery, would be a great addition to your team and company.

Good to know: You can use ChatGPT to help edit your cover letter template so it aligns with a job description, or you can have ChatGPT write you a first draft that you refine later. If you have the bandwidth, it’s also a good idea to include a slot for a sentence that addresses why you’re particularly excited about the specific role or company. When you’re strapped for time, you want to avoid doing time-consuming edits, so the other details in your cover letter, like your experience and skills, can remain the same.

6. See if someone you know is connected to the company you’re applying to

Open positions are often filled by referrals. Sometimes the referral can come from someone already working at the company or from someone connected to the company in some way, like a former employee or a friend of the hiring manager. Take a look at the company’s employees on LinkedIn and see if you know anyone or have a mutual connection with someone there.

Depending on how close you are with the person, you could reach out and let them know you’re applying for a position at the company and ask if they could bump your application to the recruiter and/or hiring manager. Here are some tips for how to contact someone on LinkedIn in a professional but effective way. Sometimes companies offer bonuses for employee referrals who get hired, so your contact may even want to upload your application into the system themselves.

7. Network efficiently

A feature like Open to Work on LinkedIn is a really efficient way to let recruiters and your professional network know when you’re job-hunting — but of course, you can’t always broadcast that you’re looking for a new role. If that’s the case for you, doing some individual outreach as early as possible in your job search is a good idea, especially since someone in your professional network could already be looking to fill a position or know of an opening that might be a good fit for you.

If you’re super busy, you could write one general BCC email to your personal and professional network letting people know you’re looking for your next job opportunity. Just make sure that these are all people who you trust and have a good relationship with. In your email, you want to include details like the positions you’re open to taking, the types of companies you want to work at, and when you can start your new role. Also, include a 2-3 sentence professional bio that your network can use to describe you in any referrals, and make sure to provide all relevant links for them as well, like your portfolio, professional website, and LinkedIn.

Here’s an email template you can customize and send to your network to communicate your job search status (of course, add in details about your own experience):

Subject: Seeking New Job Opportunities: Your Help Appreciated

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I hope this message finds you well.

I am writing to let you know that I am currently looking for my next opportunity as a software engineer. After [X] years of experience in [specific areas of expertise, e.g., backend development, front-end development, full-stack development, etc.], I am excited to find a new role where I can leverage my skills and continue to grow professionally. I am open to positions such as [list specific roles, e.g., Software Engineer, Full-Stack Developer, Backend Developer, etc.], and I am particularly interested in companies that [describe the types of companies, e.g., are innovative, have a strong tech culture, focus on impactful projects, etc.].

I am available to start a new role [mention your availability, e.g., immediately, within the next month, etc.].

Here is a brief professional bio that you can use if you know someone who might be able to assist:
“[Your Name] is a skilled software engineer with [X] years of experience in [specific areas of expertise]. They have a proven track record of [mention key achievements, e.g., leading successful projects, improving application performance, developing new features, etc.]. [Your Name] is proficient in [mention specific technologies, programming languages, or methodologies you excel in, e.g., Java, Python, Agile, etc.] and is passionate about [mention any specific interests, e.g., developing scalable software, solving complex problems, working in collaborative environments, etc.].”

For more details about my work and experience, please feel free to visit my [LinkedIn Profile](your LinkedIn URL), [professional website](your professional website URL), and [portfolio](your portfolio URL).

I would greatly appreciate any leads, advice, or introductions to potential opportunities that you might have. If you know of any openings or can connect me with someone who might, please let me know. Additionally, I am open to any recommendations or guidance you might have as I navigate this transition.

Thank you so much for your support and consideration. I look forward to catching up with you soon.

Best regards,
[Your Full Name]
[Your LinkedIn Profile]
[Your Professional Website]
[Your Portfolio]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]

If there are any people in your network that you’d prefer to reach out to 1/1 — like mentors, former managers, or any colleagues you’re particularly close with — you could also take the time to send a few personalized emails. Just remember: Before sending any 1/1 emails, do a few minutes of homework about the person. Where do they work now? Do they know anyone on LinkedIn you might want to be connected with? Take a look at their company’s career page or LinkedIn jobs page to see what roles are open. Who knows? Maybe there will be a great role for you, and your note can mention that you’re interested in applying for it.

8. Use calendar reminders to stay on top of communication

Once you launch into the interview process, it can be easy to lose track of time when you’re trying to fit applications, emails, and interviews into an already-busy schedule. Remember: Technology is your friend when you’re trying to save time and reduce the stress of keeping up with communication. Get the information out of your head and onto a reminder app (like Google Calendar) so that you don’t have to worry if you missed an opportunity to show your interest in the role.

One way to help you stay on top of communication is to use calendar reminders to nudge you to send thank-you emails after interviews. Whenever you add an interview to your calendar, also add a reminder to send that person a thank-you note. While you’re doing that, you could even add a calendar reminder to let you know when to check in with the recruiter if you don’t hear back after a certain amount of time (at least a few days).

If you need some help drafting your follow-up email, here are some tips on how to write a professional follow-up email after a job interview.

Want more job-hunting advice? Here are some tips for writing a technical resume that will catch the hiring manager’s attention, plus tips for navigating a career change. And check out our Career Center, which is full of tools and resources to support you along every step of the job-hunting process.

This blog was originally published in April 2022 and has been updated to include new features and tips for job seekers.

Word of the Day: facade

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
Word of the Day: facade

The word facade has appeared in 350 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on May 8 in “Dan Stevens and the Allure of Kooky Characters” by Carlos Aguilar:

The kookiest characters onscreen this season may be the ones played by Dan Stevens.

… Right now in theaters he can be seen as a winning monster veterinarian in “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” and as a corrupt cop turned bloodsucker in the horror comedy “Abigail.” This summer, he will appear in “Cuckoo,” a sci-fi horror mash-up set in the Alps, in which he plays a German scientist whose welcoming facade hides a fascination with a bizarre endangered species.

Can you correctly use the word facade 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.

If you want a better idea of how facade can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com. You can also visit this guide to learn how to use IPA symbols to show how different words are pronounced.

If you enjoy this daily challenge, try our vocabulary quizzes.

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 Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com. Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary. See every Word of the Day in this column.

Promoting Far Transfer in Medical Education: An Experiment

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
Promoting Far Transfer in Medical Education: An Experiment

Students in the experiment read the explanations and completed their practice cases with feedback in the way outlined by their particular experimental condition (i.e., interleaved with one context, interleaved with two contexts, blocked with one context, blocked with two contexts).

Measuring Learning and Transfer

The students were then tested to see how much they could remember by answering multiple-choice and short-answer questions that assessed their knowledge about the concepts they learned.

Students were then given 15 transfer cases. These cases were clinical vignettes similar to those from the practice session. Students had to identify the physiological principle that applied, and provide an explanation for how the concept accounted for the clinical signs and symptoms presented in the vignette. Some of the transfer cases involved systems that were previously learned (e.g., fluid dynamics and respiratory disorders), or that were not previously learned (e.g., fluid dynamics and urinary tract cases).

Results

The researchers present a lot of data, but I summarize what I think are the main findings here.

First, the students answered about 70-80% of the knowledge questions, and performance did not depend on the experimental manipulations. So, at least for these questions, interleaving vs. blocking and context of examples didn’t really matter.

The results on the transfer cases are much more interesting. The students who learned with interleaving and two contexts had the highest scores on the near and far transfer cases. For the far transfer cases, having practice with two contexts was particularly important. There was no significant difference on the far transfer cases between the blocked and interleaved learning conditions as long as two contexts (i.e., two different organ systems) were used.

Conclusion

Overall, the results suggest that giving students practice with multiple contexts seems to be particularly important for far transfer, and when that happens, interleaving the examples is better than blocking.

 The authors write about the importance of transfer for medical education, and specifically discuss transfer of premed knowledge to later clinical training (presumably undergraduate medical education, more casually referred to as medical school). But plenty of students take physiology for other reasons other than preparation for formal medical school. For example, in my department at Rhode Island College the behavioral health studies program students take physiological psychology and should be able to transfer the knowledge to their internship courses and work in mental health. And, these findings are in line with other research we have presented in other domains.

These findings make sense in light of the other research we have covered on our blog related to interleaving vs. blocking, and related to concrete examples and transfer of knowledge to other domains more generally. We know, for example, that using multiple concrete examples with different surface features is particularly helpful in helping students transfer the concept to other new examples (check out this blog: two examples are better than one). We also know that novices tend to focus on surface details more than experts (check out this blog: what do students remember from our examples?).

Essentially, multiple examples with different surface features is what the researchers did here for the two contexts conditions. When they gave students practice cases in two contexts, the underlying principle (e.g., fluid dynamics) was the same, but the surface features (e.g., respiratory system cases, cardiovascular system cases) were different. Thus, students in this condition were likely better able to clearly see the underlying principle and how it functioned in different contexts. This led to better performance applying the concept on their own in a third, new context (e.g., urinary tract cases).

Word of the Day: boisterous

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
Word of the Day: boisterous

The word boisterous has appeared in 147 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on March 6 in “Onstage in Chicago, Zach Bryan Howled, and the Crowd Found Its Voice” by Jon Caramanica:

The first two songs Zach Bryan played at the United Center on Tuesday night were from the more muscular end of his catalog. They landed hard and quick — Bryan was singing with a rugged howl, guitars were churning, the fiddle poked through the top like a squeal. This was opening night of The Quittin Time Tour, and the first of three sold-out shows here, and he was wasting no time pumping the audience into a frenzy.

… After a show full of grand-scale renderings of small-bore apprehensions, he closed with “Quittin’ Time,” with a rambunctious banjo and the fist-pumping exhortation, “I can’t wait to head on home, so I can take my gal to dance.” And then, after a slightly awkward break, Bryan and the band returned to the stage for a 10-minute single-song encore of “Revival,” an enthusiastic celebration of misbehavior. It was boisterous and free, chatty and ecstatic; T-shirt cannons fired tight packages into the crowd.

Can you correctly use the word boisterous 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.

If you want a better idea of how boisterous can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com. You can also visit this guide to learn how to use IPA symbols to show how different words are pronounced.

If you enjoy this daily challenge, try our vocabulary quizzes.

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 Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com. Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary. See every Word of the Day in this column.

Presenting the 2024 Coursera Global Skills Report

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
Presenting the 2024 Coursera Global Skills Report

By Jeff Maggioncalda, Coursera CEO

I’m delighted to present Coursera’s sixth annual Global Skills Report, a trusted resource for leaders and institutions worldwide to understand the rapidly transforming skills landscape. The report draws on data and insights from our global learning community—including over 148 million learners and 7,000 institutional customers—and content from 325 of the world’s leading university and industry partners. To provide a holistic view, the report now combines our internal proficiency data with leading economic indices, including global innovation, labor force participation, human capital, and GDP per capita.  

The report captures several significant trends driven by GenAI, digital transformation, and automation. In 2023, a learner signed up for a GenAI course on Coursera every minute. By 2024, this rate had quadrupled. A 1,060% year-over-year increase in global GenAI course enrollments highlights how learners are actively preparing for AI’s impact on their careers.

Key findings:

  • European learners on the Coursera platform record the highest skills proficiency levels. 19 of the top 25 countries globally are from the region, with Switzerland emerging as a global skills leader.
    • In contrast, major Anglophone nations like New Zealand (40th), the United Kingdom (45th), Australia (55th), Canada (59th), and the United States (69th) rank lower.
    • Japanese learners are the most proficient in Asia-Pacific, with Japan having risen from 5th to 2nd in the global ranking.  It is the only APAC nation to feature among the top ten. Singapore has risen from 16th to 12th, while India ranks 87th
    • Latin America’s highest-ranked nation is Brazil (19th), with Chile (20th) also among the top 20. Latin America and the Caribbean show a strong commitment to AI readiness, with GenAI course enrollment increasing 882% year-over-year.
    • The Middle East and North Africa are gearing up for digital transformation and trade leadership, driven by government investments in technology infrastructure and logistics. The United Arab Emirates leads the region (34th globally) 
  • AI literacy emerges as a global imperative in the wake of ChatGPT. GenAI course enrollments on Coursera surged over the past year as learners sought foundational AI skills and enrolled in courses like “Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT” by Vanderbilt University and “Introduction to Generative AI” by Google Cloud.
    • Learners in regions like Latin America and the Caribbean are focusing more on foundational skills, while learners in North America are diving into more advanced courses like “Generative AI with Large Language Models” by Amazon Web Services and DeepLearning.AI. This suggests that while regions are at different stages of AI adoption, there’s universal recognition of the need to develop AI proficiency
  • Micro-credentials continue to prepare learners for in-demand digital jobs. Learners are increasingly turning to industry micro-credentials, including Professional Certificates – for which we have seen a 69% year-on-year increase in enrolments – to gain essential digital skills for jobs. With 60% of workers requiring retraining by 2027, the need for accessible learning pathways is more pressing than ever. 
  • The global gender gap in online learning continues to narrow, but regional disparities persist. Over the past year, more women globally have been learning on Coursera, up from 43% in 2022 to 46% in 2023.
    • In North America and Europe, women experience strong barriers to equitable education and careers. However, with a gender gap of five percentage points, the gap is far smaller than almost anywhere else
    • The Asia-Pacific region has a seven-percentage-point gap in gender enrolment, though nations like The Philippines and Thailand have achieved parity
    • The largest disparity is to be found in the Middle East and North Africa. Here, we see a 13-percentage-point difference between female learners and women in the general population
  • Nearly one-third of US workers lack foundational digital skills, with workers of color disproportionately affected. As the public and private sectors digitize, the need for highly trained STEM workers grows. However, fewer than 100,000 US graduates earning engineering and computer science degrees each year.
    • The 1,058% surge in GenAI course enrollments and the 61% year-over-year growth in Professional Certificate enrollments among American learners demonstrate the country’s commitment to closing this digital skills gap and preparing for the digital economy. 
    • Washington is the United States’ most skilled state, achieving the country’s highest proficiency scores for Technology and Data Science. It is followed by Colorado and Michigan.

We trust this report will provide actionable insights for leaders, inspire collaboration among institutions, and contribute to a future where access to high-quality learning empowers everyone. The full report can be accessed at https://www.coursera.org/skills-reports/global/.

Word of the Day: haphazardly

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
Word of the Day: haphazardly

The word haphazardly has appeared in 54 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Nov. 20 in “How to Clean Up After Thanksgiving Dinner Like a Pro” by Genevieve Ko:

Take a cue from caterers and private chefs who replicate the dishwashing efficiency of restaurants in home kitchens by creating systems. Rather than haphazardly wash, dry or load whatever is nearby, clean by dish type in stages.

Start by putting away leftovers and then scrape all the scraps off plates. Fill an empty casserole dish or serving bowl with hot soapy water and put all of the utensils in there. Next, stack or line up dirty dishes, bowls and glasses by type. If space is tight, bring items into the kitchen by category.

Can you correctly use the word haphazardly 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.

If you want a better idea of how haphazardly can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com. You can also visit this guide to learn how to use IPA symbols to show how different words are pronounced.

If you enjoy this daily challenge, try our vocabulary quizzes.

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 Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com. Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary. See every Word of the Day in this column.

I Have 20 Years of Web Architect Experience — Here’s What I’m Learning Next

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
I Have 20 Years of Web Architect Experience — Here’s What I’m Learning Next

Learning to code so that you can land a job in tech can feel daunting. That’s why we’re sharing inspiring stories from Codecademy’s community — to show how people like you (yes, you!) can embark on a learning journey and end up with a totally new career. We hope these stories serve as a reminder that there’s no single path to a more fulfilling work life. 

Today’s story is from John King, a 60-year-old Web Architect, living in Austin, Texas. Read more stories from Codecademy learners here — and be sure to share your story here. 

Why I chose to learn to code 

“I never went to college. I’ve had a lot of different careers, everything from manufacturing to working as an illustrator. I even did climbing and operations on exotic structures as a way to write off my climbing equipment back in the ‘90s. During that time, I had a fall, and I broke my back. I couldn’t walk for a while, but I could hold a keyboard on my lap and look at my screen in my body brace. I determined then that I was going to learn to do something that didn’t depend entirely on my physical prowess and strength. 

I started teaching myself technology. I studied and read so much, which was a good foundation for computer science fundamentals in general. Because of my background in design and graphic design, web development seemed the most obvious path. It felt like an extension of graphic design; information organization and communication. I looked at HTML and started playing with it using Notepad. I had no idea there was such a thing as programming without special tools. I relied heavily on my graphic skills and Photoshop, doing some websites on the side for people. 

Learn something new for free

Eventually, I moved to Austin to be closer to where the work was. Once I started working for an actual corporation, I learned all the other aspects of being a developer. It’s so much more than the language or the technical syntaxes. It’s its own thing, involving the people, the organization, the approach to deliverables, and how things are structured.” 

How I coped with layoffs  

“I was at the same company for 25 years, and recently the organization reshuffled and my whole section was out of the company. For the first time, I’m looking for a job at 60 years old. I’m trying to get my arms around the scope of what’s out there, how I measure up, and what I need to do. I realized that my first love is really development, software engineering, coding, creating stuff, making solutions, and making things fit.  

The second thing I realized was that I really need to modernize my quiver of tools. So, I began that process with Codecademy. The first and most important technology I need to gain expertise in is React. This decision is based on the sheer overwhelming percentage of job postings that require it. 

It often takes a significant event in your life to make you stop and think. For me, [the layoff] made me more self-aware and thoughtful about things beyond immediate crises. I know this sounds cheesy, but when I’m studying Codecademy and these new frameworks, there’s a moment when it clicks. I remember how things used to be, and then all of a sudden, I grasp an overall shape of a concept. The rate at which this happens now, and the quality of those experiences seem to be more rapid with the newer languages and frameworks.”  

Bouncing back after a layoff is challenging at any stage of your career.

Here are steps you can take to recover from a layoff and find your next opportunity.  

How I made time to learn 

“Since January, after I got laid off, my time is my own to structure. I spend a certain percentage of it on the job search itself, another percentage on my education, and then I plan to dedicate some time each week to creating an online repository of my actual work. 

It often takes a significant event in your life to make you stop and think. For me, [the layoff] made me more self-aware and thoughtful about things beyond immediate crises.

John King

Web Architect

One problem with spending more than 20 years at one company is that everything you’ve done is intellectual property that belongs to [the company]. You can’t really share it or use it to show what you can do. I have to create something new that represents my work. I have ideas that now I have to actually build using whatever modern language or framework is most appropriate for the kind of company I’m looking to join.” 

Need to build a professional portfolio from scratch?

Here are some tips for compiling a professional portfolio when you’re just starting out. 

How I chose what to learn  

“What I’m appreciating now about Codecademy is the structured way that [the courses] approach things. It presents a model to introduce concepts and how they relate to real-world activities and building things. In terms of what I’m going to study, I look at job postings and boards that show the most common tech stacks used by different companies. This helps me understand what skill sets are in demand. Each company will have its own systems and languages, so there will always be something new to learn once you join. The key is to develop a core skill set. 

Starting today, my next focus is on TypeScript. It looks straightforward and is listed on so many job postings. JavaScript is so useful and ubiquitous but lacks type checking. In enterprise-level organizations, where you have groups of developers and testers, catching bugs early is crucial. TypeScript provides the type checking needed to enforce that, making it an obvious choice. 

After TypeScript, I plan to learn Next.js. Given my experience across the full architectural spectrum, learning routing and how it works with third-party services like Cloudflare for DNS will be valuable. That’s my plan for now. There might be more to learn, or things might slow down if I get a job.” 

What I plan to do next 

“Ideally, I would love to work for an amazing company, doing something I actually care about. Being involved in something that benefits society or aligns with my passions, like the design arts, would be fantastic. If I could move to New York and be paid to live there, that would be a dream.  

Professionally, a great job would be one where I can do full-stack development, either as a plain Full-Stack Developer or as an IT Solutions Specialist, given my background in integrations. Whether it’s integrating their product with Zoom, WebEx, Amazon, or whatever API, I want to be involved. Working remotely or coming into the office both work for me. Although I enjoy being in the office, I’ve been working from home for nearly 20 years now, so I’m accustomed to that.”  

1...419420421...1,278Page 420 of 1,278

Recent Posts