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5 Ideas for Machine Learning & AI Projects

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5 Ideas for Machine Learning & AI Projects

Each day it seems like a new innovative AI tool comes out and alters the way we live — and that’s partly because this technology is a wellspring for creativity. You’ve probably thought up tons of potential uses for AI in your daily life, from automating mundane work tasks to using generative AI as a remixing and brainstorming tool.  

With the right coding skills, you can make these AI project ideas a reality. In our courses and paths, you get to work on projects that help you put your skills into practice. Exploring our projects library is a great way to get inspired and think about real-life applications for AI and other technologies. (Heads up: You need a Pro or Plus account to access our full library of projects.) 

Ahead we’ve gathered our AI and machine learning projects that will help you hone key AI techniques and skills. Remember, a project doesn’t need to be academic for it to provide value in your learning journey! We hope these projects expand your view of what’s possible with AI and get you inspired to keep experimenting with code.  

Learn something new for free

Find the Flag 

The 2024 Summer Olympics are coming up, and during the iconic Opening Ceremonies, flags from countries around the world will sail down the Siene River in Paris. See some flags you don’t recognize? In this project, you’ll use decision trees in Python to try to predict the continent of flags based on several design features like the colors and shapes. This project introduces you to a practical application of decision trees in data classification and gives you a chance to experiment with key data science techniques, like data preparation, model training, evaluation, and fine-tuning. 

Analyze Texts with NLP 

Deciphering the actual meaning behind a curt “k” text message can be excruciating. Why not harness the power of natural language processing and sentiment analysis to help figure out the meaning behind a text message? For this project, we’ll give you a dataset of text messages (you can also use your own text messages if you’d like) and you’ll examine it in Jupyter Notebooks. Using NLP techniques like sentiment analysis, language parsing, word vectorization, and topic modeling, you’ll get deeper insights into the content of the text messages.  

Echo Chatbot 

When you’re multitasking in meetings all day, it’s easy to lose track of your to-do list. Use Python to build an Echo Chatbot that you can use to jot down thoughts or ideas during meetings. Type an idea or note, and the chatbot immediately repeats it back, so you can ensure that your input is captured and recorded correctly. In this project, you’ll get to show off your beginner Python knowledge of variables, string concatenation, output, and user input. The Echo Chatbot project is part of the path Build Chatbots with Python, which will give you an in-depth look at how to build rules-based and generative AI chatbots. 

Predict Wine Quality with Regularization 

You don’t need a sommelier’s palate to be able to assess the quality of a type of wine — you can use Python for data science to do it. Classify a dataset of wine ratings as “good” or “bad” using specific input variables (like fixed acidity, residual sugar, and sulphates). In this project, you’ll implement different logistic regression classifiers, find the best ridge-regularized classifier using hyperparameter tuning, and implement a tuned lasso-regularized feature selection method.  

Handwriting Recognition using K-Means 

Whether you’re writing postcards on vacation or addressing wedding invites, this project will take you behind the scenes of how the U.S. Postal Service uses machine learning to read and understand handwritten addresses. (Fun fact: This is the same sort of technology that ATMs and apps like Evernote and Expensify utilize to read handwriting!) Some key concepts covered in this project include using K-means clustering for handwriting recognition and using scikit-learn to cluster images of handwritten digits. You’ll see why visualizing and understanding data are crucial steps before applying machine learning algorithms. 

More ways to grow your AI skills 

Start taking one of our AI courses and paths to get more hands-on experience building real-world projects. There’s something for all levels, whether you’re just getting started out with generative AI tools and coding or you’re ready to build your own deep learning models. Be sure to read more about the in-demand AI skills that can help you stand out as a developer and the careers you can have in generative AI. 

Word of the Day: strenuous

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Word of the Day: strenuous

The word strenuous has appeared in 79 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on March 22 in “How Do You Paddle a Disappearing River?” by Daniel Modlin:

Even in sections where the river deepened, it wasn’t easy. Instead of the current pulling us swiftly down the middle, the lower water levels forced our boats to drift in a serpentine formation, back and forth across the banks of the river. The banks provided another problem: For most of our trip, the right bank of the river — the Mexican side — was dominated by carrizo cane. Also known as border bamboo or giant reed, the cane, an invasive species, stretched off the bank for what I estimated as up to 15 feet high.

… That night, blistered, bruised and damp, I asked Michael as we sat on our sleeping pads if floating the Rio was always this strenuous and riddled with obstacles. “Not when there’s really water,” he said. In fact, as I later learned, most of the difficulties I encountered (beyond stepping in cow dung near the campsite), could be attributed to the river’s lower water levels and signs of the landscape shifting as a result, said Jeff Bennett, a hydrologist for the Rio Grande Joint Venture, a conservation group that strives to protect the river habitat.

Can you correctly use the word strenuous 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 strenuous 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.

What Is Your Reaction to Trump’s Conviction on 34 Felony Counts?

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What Is Your Reaction to Trump’s Conviction on 34 Felony Counts?

Please note: We ask that adults respect the intent of our Student Opinion questions and refrain from posting here. While there are many other places on nytimes.com for adults to have their say, this is the only forum that explicitly invites the voices of young people.

On Thursday afternoon, The New York Times reported the news that a Manhattan jury had found former President Donald J. Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records.

Donald J. Trump was convicted on Thursday of falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal that threatened to derail his 2016 presidential campaign, capping an extraordinary trial that tested the resilience of the American justice system and will reverberate into November’s election.

What is your reaction to the trial and the verdict?

The article continues:

Mr. Trump was convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records by a jury of 12 New Yorkers, who deliberated over two days to reach a decision in a case rife with descriptions of secret deals, tabloid scandal and an Oval Office pact with echoes of Watergate. The former president sat largely expressionless, a glum look on his face, after the jury issued its verdict. His sentencing was scheduled for July 11.

The jury found that Mr. Trump had faked records to conceal the purpose of money given to his onetime fixer, Michael D. Cohen. The false records disguised the payments as ordinary legal expenses when in truth, Mr. Trump was reimbursing Mr. Cohen for a $130,000 hush-money deal the fixer struck with the porn star Stormy Daniels to silence her account of a sexual liaison with Mr. Trump.

The felony conviction calls for a sentence of up to four years behind bars, but Mr. Trump may never see the inside of a prison cell. He could receive probation when he is sentenced, and he is certain to appeal the verdict — meaning it may be years before the case is resolved. Still, the jury’s decision is an indelible moment in America’s history, concluding the only one of four criminal cases against Mr. Trump that was likely to go to trial before Election Day.

This second article discusses the significance of the verdict, explaining that it caps “an extraordinary trial that tested the resilience of the American justice system and transformed the former commander in chief into a felon.” The article continues:

The guilty verdict in Manhattan — across the board, on all 34 counts — will reverberate throughout the nation and the world as it ushers in a new era of presidential politics. Mr. Trump will carry the stain of the verdict during his third run for the White House as voters now choose between an unpopular incumbent and a convicted criminal.

While it was once unthinkable that Americans would elect a felon as their leader, Mr. Trump’s insurgent behavior delights his supporters as he bulldozes the country’s norms. Now, the man who refused to accept his 2020 election loss is already seeking to delegitimize his conviction, attempting to assert the primacy of his raw political power over the nation’s rule of law.

Mr. Trump showed little emotion inside the courtroom as he learned his fate on Thursday, but when he emerged, holding his jaw tense, the former president spoke to an assembly of television cameras. He declared that the verdict was “a disgrace” and, with a somber expression, proclaimed: “This is long from over.”

Since this is breaking news, we encourage you to follow live updates here.

Students, read both articles and then tell us:

  • What is your reaction to the trial and the verdict?

  • Have you been following the case over the past few weeks? Are you surprised by the jury’s decision to convict the former president?

  • Mr. Trump immediately declared the verdict a “disgrace,” and his campaign quickly sent out a fund-raising email in which the former president said, in all capital letters, “I am a political prisoner!” What’s your reaction to Mr. Trump’s response?

  • What do you think the verdict says about the U.S. legal system and American democracy more broadly?

  • Do you think the verdict will affect the presidential election? In what ways?

  • What questions do you have about the case — or the verdict?

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.

LMS Mid-Year Rankings 2024

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LMS Mid-Year Rankings 2024

The perfect learning management system. The best LMS for Enterprise. Top LMS for mid-market. Elite LMS for associations, non-profits, government, and even baristas. It’s hard to believe that some sectors, such as baristas, whiskey entities, or tennis, have a learning system, often an LMS. Specific to their industry. The content is for those sectors. The target audience – well, it’s pretty obvious.

Cannabis learning systems do exist, but if you are in the cannabis industry (don’t laugh; this is a huge $$$ market), I’d recommend going with a commercial system over building your own. Many folks may be unaware that there is cannabis content. Yep, it’s available for this segment. But you won’t find it in your LMS or LXP, let alone any system that doesn’t cater to it.

The amusement park sector looks at systems. Years back, I had one client who was (probably still exists—so maybe “is”) an amusement park. It had lots of seasonal workers, so you can see what type of system they needed.

Another client I had was an entity that flew doctors to remote areas of the world to do whatever medical was needed – or was requested (they told me, but it was a long time ago). I found them an LMS, just as I did for the amusement park. The idea that there isn’t a system for my specific segment, and thus I need to go this way, well, if you want only for your segment – and only for your vertical per se, it’s likely out there. Is it good? Who knows. I’ve checked out a few, and they are interesting. The barista content was very cool but unavailable in your system’s markets or any aggregator. There are plenty of systems that focus only on law enforcement. In my experience, they are underwhelming. UI/UX isn’t good – but they land clients. Ditto on systems only focused on aviation. I can’t understand why they are fine with what they have – and more importantly, the folks in that sector who buy them are okay with it. Regardless of price point.

I bring all of this up because perfect first doesn’t exist, and secondly, you never know what is out there – beyond the brands you hear, see, or read about all the time. Some vendors are masters of marketing – envious even. What I find more often than not, are the vendors who either lack the marketing budget to do anything (uh, organic can work), or focus on the product more than marketing. Actually, there is a third – they do not know their competition, nor the industry – what people seek and want based on messaging, so their marketing misses. It could be the greatest system in the world, but if nobody knows who you are (outside your region), your numbers will not deliver.

Every system I have ever seen has at least one big name. Many have multiple—i.e., lots. To me, this means nothing. I have seen systems resembling Mosiac 2.1 exist (1994) and have big names. Rarely are they in the entire company, but hey, naming works.

In my mid-rankings, none of that matters. I’m not here to say, “well, they have awesome marketing,” so they are here. Oh, they have a lot of clients, ergo they are here. Nor, they have a lot of users, a high completion rate, clients that love them – over 95% retention, high ARR, and blah blah blah. Congrats, I say. It is a joy to the world, but let me see your system and ask other questions I focus on, including numbers you prefer not to discuss.

For these mid-year rankings, I looked first at the initial top 10 and then saw if these vendors were still delivering at the mid-point. As with anything, you can rock and then go this way while the market blows past you and someone else appears out of nowhere to replace your spot.

People love to know the top LMS for Enterprise – the trouble is that each vendor identifies “Enterprise” in different ways – most by user bases, some by the company size – even if the system is going only into one department, and a few by revenue.

Ditto on the large enterprise. Small Business and Mid-Market—can go SMB or split out, or the vendor just has a range, and if you are in that lower range, you are in this market.

In other words, it’s chaos.

Top 10 Mid-Year Rankings

I bring up LMS in the title only because I am seeing an increase in vendors calling their systems LMS – even though they may not market it as such. Look, an LMS is a learning system, just as an LXP, learning platform, employee development platform with learning as a key, and maybe even my yard – I do learn a lot there, especially during peach season (I have a peach tree).

Ranking numbers

I debated back and forth with this. Do I list the vendors by a number (i.e., rank) or say, here are the top 10 learning system vendors – regardless if they are an LMS, LXP, and blah blah? The latter is the route, of course, but the rankings – well, why not!!!!

With these rankings, I will identify one item that really stands out, okay, sometimes a couple. It may not be something you have thought about, which is why I bring it up. Others will be like, okay, yeah, I know that. And if that is the case, please keep it to yourself.

If the vendor is in FindAnLMS (FAL) – will be by their name. So you can check them out in more detail.

Factoid – None of these vendors know ahead of time. As usual, going 10 to 1.

#10 Pluralsight

The combo of the skills with cloud guru as the selling model – works great – their skills are technical specific first and foremost but it isn’t just content and all the skill pieces you assume would be there – it includes playgrounds – labs – interactive no less. Training and L&D people are big fans of interactive, and engaging labs – whereas it mimics what the person will either do or wants to learn or placed into a situation that may come into play at some point (regardless if it is technical or business or whatever – in this case it’s technical). Another home run – well, I can’t say until next Friday (I agreed to an embargo) but yeah, I was very impressed.

#9 SparkLearn (FAL)

Out of nowhere SparkLearn is now somewhere – here in fact. The winner is the mobile app side – because Sparky (my new nickname) focuses solely on deskless workers – aka as frontline workers. Again, if a vendor is playing on the commercial side (not EdTech), deskless is common to say they have that segment. Yet, I see what the mobile app does, and think – really? If you go direct on the web – the UI/UX is deadly – and I’m saying that in the most polite way – it needs a total revamp – but on the back-end. Because the system being geared to deskless, that audience never needs to go to the system itself – if you know what I mean. Admins, and whoever is running the show does. There are other wins here, which I won’t go into. Ranking well deserved.

#8 Absorb LMS (FAL)

Finally! You get the entire suite with the LMS, rather than add-on here, add-on there. The UI/UX continues to be slick, the advanced analytics is the home run here – because if your metrics can’t tell your learning story, then yeah, that’s not good. These analytics do. People often use the term, “power rich or power driven or some other nonsense,” to refer to a system that has a lot of capabilities. Absorb for a while, was sort of over there, and now, they are back. And ready to rock and roll – oh, Engage is sweet too.

#7 NovoEd

This is how I see them, after what I’ve seen granted – Learning Science. As in Learning Science is what makes this system now tick. It isn’t just cohort-based anymore, rather I’d argue it is pivoting more so to this whole DNA approach. A hey you want hybrid – we can do it – this way. Oh, you want self-paced with an occassional facilitator – here you go. Wait, you need to create this or that, tap it into your learning project, and encapsulate it with your learning workflow – here you go. It’s a fluid system, which what I mean is a good thing. The system is ideal for large enterprise as in CLO level, with Director or VP of L&D angle (albeit you could be an L&D Manager or whatever your title is, and running the show). They have some things cooking in the lab – get it, learning science – lab? Anyway, I can’t talk about it right now, but keep a couple of eyeballs this fall..I will say no more. Conceirge support comes with the system – which means just you (the client) and a human (not AI) support person. They are not dedicated to 15 clients, just you, yourself, and uh, your administrator. Another win. And it doesn’t cost extra.

#6 Eurekos (FAL)

A system with a punch. They appeared in the rankings 23-24, at #8. What I enjoy about them is those darn metrics – because they are zeroed in on wait for it, customer training (clients/partners/etc.). I often see systems that are 90% or higher only on customer training, and then I see the metrics and go, huh? Ditto on vendors that play strong in it, but also focus on L&D – not the same modality – but I’ve covered that. Eurekos at this time doesn’t have any AI, but that is a focus for them by the end of the year. As I always say, just because a system doesn’t have AI right now, shouldn’t be a deal breaker. I am finding way too many systems with AI, that seem oblivlious to what is taking place in AI – and all the new LLMs, etc. Equally love that they have a dedicated support person – that works only with you. No more, you are in a pool of support people, have fun. Included BTW.

The Top Five

A couple of short points here before I dive in

  • Vendors still can’t seem to wrap their arms around the difference between L&D and Training. We are not talking rocket science here, nor geophysics. They are different. Different modalities. Different backgrounds. Training can be both internal and external. L&D is rarely external. L&D is heavy and always has been internal. Simple. Simple. Simple. Nothing drives me more batty that vendors who ignore this. And honestly, they don’t care. Hint – you should. Most of the Learning System market are vendors who are combo – i.e. they go after L&D and Training. I know vendors who share wise, are higher on the customer training side, than L&D – yet, the focus on L&D as the messaging. Oh, talk to anyone in L&D or Training and they will concur with what I’m saying. Seriously, do I need to draw a map for you? Don’t say yes, my writing is horrible .
  • First This or First That. Another wonderful spin for marketing, but rarely do I find it true. At the end of the day, don’t focus on the hype of what a vendor pushes out. Focus on the system and what specifically you need. I mean the Edsel was supposed to be the car of the future – turned out to be a huge dud. A dud that gets eyeballs when the person driving it down the street is going 20 in a 35 speed limit. I know who you are! (not really)
  • A vendor who crosses the threshold into the Top five that hasn’t been in my rankings before, but follows one other vendor who bounced in, and never was before. You will see a full product review of them, this summer. Which reminds me, if a product review this summer/fall will appear on this blog, I will note “product review”.

#5 Hive Learning (Product Review)

I wrote a bit about them on LinkedIn, but I will hit a couple of points – just a couple here – because there is a lot to like, okay love. Yes, I’m in love. It’s only the uh, third time? Maybe 10th. Okay, let’s just roll, and say smitten. Smitten works!

  • IMO their Generative AI tied to the learner and the content is brilliant – it works, and is crafty – a plus. I initially said they are the first to do so – and yes from a non technical skills side. and even then it goes a bit more (i.e. the one that tapped first – but it is only for technical skills). Thus, Hive is the first to do so, that is not focused only on tech skills. Confusing? Why not!
  • Their content creator tool taps into folks who are new to creating content, utilizing a variety of prompts and assistance. I believe anyone could create a course, that isn’t just text dribble – that I see over and over again (sans one vendor).
  • Everything is included in the system – and while they are other vendors that include what are basically add-ons that other vendors charge for – what Hive does is quite nice. A total package. The system is really around skills, and while they won’t call themselves an LMS – let’s say learning platform (which they are), which in turn is a learning system. See how easy that is?

#4 D2L

I will be upfront here – I wish they would either change the name of Brightspace (because they use it for each edition – the one for EdTech (k-12, higher ed – stronger more so), and one for corporate. Pick an edition, call it that, then come up with a different name for the other – corporate, since Brightspace was used solely for EdTech for so long.

For whatever reason, they get missed over because people think EdTech (again, this was their core target), or they just get a salesperson who doesn’t push all the goodies.

I wish they would include their content creator tool – it’s an add-on, but come on include it – especially since D2L doesn’t charge for the tokens (a nice plus – many vendors do – Gen AI isn’t free, unless you get a freebie – long story, let’s move on).

Performance Plus (Another add-on), should be included – because this is the home run of analytics for learning and training. It does quite a bit, far more than a lot of vendors, this is truly learning intelligence at it’s finest. Yes, I am smittened with that one too. I’ve told them not the love part, but push that into the system for free. I’m still waiting for a response. Sniff, Sniff. Oh, a leader in the association space, far superior to Crowd Wisdom. So, you can pass on the crowd – I made a funny; let’s move on.

Top Three

Oooh, who is here? His rankings of 23-24 (published in December) has X vendors, but I haven’t seen them yet for the mid-year. Are they in this list? Is there a tie? Or is it a bow tie?

Bowtie

#3 LearnAmp (FAL)

Can someone be in love with multiple vendors? I say yes. Okay, smitten once again.

This system screams 100% L&D and delivers it – they refer to it as a People Development Platform (aka learning platform). I like a vendor that is always one or two steps ahead than others, overall. Sure there are items that need to be included, but well, there are others that are there and being untapped.

The UI/UX is not for everyone, which I think plays a role – because people think it should look like everything else I’ve seen. A Delorean does not look like a Pinto. And you have no idea on what I am talking about, click the car links. Pinto was also famous for blowing up, but uh, yeah, let’s move on.

The winner is tied into skills – something called objectives. They mention it, but truly the images do not do it justice. What I would like to see, which is an add-on is the CPD. Another goal winner, that should be included.

#3 Docebo (FAL)

The downer – way too many add-ons; the pluses here – just a very slick UI/UX, easy to use, and you can get up and running rather quickly. The best analytics though is an add-on called Learning Data – which as they note correctly – is a term I often use – Learning Intelligence. It crushes what comes with the system – and does tell your learning story.

I’m not a fan of the old legacy term – “extended enterprise”. A lot of folks have no idea on what you are talking about – you know those customer training folks. Anyway, you see that word, plus customer education on their site. Pick one. Customer Education is aka Customer Training. Whichever works for you, I say. Anyway, I like it, but it is an add-on, just like e-commerce, which you usually need both – even if you are going free with your content. They were one of the first (not the first) that offered to white label your app, those it doesn’t have their name on it – it has yours.

DCS is an add-on too, a bit long in the tooth – I do hope a revamp is coming (I hear it is).

The point here is a lot of add-ons, however, I love that they now offer premium support as part of their Elevate package, and no longer an additional cost. Yep, their pricing is once again visible, albeit not for Enterprise.

The skills piece is nice and they use Gen AI with it, but I want more. Still a plus.

#2 Thought Industries (FAL)

This was tough. Because they are still the best system on the market for customer training/education and the old legacy term extended enterprise – which should be shoved in the bin and sent to a landfill. Anyway their focus is only customer training, and I love that they are entering the association space with some gusto.

This system ooozes sweet. They have a mobile app – YEAH. They truly are headless technology (other vendors who pitch it, are not). I love the UI/UX of the system, front especially. The panoramas are the big win here. TI offers a content creator tool using Gen AI, that aligns nicely with the system. It’s an add-on. I say include it!

The monster win of it all – is the learning intelligence – especially around financial metrics – which if you are in the customer training space – including associations – you are likely selling content (and yes, plenty go free here..). You need those metrics. The other bits of learning intelligence are solid.

Revenue Management – as they pitch it, is another win. I wish I could show you how it can appear in a way that will make you go – HOLY MOLY. The look is a wow factor. So much, so I tell others.

#1 Cornerstone Galaxy – my focus is only on Cornerstone Learn (FAL) (Product Review)

I never thought and I bet all my loyal readers will agree, that Cornerstone in my rankings, let alone mid-year would be in this spot. But, I can’t deny what I am seeing – and will see in June (I can’t wait, where are my flavored chickpeas – my partner, makes them in the oven – she deserves a star). And the LMS is now under what they call “Galaxy”. Which if you bounce over to their site – everything is included – Learning – Elevate – Transform (or whatever they call it)- Content (still costs extra as it would with any learning system’s marketplace) – and so on.

However, for me, what I am focusing on is just Cornerstone Learn (you can buy all of Galaxy, or just Learn and get those items or even buy just one of those items)

Learn – Comes with the LMS, Cornerstone Learning Experience (formally known as EdCast), Learning Fundementals, Extended Enterprise and Guide – which is a Digital Adoption Platform). I should add that for folks who do not want Cornerstone, but want SumTotal – that can be the LMS, ditto for Saba (unsure why you want either – trust me just go Cornerstone).

Okay, onto the fun stuff:

a. Gen AI capabilities – It is not even close with any other vendor. The person overseeing AI is in the top of the class group (which includes the person at Docebo) – that I have met. You see it in the system. Including skills – although I need more here – only because I’m starting to see other vendors take a whack at it. They also have a content creator tool (known as Content Studio) with AI and yep, add-on fee.

b. Skills Management – The best in the industry – I kid you not. Any vendor who says theirs is better, unless they are only a skills management platform – which means skills only – I would even say, from all the ones I’ve seen – Cornerstone still leads the pack (based on my template and reviewing of the system in comparison to all other systems I have seen in the learning system space, which includes skills focused only systems). The skills intelligence piece rocks.

c. I also like that Content Studio – their AI content creator tool is included at no charge, along with immerse (formally known as Tailwind)

d. Everything is one, and one for everything. They call it holistic, I just like the whole approach, lots of potential.

Before I get slammed by people – yes the admin side it is the best version they ever had – which is good in one way, but it still has a way to go – only because it can get confusing to a lot of people – admins specifically, even those folks running the department and trying to figure it out.
The reporting thing – hey, how is your favorite restaurant these days? However, as noted no system is perfect, so you can say I am nitpicking.

Speaking of nitpicking, please make sure my fridge is stocked with Coke, for your show (just kidding).

Actually I was staying at this hotel once and noted that the mini-bar only had two Cokes in it, and the rest was stuff I do not drink. I asked them if all could be replaced with Coke. Surprise, by the time I returned to my hotel room (post breakfast), it was all Coke. I won’t mention the hotel – but Marriott (they own the chain) should give all of you a raise – okay the front staff and housekeeping!

Bottom Line

Perfect.

Are these the perfect system for you? Well, it depends on what your use case is, how much is in your budget, how you plan to roll it out – will it go to everyone or just a select few? In regards to Cornerstone while they are a combo system, for me, they are better suited for L&D (internal) Enterprise (which I now define as a min. of 2,500 users – based on what I am seeing in the market, the reduction of user bases – thus it is 2,500 as a min – chaos, I tell you, chaos!)

The systems above actually are either better suited for internal (employees) or external (customers/clients, etc.). You can easily have a system that is internal and also external, without having to buy a lot of other systems for your company – which a lot of companies do – and it makes zero sense today. I once had over 40 entities on one system, not including me – the parent. Trust me, it makes everything so much easier – especially nowadays with APIs.

There are systems above, that I wouldn’t buy for customer training, simply because the system is better suited only for internal. Does it mean you can’t buy system X which is aligned with L&D for your external audience? No – you can! And it is okay.

I can’t promise I will bring you flowers though.

Maybe a Rose Garden instead.

E-Learning 24/7

How We’re Harnessing GPT-4o in Our Courses

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How We’re Harnessing GPT-4o in Our Courses

Earlier this month, OpenAI released its latest AI model, GPT-4o. Now you can start using this powerful model right in our interactive learning environment as you work on a course or path. 

Our AI Learning Assistant harnesses OpenAI’s GPT-4o to give you instant, personalized coding guidance. In select courses, you can highlight the code you’re working on, click “Explain code” to open the AI Learning Assistant, and it’ll launch a chat box where you can ask questions, request explanations, or check your code for errors.  

When we first launched the AI Learning Assistant, it used the large language model GPT-3.5. Now that this feature is upgraded to GPT-4o, the AI Learning Assistant is better equipped to help you learn tech skills and concepts faster. In OpenAI’s model evaluations, GPT-4o was even better than GPT-4 Turbo (OpenAI’s previous high-intelligence model) at extracting reasoning from text. GPT-4o can also generate text two times faster than GPT-4 Turbo, so it’s more efficient, and it has more advanced coding knowledge.   

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Want to discover more ways to take advantage of GPT-4o during your learning journey? Read on and be sure to check out all of our new AI-powered platform tools and mobile upgrades.  

How to use GPT-4o while you learn 

Before we added the AI Learning Assistant to our platform, you used to have to open a new window and prompt ChatGPT with background information about what you’re working on every time you had a question. Constant context switching can get tedious and distract you from the lesson or project you’re focusing on.  

Now you can start a conversation with GPT-4o right in the middle of an exercise. Since the AI Learning Assistant is highly contextual, it bases its response on your position in an exercise and the code you’ve written. For instance, instead of having to write a long-winded prompt like, “I’m working on a beginner Python 3 course and I am creating boolean expressions, here is the code I’m writing, help me find the error,” you can just highlight the code in question and click “Explain code.”  

Now you can use GPT-4o to get personalized explanations of your errors while you learn.

We like to think of the AI Learning Assistant as a more experienced and knowledgeable dev that you can instantly turn to resolve doubts and explore complex concepts. For example, when you’re learning a new programming language, AI can help you understand syntax, debug code, and even suggest improvements in real-time. While it might seem like this is cutting corners, it actually facilitates a deeper and more practical understanding of coding concepts.  

Not to mention, incorporating AI into your workflow is a standard part of being a productive and capable developer today. If you can familiarize yourself with industry-standard AI tools like GPT-4o while you’re learning, you’ll be even more prepared to enter a professional environment where these tools are the norm. In professional settings, developers often use AI to streamline tasks like code completion, automated testing, and data analysis.  

“This is another realistic way of learning,” says Chirag Makkar, Senior Software Engineer at Codecademy who worked on the AI Learning Assistant. “It’s not really about how deep you can get into a particular technology or a language, it’s actually about how quickly you can build projects, learn things, and move ahead.”   

More ways to leverage AI in your learning journey 

At Codecademy, we’re always looking for ways to weave the latest technological advancements into our learning environment. OpenAI’s product demos last week gave us a taste of what’s possible with this new model, so keep an eye out for more announcements about how we’re leveraging GPT-4o’s full capabilities (like Voice Mode).  

In the meantime, grow your AI skills and start learning the basics of the technology behind these tools. Our free courses Intro to OpenAI API, Learn How to Use AI for Coding, and Learn How to Use AI for Data Analysis will help you get comfortable using GPT tech in your daily coding work. And if you want to advance your AI knowledge and work towards a career in this rewarding area, the career path Machine Learning/AI Engineer teaches you all of the skills plus enables you to work on projects that you can put in your professional portfolio.   

How To Tell If You’re “Proficient In Excel” & How To Get Better

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How To Tell If You’re “Proficient In Excel” & How To Get Better

Seeing “proficient in Microsoft Excel” listed on a job description can be confusing, even if you regularly use the Microsoft spreadsheet software. Considering the vast uses for Excel, how can you tell if you’re truly “proficient” enough to be considered for a role?

For starters, read the job description closely. If Excel proficiency is listed as a “required” technical skill, then it’s safe to assume it’s an Excel-heavy role with little room to fake it or learn on the job. But if the job description categorizes it as a “preferred” or “desired” skill, then you might be more qualified than you think.

“What it means to be ‘proficient’ is going to depend on what you need to use Excel for,” explains Ada Morse, Associate Curriculum Developer at Codecademy. For example, a Business Intelligence (B.I.) Analyst might rely on Excel to manage budgets and financial forecasts, while a project manager might use it to build an organized schedule or calendar.

The beauty of Excel is that it’s a powerful but flexible program with tons of potential use cases. “Like with a lot of programming languages, there’s thousands and thousands of functions in Excel for different things — and no one’s going to know them all,” Ada says.

Our course Learn Microsoft Excel for Data Analysis will teach you some key Excel functions, like how to import and manipulate data and create visualizations, so you can confidently claim proficiency. If you’re heading into a job interview or wondering if you have what it takes to apply to a position that involves Excel, here’s what you need to know.

What does “proficient in Excel” really mean?

Broadly speaking, being “proficient in Excel” means you understand the basic layout of the program and how certain mechanical aspects work, like formulas, functions, tables, and ranges, Ada says. Excel spreadsheets typically involve numeric data, so you should know how to complete basic computations, like calculating averages or finding the maximum and minimum values in a column, she adds.

If you’re working with a large data set, knowing how to use and control AutoFill is a great way to be more efficient, Ada suggests. Being able to filter a data set, so that you can see the data you’re actually interested in, is another way to prevent tedious scrolling, she says. And it’s a good idea to have a grasp on how to create a basic chart from your data, she says.

Similar to Microsoft Word, there are lots of opportunities to change colors and fonts within Excel spreadsheets. Knowing how to format a spreadsheet so that the content is clear and legible is certainly a good skill to have (it’s covered in our Learn Microsoft Excel for Data Analysis course), but don’t get caught up in aesthetics, because everyone has different stylistic preferences, Ada says. “People who use Excel a lot tend to get really opinionated about what the best way to use it is,” she says.

How to answer Excel interview questions

A common example of an Excel interview question that a recruiter or hiring manager might ask is: “What’s your favorite Excel formula or function?” For example, you might say you’re a fan of INDEX and MATCH or VLOOKUP, which are a few different tools that are used to find specific data cells in your spreadsheet. “Each of these has their own little finicky flaws that can get you into trouble if you don’t know how to use them properly,” Ada says.

Or an interviewer might ask you something like, “Do you know what a PivotTable is?” If you don’t know, a PivotTable is a tool in Excel that automatically restructures a table that allows you to quickly (and cleanly) summarize data with categories and subcategories.

While these might seem like oddly specific questions that are designed to trip you up, they’re really ways for recruiters to see what steps you would take to figure something out or solve a problem and how comfortable you are with the software, Ada says. “If someone doesn’t have a favorite Excel function, then probably they haven’t used it enough,” she says.

Ways to get better at using Excel

There are plenty of ways to brush up your Excel skills, like taking our course Learn Microsoft Excel for Data Analysis.

Another smart way to practice is by downloading a dataset to play around with. “Find the dataset  that’s interesting to you, open it up in Excel, and start exploring,” Ada says. “Be inquisitive and see what basic questions you can ask about the dataset.” When you run into something you don’t know how to do, use your friend Google (or the Codecademy Forums) to find a tutorial, she says.

The bottom line: Proving that you’re a problem-solver and capable of learning to fill your knowledge gaps is just as valuable as showcasing your technical chops. “Being able to find out how to do the thing that you need to do is really the base level of proficiency,” Ada says.

Don’t discount your work experience or competency with other programming languages that may overlap. For example, knowing how to Analyze Data with Python could easily transfer over to roles that utilize Excel. Check out our other career paths to explore the data science field, like Data Science Foundations and Data Scientist: Analytics Specialist.

Lastly, before you press submit on your job application, be sure to check out these tips for writing a standout cover letter for a data scientist position, and refresh your LinkedIn profile with advice from recruiters.

What Exactly Is The Science of Learning Anyway?

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What Exactly Is The Science of Learning Anyway?

The authors note that this is distinct from the learning sciences (although the Science of Learning is often used interchangeably). The learning sciences focus specifically on “investigat[ing] teaching and learning as well as the design and development of learning environments, with the goal to improve the effectiveness of education and training.” (p. 13). Given these two distinct definitions, I would argue that we are operating somewhere between the two. We use the Science of Learning (the scientific study of underlying bases) to inform the learning sciences (the design of learning environments to improve the effectiveness of education)!

It’s ok if you’re confused. We are at the beginning stages of a new applied field: The Science of Learning. We are working out the exact definitions. We are figuring out how this field is similar and different than those it has branched from. And you are a part of it. Isn’t that exciting?

And you really are a necessary part of this work. The Science of Learning is about research, but that research can only move forward if we are able to understand the unique limitations with learners from different backgrounds, different materials, and different contexts. We need to know what works and what doesn’t so we can take it back to the lab and understand why. Understanding the underlying mechanisms allows us to better predict what strategy will be helpful when and for whom.

The art of teaching is taking the science and applying it in a way that makes sense. Throwing away the entire science because we don’t understand everything yet is akin to throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Please, save the baby (and the science).

Bottom Line

My hope is that this explanation helps you to see a bit of the behind-the-scenes work, to better understand where you, cognitive psychology, and science really sit in this fuzzy Science of Learning.

Because there is no one definition, it is very possible that people are using the Science of Learning to mean something… less scientific. Continue to be skeptical. Continue to ask about the research that supports the program you’re being asked to implement. But also, don’t assume that someone who is using science is trying to sell you something. (Here’s a great resource for help with this task.)

I can say very confidently that, at least for the four of us here, we are volunteering our time because we want to help improve educational outcomes.

How I Went from Pharmaceutical Research to Data Analysis in 3 Years

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How I Went from Pharmaceutical Research to Data Analysis in 3 Years

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 Mathijs Gaastra, a 34-year-old Web Developer and Data Analyst at a startup in Leiden, Netherlands. Read more stories from Codecademy learners here — and be sure to share your story here. 

Why I chose to learn to code 

“I always had an interest in coding. When I was 16, I bought a book in the bookshop called HTML in 24 Hours. I started off by building some simple websites for myself. At that time, I was super into Harry Potter, so I made a Harry Potter fan page. After I worked my way through the book, I started building simple websites in HTML for small businesses, like massage salons and carpenters. Back then, it was just plain HTML with some inline styling, super basic. I always had a love for computers, but my parents didn’t really believe in them. They were like, ‘You’re always behind your computer; you should learn something useful and find a real job.’ 

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So, I started pursuing my other passion, which was biology. I did a pre-bachelor in clinical chemistry and later a bachelor in molecular biology. After my bachelor’s, I started working in pharma quite soon — first for a CRO [contract research organization] and later for Johnson & Johnson. I always had to do so many analyses, and I wondered if there was an easier way to do them and started creating macro’s with VBA in Excel. After working for two or three years, I had the chance to be part of an automation team, and I started learning more in-depth about the software side of automation processes. That’s when I began learning R from websites like Codecademy.  

Eventually, I got burned out and after some years of recovering I had an opportunity to work for a company doing front-end development. I started there as a Junior Developer because I already knew HTML and CSS. I was still making some WordPress websites for friends and family members, but I got bored with WordPress because I wanted to do more than the platform allowed. I didn’t want to work with standard themes; I wanted to make my own theme. So, I started using Codecademy, beginning with JavaScript. I got super enthusiastic, took a Pro account, and enrolled in the Full-Stack Engineer course.”  

How I made time to learn 

“I’m super motivated because I can apply what I learn directly to my work. However, because of all the projects I’m running now, I have less time. So, I try to do half an hour of Codecademy in the morning before I start work. This was actually a tip from another learner, which I adopted into my routine.” 

How I saved up money to switch careers 

“I looked at the content you get with the Pro membership and balanced that against other studies I was considering. I saw a gigantic price gap and really liked the way Codecademy worked. I’m not a person who enjoys theoretical learning; I did a Java certification course in 2017 and couldn’t get through it because it was too theoretical and not immediately applicable. Codecademy really worked for me, and I think the price is actually a bargain for the content. 

The first subscription I paid for myself with my savings. When I got my current job, I talked with my employer about it. I told her how much I had learned from it and that I was now willing to switch more to machine learning and AI. She was so interested in this that she was willing to pay for my Pro membership.” 

Previously, I felt like I was being paid just for being present, not for the work I was actually doing.

Mathijs Gaastra

Web Developer and Data Analyst

How I got in the door 

“When I was working as a Junior Developer, at some point, an old colleague of mine reached out and said, ‘I see that you’re not working on anything at the moment. What are you doing?’ She mentioned a super cool project she was working on: creating a patient database for inherited diseases (Genetic Disorders). She had some funding for the project and asked if I wanted to lead it. I said, ‘Sure.’ So, I started working on this project.” 

How I evaluated the offer 

“From a work-life balance perspective, this works really well for me because I can work mainly from home. I meet up with colleagues once or twice per month, and the rest is just via online meetings. I can set my own hours, and I don’t see myself going back to an office and being available for nine hours per day. Previously, I felt like I was being paid just for being present, not for the work I was actually doing.” 

What I actually do all day 

“It’s a startup, so it’s not many people — just four of us — and everyone is working part-time as a side job. For me, it’s perfect because I’m still building up my hours after my burnout. There is a lot of information in the literature, and what we try to do is find patient groups for clinical studies to develop medication. For example, a pharmaceutical company may have targets and want to know if it’s worth pursuing the development of a medication. They need to see if there are enough patients and gather other necessary information. My colleague was really tired of going through all these papers, so she asked me to put all this information into a database and make it searchable. 

I started with PostgreSQL, but I quickly realized that a relational database wasn’t working because there was too much disparity in how the data was structured. I needed a way to handle unstructured data. That’s when I came across MongoDB. Because it’s a document-based database system, each collection can have its own structure, and it still works.” 

MongoDB is one of the most popular choices for anyone looking to branch out beyond SQL databases.

Read more about the difference between SQL and NoSQL databases. 

How day one and beyond went 

“When I started in June, I was new to everything. I didn’t know a thing about Python or MongoDB. I just knew HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. However, I saw the similarities between Python and JavaScript, so I could quickly make the connections. I didn’t finish the Full-Stack Engineer pathway because I realized that the Machine Learning/AI Engineer pathway fit much better with my current career. So, I made the switch to that career path.” 

What I wish I knew before I started learning 

“What really works for me is to look at what you want to create and then start learning the language that makes it easiest to build those kinds of projects. Start with small projects because they keep you motivated. For example, if you want to go into web development, start with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Begin by making small games. I started with web puzzles and made a snake game, like the one you used to have on your phone. I made a portfolio website and put all these little games there. I noticed that when people interviewed me for a new job, they got super enthusiastic because of this level of progress. 

When I wanted to start doing more with coding, I was told about a lot of other languages. I heard from many developers that they usually start somewhere but rarely end up with the same language. In the end, I don’t think it really matters what you start with because once you know one or two languages, you can translate that knowledge.”

Not sure where to start? Check out our personality quiz! We’ll help you find the best programming language to learn based on your strengths and interests. 

Want to share your Codecademy learner story? Drop us a line here. And don’t forget to join the discussions in our community. 

Word of the Day: exhume

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Word of the Day: exhume

The word exhume has appeared in 10 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on May 14 in the video game review “Hades II’s Eternal Pursuit of a Tantalizing Past” by Yussef Cole:

Hades II takes place a number of years beyond the events of the first game. You play as Melinoë, the youngest child of Hades, born sometime during these intervening years and spirited away as an infant just before the titan Chronos invaded the underworld and imprisoned the rest of her family. Chronos comes across as dismissive and haughty, an apt characterization for the father of time.

… Melinoë, like us, is an orphan of the past. She has been severed from her family, from a life that could have been one of safety and comfort. She begins the game out in the wilds, far from the place she knows to be home. She barely even remembers it, having left at such a young age. Melinoë is trying to make her way back, trying to return to a past she cannot even picture or recall. Her struggle is to exhume that memory; to fall over and over again in the battle to reclaim her home.

Can you correctly use the word exhume 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 exhume 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.

The Impact of Investing in Your Employees’ Development

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The Impact of Investing in Your Employees’ Development

Investing in employee development is crucial for organisations seeking to prosper in today’s constantly changing business environment. Alison’s Free Learning Management System (Free LMS) can significantly impact organisational growth and productivity.

Our Free LMS offers individualised learning paths, continuous upskilling, and flexible self-paced learning programmes, all of which help enhance employees’ skills and effectiveness. Cost-effective training methods, such as webinars, peer learning, on-the-job training, and other innovative approaches, can help organisations empower their employees without straining their budget.

Unlocking Growth: Steps for Effective Employee Development

Implementing employee development is a strategic investment that can yield substantial advantages for your organisation. When employees grow, the organisation thrives. Key steps to consider include:

  1. Assessing current state: Acknowledging your employees’ needs is essential before investing in feasible development options. Begin by evaluating your organisation’s current practices related to employee growth and engagement so you can identify strengths and areas for improvement.
  2. Involving employees in the process: Seek input from your employees so you can better understand their aspirations, career paths, and areas where they want to enhance their capabilities.
  3. Clear communication matters: Employees value clear communication about available development opportunities. Define specific objectives for employee development, keeping individual and organisational goals in mind. Examples include improving skills, enhancing leadership capabilities, and fostering a learning culture.
  4. Investing in learning platforms: Platforms such as Alison’s Free LMS provide accessible training content that readily aligns with your organisation’s needs and budget.
  5. Creating a learning culture: Encourage continuous learning and promote a growth mindset where employees are ready to embrace new challenges. Recognise and celebrate learning achievements promptly and adequately.
  6. Providing opportunities for skill development: Offer workshops, seminars, and webinars. Encourage your employees to attend conferences and industry events. Cross-functional training is a valuable tool for broadening skills.
  7. Individual development plans (IDPs): You can collaborate with employees to create personalised IDPs that streamline the outline of specific development activities, timelines, and desired outcomes. The IDPs can be regularly reviewed and adjusted as needed.
  8. Mentoring and coaching: By pairing your employees with compatible mentors or coaches, you provide the former with valuable guidance, feedback, and support while encouraging knowledge sharing within your organisation.
  9. Performance reviews and feedback: Linking development to performance evaluations allows you to discuss growth opportunities during reviews and provide constructive feedback to guide improvement. 
  10. Budget allocation: Allocating resources for employee development is an investment that will reap multiple benefits. Consider training costs, certificates, and professional memberships.
  11. Promoting leadership development: Invest in leadership programmes to develop future leaders with the skills necessary for growth and succession planning within your organisation.
  12. Measurement and evaluation: Assess the impact of employee development initiatives using metrics such as employee satisfaction, retention rates, and performance improvements.

Benefits of Using Alison’s Free LMS for Employee Development

Our Free LMS is a powerful tool for employee development, offering a comprehensive solution tailored to the diverse learning needs of modern organisations.

  • Quickly enhance employee development: Employees gain immediate access to a broad array of training resources, including e-learning courses, which significantly cut down the development time. Our Free LMS is easy to set up and use, requiring no superior technical skills or implementation fees, and you can be operational within five minutes.
  • Streamlined and effective onboarding: With structured, comprehensive onboarding processes, employees are better prepared and more likely to stay with your organisation for at least three years. Our flexible, self-paced learning adapts to various learning styles and schedules.
  • Boost productivity and satisfaction: With over 5,000 free courses ranging from business skills to soft skills, your workforce can access relevant training, enhancing efficiency and job satisfaction. Supported employees are content and more engaged.
  • Minimise turnover: Robust learning and development initiatives can retain top talent. Studies indicate that 45% of employees are more likely to stay longer at companies that invest in their learning and development.
  • Universal access to skills training: Skills training is accessible to all employees at no extra cost, except for optional CPD-accredited certificates.
  • Enhance performance and value: Investing in your workforce not only boosts performance but also contributes to the overall success and value creation within the organisation.
  • Insightful analytics for strategic decisions: Utilise analytical data from our Free LMS to measure course completion rates and student satisfaction, providing evidence of training effectiveness and supporting increased training budgets.
  • Real-time engagement and skill metrics: With real-time data, gain insights into employee engagement and skill application, allowing for optimised development strategies and informed decision-making.
  • Cost-effective training solution: Our Free LMS offers continuous learning opportunities and enhanced staff morale, as well as valuable ROI data. Dedicated support ensures a seamless experience for both administrators and learners.
  • Customisable learning paths: Tailor your training with our pre-curated course collections to meet specific developmental needs, ensuring employees are well-equipped for their roles.

Prioritising employee development with tools like Alison’s Free LMS can help you create a skilled, deeply satisfied, and fiercely committed workforce. When that happens, business outcomes soar to new heights.

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