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‘Now Is Our Time to Assemble’: The Week 6 Winner of Our Summer Reading Contest

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‘Now Is Our Time to Assemble’: The Week 6 Winner of Our Summer Reading Contest

Our annual Summer Reading Contest invites teenagers around the world to tell us what New York Times pieces get their attention and why. This week, the sixth of our 10-week challenge, we received 1,006 entries. Thank you to everyone who participated, and congratulations to our winner, Nathaniel Tok, as well as to the runners-up and honorable mentions we honor below.

Scroll down to take a look at the variety of topics that caught the eyes of our participants, including the war in Ukraine, dress codes in Iran, a larcenous sea otter and Texas barbecue. You can read the work of all of our winners since 2017 in this column.

Remember that you can participate any or every week this summer until Aug. 18. Just check the top of our contest announcement to find the right place to submit your response.

(Note to students: If you are one of this week’s winners and would like your last name published, please have a parent or guardian complete our permission form [PDF] and send it to us at LNFeedback@nytimes.com.)

Nathaniel Tok, 16, from Redmond, Wash., responded to the ongoing news from Hollywood, writing this about “Actors Join Writers on Strike, Bringing Hollywood to a Standstill”:

Growing up, the Avengers were a massive part of my life. I had watched every single Marvel movie up to “Avengers: Infinity War” and could barely contain my excitement when “Endgame” was announced. It wasn’t simply a movie; it marked the culmination of an unforgettable journey that had shaped so much of my childhood. I will always remember cheering along with my fellow moviegoers as the Avengers assembled for one last time, later leaving the theater holding back tears at Iron Man’s final sacrifice. I simply couldn’t help but feel as if I had been a member of the Avengers too, facing Thanos and his army.

When I read about the Hollywood strike, I felt like I had been hit with a punch from the Hulk himself. The news landed closer to home than any of Thanos’s schemes ever had; I had almost forgotten that the superheroes who I admired were real people too, fighting their own, very real battles. The article was a grim reminder of the struggles that these actors and writers endure daily. It has heightened my respect for them and opened my eyes to the horrors of an industry that I’ve grown up loving.

And so, now is our time to assemble. For the very visionaries who imagined the Avengers, for the unseen heroes behind the glimmering screens, it’s time to return the favor. And for the heroes yet to come and the children yet to be awed, we must advocate for a fairer Hollywood today.

_______

In alphabetical order by the writer’s first name.

Anfisa on “Zelensky Leaves NATO Summit to Face Hard Realities of War”

Catherine on “The 20 Best Texas Barbecue Restaurants From the New Generation”

Daniel L. on “An Elite School, a Boy’s Suicide and a Question of Blame”

Kathleen Y. on “Men Are Baring Midriffs in Crop Tops”

Nikitha M. on “She Steals Surfboards by the Seashore. She’s a Sea Otter.”

Qier L. on “More Grandma Content, Please”

Syeda Q. on “Iran Steps Up Policing of Women Who Defy Strict Dress Code”

Xiao Bo Zeng on “Silence Is a ‘Sound’ You Hear, Study Suggests”

________

Adam Liao on “My Unlikely Writing Teacher: Pedro Martinez”

Word of the Day: bedraggled

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Word of the Day: bedraggled

The word bedraggled has appeared in 27 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on July 18 in “Australian Man and His Dog Rescued After Nearly 3 Months at Sea” by Michael Levenson:

While searching for tuna last week, a helicopter pilot spotted something bobbing in the vast blue expanse of the Pacific Ocean, more than 1,200 miles from land.

It was a small white catamaran, badly damaged. Aboard it was a man with a shaggy, sun-bleached beard and bedraggled hair. He appeared somewhat dazed.

Can you correctly use the word bedraggled in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.

If you want a better idea of how bedraggled can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.

Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

The 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.

Handling Conflict in the Workplace

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Handling Conflict in the Workplace

We hear the word conflict, and many of us start looking for the nearest exit. It’s uncomfortable, scary, and marred with uncertainty at the possible outcomes, and we don’t always feel confident in our ability to navigate such interactions. It becomes trickier to work around in the workplace. But wherever people are, conflict is inevitable. Below is our guide on handling conflict in the workplace.

What is conflict?

Conflict is more than a difference of opinion. It is best described as a serious, protracted disagreement or argument over interests, opinions, and principles.

In the workplace, these disputes arise when there are different views, decisions, or actions taken about a job-related task. This type of squabble can also occur because of a feeling of poor management, organisational restructuring, retrenchments, competition, personality clashes, or when individuals simply don’t get along. It’s also helpful to understand that there are different types of conflict.

  • Task conflict: this is a process-oriented conflict that occurs when issues come to the fore from tasks and responsibilities allocated at work. Some examples of this are the outcomes of a decision, dissatisfaction with the quality of a deliverable, and budget allocations.
  • Relationship conflict: this can be difficult to fix because there isn’t a direct event that took place but it’s a result of personality clashes or differences in how leaders manage, communicate, cooperate, or resolve conflict.
  • Value conflict: as the name suggests this type of conflict is rooted in misaligned personal values on how things are done, differences in ethics, and political, social, and religious beliefs between colleagues.

This understanding can help guide approaches used in mediating the conflict and finding resolutions.

Strategies on how to resolve conflict

Addressing conflict is not always easy. This is true if you want to solve it personally, or are a supervisor tasked with handling the situation.

  1. Face the issue: Regardless of how awkward and sensitive it is, you must deal with conflict directly and decisively and not beat around the bush as that doesn’t resolve anything. Additionally, you need to ensure that you are dealing with the main issue at hand and not personal vendettas or older problems. If these do exist, set a time to deal with them separately.
  2. Deal with it quickly. You also need to face and deal with it as soon as possible. This prevents the issue from festering and growing bigger and thus, more difficult to work through.
  3. Identify the source of the conflict. You need to establish what type of conflict you’re dealing with. Is it task, value, or relationship based? This way, you will use the right tactics to deal with the problem.
  4. Communication is key. In a conflict, each party believes they are right and only their voice must be heard. Emphasize the importance of communicating clearly, accurately, respectfully, and maturely throughout the conflict resolution process. Failure to do this could lead to immature behaviours, and aggressive language, and ultimately primes you as the mediator and mediation, ineffective.
  5. A key part of communication that often gets ignored is listening. Many times, “The biggest communication problem is we do not listen to understand. We listen to the reply,” Stephen Covey. This is especially important as many conflicts arise from miscommunication and misunderstandings. What are the areas of agreement and disagreement? Everyone must prioritise listening over talking and grant the other individual the same courtesy.
  6. Find a common goal. Brainstorm workable solutions and leave out the options that the conflicting parties don’t find agreeable. The goal is to find common ground, a give and take from both sides that doesn’t make one feel like they have ‘won’ and the other has lost. It’s both of you against the problem, not each other.
  7. Evaluate. Take time after the goal has been established to create an action plan of what to do next, how well it’s being acted on, and if what was decided on is not working, regroup, and find a better way to deal with the issue.

Additionally, make sure the conflict resolution attempts take place at a convenient time and be clear about the intent and desire to find a solution. Feeling defensive going into a session to sort out the differences will unlikely achieve the result you want because emotions play a big role in the conflict. Being able to manage the emotions will go a long way.

  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help in resolving a conflict.
  • Honesty is key – about your fault if any, and the event or cause of conflict.

These strategies, when implemented correctly, will create a culture of resolution in the workplace. Employees will be confident in management and the organisation’s ability to work through problems head-on and therefore ensure that a healthy, safe, and productive environment is created and nurtured.

If you feel that ongoing conflicts are taking a toll on your mental health and workplace well-being, take time to work on yourself. Our mental health check-up is a quick, free, and simple way to assess your status and get the resources you need to get better.

Conflict is unavoidable. The good news is it is manageable. As a business, make it a part of your key values that employees must get behind. As an individual, do your best to work well with everyone. And where conflict does arise, endeavour to speedily find a solution to go back to a healthy workplace for all.

Word of the Day: aptitude

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Word of the Day: aptitude

The word aptitude has appeared in 40 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Feb. 7 in “A Trailblazing Black Cartoonist’s Work: ‘It’s Unapologetic, and It’s the Truth’” by Robert Ito:

… She loved to draw, and as the youngest child of Brumsic Brandon Jr., whose own nationally syndicated strip about inner-city Black children, “Luther,” ran from 1968 to 1986, she was never at a loss for art supplies.

When Brandon-Croft was in junior high school, her father needed help applying Zipatone, a form of coloring, to his strips. The artist gave his three children tests to see who might have an aptitude for it. “My brother had the shakiest hand,” she remembered. “We kept his drawing up for a long time, just so we could laugh at it.”

Can you correctly use the word aptitude in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.

If you want a better idea of how aptitude can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.

Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

The 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 LIST of Top Learning Systems (LMS, LXP, EDP, Learning Platforms)

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The LIST of Top Learning Systems (LMS, LXP, EDP, Learning Platforms)

Employee Development. Deskless Workers. Customer Training. Associations. L&D. Training. A List of Learning Systems for all of them, and so many more.

There are today, over 1,600 learning systems in the world. They come nowadays in all varieties – LMS, LXP, LXP+, Skilling focused, Skill Measurement, Learning Platforms, Coaching, Mentoring, Employee Development Platform – Learning is the core throughout, Cohort-Based Learning Platforms, Knowledge Management/COP (community of practice – why are you back?), Training Management, Employee Experience Platform (which is really an EDP), Characteristics-Focused Learning Platform, Learning Operations Platform, Video Learning Platform and Publishing Platforms – Learning document development, and other materials for learning and training.

Whew. Now, in reality, most are learning platforms or LMS, but they do not want to call themselves that, because of the marketing mislead of an LMS, being traditional legacy Darth Vader.

When I get clients, or when I am conducting my award explorations, I myself have use this list. Ok, I have multiple lists, but this one is the core. It is all dependent on specs, use cases, requirements and type. LXP for example, is used a lot in the learning system space, but the legit ones, the ones who are truly an LXP with all the criteria, well there are around 30 in the industry. I list three here, one being an LXP+, and a fourth that exists in Juno Journey.

I have a list of systems to watch, systems that are in this country or that country, systems broken down by new entry to the market, systems that I have concerns about – survival being the factor here, systems that are employee-focused, customer/client/partner-focused, and systems by type. I have a list of EdTech systems (K-12 and Higher Ed) too.

This list is all corporate – which includes non-profits, association, employee-focused, customer training focused, government usage (i.e. sells to a government) and direct to customer.

Systems in this list are from around the world. Canada, South Africa, Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Chile and the United States.

The Codes

  • FAL= They are listed on FindAnLMS, where you can compare them, see implementation time frames, pricing ranges and much more – it is the platform I developed
  • Customer Training – Customer (B2B), Partner, Distributor, Franchises, Clients, Training Consultant – selling content, Content provider – selling content, Associations, and D2C – Director to Customer. A legacy term – Extended Enterprise is used here too. – If you are in Training, this is your primary audience. Marketing too. .
  • EDP – Employee Development – Employees – internal, if you are in L&D, this is your primary audience, Training could as well, even sales training.
  • Coaching
  • Mentoring
  • Other – The other categories, listed above

The List

Word of the Day: eclectic

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Word of the Day: eclectic

The word eclectic has appeared in 306 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on July 4 in “Her Symphony Reclaims an Ancestral Story, and Classical Music” by Tim Greiving:

The four-movement “Sea Island Symphony” is the most ambitious addition yet to a composing and performing career that has included punk rock, film scores and opera. Tamar-kali’s eclectic output is the product of wildly varied input — her family’s juke joint in the Sea Islands, blues and jazz, and the Ashkenazi cantorial melodies and classical music she absorbed growing up in New York City.

… Tamar-kali transcended punk to found the Psychochamber Ensemble, an all-female string and choral group that also covered Kate Bush. She was dipping back into classical music, and she realized, if only after the fact, that she was trying to recreate the fellowship she had experienced in school choir — but now in a safe space while maintaining her agency. “I didn’t even realize I was trying to heal myself,” she said.

Can you correctly use the word eclectic in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.

If you want a better idea of how eclectic can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.

Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

The 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.

A Google engineer’s journey through IIT Roorkee’s online Executive MBA programme

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A Google engineer’s journey through IIT Roorkee’s online Executive MBA programme

“I definitely see long term value in this course. The areas that I have never learned like finance, marketing, these are areas which I had zero clue about because I’ve been into my cocoon of software and technical work”. According to Amit, the programme offers a significant body of work that can be leveraged to gain a well-rounded understanding of several key areas, specifically for tech professionals who don’t have experience in these fields. He adds, “It exposes tech folks, at least people like me, into areas which we have never thought of, simple things like how do you read a quarterly statement for a company? How do you understand balance sheets? How do you understand the different decisions that are made based on the financial conditions?” 

Amit Jha, a software engineer at Google, recently enrolled in an online Executive MBA (EMBA) degree at IIT Roorkee in an effort to pivot his career towards a product management role. In a candid conversation, Amit shares his experiences and thoughts on the programme, highlighting the long-term value in terms of learning outcomes and applicability.

Exploring and mastering new areas

Flexible learning experience

Amit also appreciates the flexibility provided by the Executive MBA programme. He mentions that the online platform worked well for him, allowing him to learn from his phone and watch videos while on the move. Also, due to his already busy schedule, Amit says, “Exams have been a little bit of a challenge but the flexibility that the EMBA leadership have shown, like instead of having exams over two weekends, we were able to do it over three weekends, is something I truly appreciate.”

Learning from visiting professors and guest lectures

One of the highlights for Amit has been the guest lectures from experts with extensive experience in the field. “I have enjoyed learning from people with 40-50 years of experience and not just in one area, but multiple areas and leadership positions. So that has been useful” he says. 

These interactions have deepened his understanding and have been instrumental in broadening his perspective on various aspects of management.

Why an Executive MBA over a traditional MBA?

While traditional MBAs focus on definitions and old-school approaches, the Executive MBA programme at IIT Roorkee emphasizes applicability and experiential learning. Moreover, the programme offers strategic and tactical-level management instruction, better suited to Amit’s professional needs.

Overall, the online Executive MBA from IIT Roorkee has been pivotal in preparing Amit for the next steps in his career. The programme succeeds in breaking down barriers between technology and management, providing a comprehensive, flexible, and enriching learning experience tailored for individuals like Amit, who are eager to make a transition in their professional lives.

Click to find out more about IIT Roorkee’s Executive MBA programme

Confident and Wrong: Can Students Learn from Their Mistakes?

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Confident and Wrong: Can Students Learn from Their Mistakes?

by Cindy Nebel

We’re all wrong from time to time. We misremember something or we were taught something factually inaccurate to begin with. It happens. As an educator, I have certainly had students that come to my class with some inaccurate beliefs (see neuromyths). When students find out that they’re wrong about something, how often does that sink in? How often do we learn from our mistakes?

While this is a complex question, today I’m going to share a hot-off-the-presses study with you that looked at one aspect of this issue. In this study, the researchers were interested in learning from errors on tests in particular. When a student really thinks they know the answer and then find out that they’re wrong and are given the correct answer, they often learn MORE than if they were just guessing (1). The surprise of finding out that what they thought they knew was wrong is, well, surprising! And so they’re more likely to remember it later. Researchers call this the hypercorrection effect. But it’s unclear whether students are just memorizing the correct answer to a specific question (as opposed to really integrating it) or how long they will remember that correct answer.

This series of studies was designed to answer those two specific questions (2). Students from a university course were given a pre-test covering lots of the concepts that would be covered during the course. On each question they were asked how confident they were that they were right and they were immediately told the correct answer. Afterward, they were given the exact same test again to see if they corrected those confident wrong answers in the way that is typical in hypercorrection effect studies. Sure enough, when students guessed, they were less likely to learn the right answer than if they thought they knew the answer and were wrong (bummer.).

How Alison Helped Me Make a Difference

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How Alison Helped Me Make a Difference

It’s often said that if you aren’t learning, you aren’t growing. And growth is an important part of life. When you learn, you empower yourself, get a step closer to achieving your goals, and change the lives of those around you. But sometimes we experience a dip in motivation and we don’t see results as quickly as we’d like. One way to encourage yourself to keep going is by hearing about someone else’s journey and how they overcame obstacles and are doing it! Let’s meet one of our students and read his story.

Introduction

I am Wahab ur Rehman from Pakistan, and I have had the privilege of working in the hospitality industry for over ten years. However, during my career, I noticed a significant gap in food safety practices in my country. The implementation of food safety laws was lacking, and there was a need to develop a culture that prioritised hygiene. That’s when I came across Alison, a platform offering comprehensive courses on food safety and hygiene. My journey with Alison transformed my knowledge and skills, enabling me to make a substantial impact on food safety in my workplace and beyond. Today, I share with you my success story, made possible by the valuable resources provided by Alison and my unwavering determination to bring about positive change.

Challenges and opportunities

When I recognised the dire need to improve food safety practices in my company, I knew I had to take action. Despite my decade-long experience in the catering industry, I felt there was still much to learn. Alison presented a remarkable opportunity for me to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to drive meaningful change. I saw it as a chance to not only enhance my own education but also uplift the entire industry and community.

Empowering education

My journey began when I visited the Alison website and explored their food safety and hygiene courses. The extensive curriculum and user-friendly platform impressed me, and I eagerly enrolled in the courses. Through Alison, I delved into international best practices, regulations, and standards related to food safety. The comprehensive content, interactive modules, and practical examples equipped me with the necessary tools to implement effective food safety protocols in my workplace.

Implementing change

Armed with newfound knowledge and unwavering determination, I set out to revolutionise food safety practices in my hospitality company. I embarked on a mission to train my colleagues and employees, ensuring they understood the critical importance of food safety and hygiene in maintaining a healthy and reputable establishment. I introduced updated protocols and implemented rigorous monitoring systems to guarantee compliance. Over time, my efforts resulted in the establishment of a strong culture of food safety within the organisation.

Beyond the workplace

I soon realized that my impact could extend beyond the boundaries of my workplace. Recognising the lack of awareness and adherence to food safety standards in my country, I sought opportunities to educate others in the community. I collaborated with local authorities, NGOs, and community centres to organise workshops and training sessions on food safety and hygiene. By sharing my knowledge and experiences, I aimed to create a positive ripple effect throughout the region, ensuring a healthier and safer environment for all.

Creating a legacy

As word spread about my dedication and achievements in promoting food safety, I began receiving recognition within the hospitality industry and the broader community. I was invited to speak at conferences and seminars, where I shared my knowledge and experiences, inspiring others to prioritise food safety. I became a mentor and advocate for change, encouraging aspiring professionals to join the cause. My success story became a symbol of hope and possibility for those who believed in making a difference.

Gratitude to Alison

I am immensely grateful to the Alison team for providing accessible and high-quality courses worldwide, transcending the barriers between developed and underdeveloped nations. The courses I completed on Alison’s platform not only enhanced my professional growth but also empowered me to bring about substantial change in promoting food safety in Pakistan. I deeply appreciate Alison’s commitment to global education, enabling individuals like me to become catalysts for positive change.

Conclusion

My journey towards promoting food safety in Pakistan, supported by Alison’s courses, has been nothing short of transformative. Through education and unwavering determination, I overcame the challenges posed by inadequate food safety laws and a lack of cultural awareness. Today, I stand as proof that a single individual is armed with knowledge. 

Rehman’s story is an inspiring reminder that you have the power and ability to change your life. Alison has over 4500+ courses to learn, upskill, and empower yourself. What are you waiting for?

Word of the Day: divulge

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Word of the Day: divulge

The word divulge has appeared in 76 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on May 4 in “How The Legend of Zelda Changed the Game” by Zachary Small and Rumsey Taylor:

“Someone might write an entire university dissertation on a specific part of the worlds created by Tolkien,” said Ed King, a 26-year-old British gamer who translates the mysteries of the Zelda universe for his 700,000 YouTube subscribers. “Zelda lore isn’t quite on that level yet, but it does have depth.”

For his half-hour analysis of that Tears of the Kingdom preview, King spent more than a dozen hours scrutinizing every frame, even playing the audio backward in search of any messages that could divulge some of the plot points Nintendo closely guards. He also belongs to a Reddit forum where Zelda theorists are attempting to translate hieroglyphics from marketing materials; some of the amateur philologists speculate that the symbols were inspired by Chinese characters or Japanese hiragana.

Can you correctly use the word divulge in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.

If you want a better idea of how divulge can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.

Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

The 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.

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