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Behind the Build: Jupyter Notebooks in Our Data Science Courses

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Behind the Build: Jupyter Notebooks in Our Data Science Courses

If you’ve taken one of our data science courses, you’ve probably seen Jupyter Notebooks, the industry-standard workspaces for developing data science code and visualizations. Jupyter Notebooks are built right into lessons in many of our courses and paths — like Getting Started with Python for Data Science and Introduction to Big Data with PySpark — so you can get hands-on realistic experience working with the tools that professional Data Scientists use in the wild.

Nick Duckwiler, a Software Engineer II at Codecademy, led the tech team that was tasked with integrating Jupyter Notebooks into the learning environment, (the interactive platform that you see when you’re taking our courses or paths). It was a unique challenge with layers of steps that took a year to complete from kickoff to release. “There was sort of a blueprint for how to do this, but a lot of it we had to figure out ourselves,” Nick says. 

Here’s an inside look at how Codecademy engineers built Jupyter Notebooks into our courses and paths, the hurdles they faced in the process, and the lessons they learned from building this feature.

The project: Get Jupyter Notebooks in the Codecademy learning environment. 

Normally, the Jupyter Notebook web app runs locally or on a cloud provider, “which is hard on its own,” Nick says. The team had to add Jupyter Notebooks as a component in the learning environment, hook it up to our other functionalities, and communicate with the Jupyter Notebook server, so that learners could write, save, and evaluate code all while taking a course.

There were three projects nestled inside this larger assignment: 

  • Enable Jupyter notebooks to run on our back-end infrastructure
  • Make sure the front end of the product looks presentable
  • Add a functionality so learners can test their code and surface a solution

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Investigation and roadmapping

“There was an initial step to just check that this was possible on the back end, because a Jupyter Notebook runs in our containers. It took three or four months of work to investigate that. Early on, it took me a while to understand really what Jupyter Notebooks is and what it means when you run Jupyter Notebooks. 

During our sprints, we do these things called spikes, where one or two engineers will explore how hard something is, if something is possible, or how much work it’ll require if we do it. You just kind of poke around the code thinking, What do we need to get this going? Usually, that results in some proof of concept.

Then we make a project plan for all the work that needs to be done. Each project has a technical lead, an engineer who takes the user requirements or the designs and figures out how it gets done. We also usually have help from a Project Manager to figure out what should be prioritized first and who should be working on what. A lot of planning happens in Jira, where we will make epics or sagas, which are large collections of tickets. Then we break it down into smaller bits until there are specific tickets that an engineer can pick up and do within a few days.” 

Implementation

“I had a huge Notion doc that I would write down all my findings in, and they would eventually result in a PR, which is some amount of code that I was going to change that would get reviewed by someone else and shipped. The front end of our courses and paths is built with TypeScript using React, Redux, and Next.js frameworks. And then the back-end services that are related to this project are written in Golang.

A peek into the Notion doc that Nick used to chronicle his findings.

A typical day involved a lot of coding, researching, and looking at the Jupyter docs. I would work on it for a while, and then if I got stuck, I’d ask another engineer who has more experience with different parts of the codebase for help. A lot of engineering is just solving headaches.”

Troubleshooting

“Something that was super frustrating on this project was proxying, which is basically forwarding requests between two services and authenticating them. It was a whole new infrastructure concept that I had never dealt with before. 

When a learner logs on to Codecademy and is in a course or path, they’re connected to a container, which is like a mini virtual computer. The container has to go through a service that authenticates that user and assigns them a set of computing resources. And then those computing resources have their own sort of agent that manages those resources and makes sure that you don’t run anything bad. And if you are using it for more than an hour, it gives you a new container. 

A lot of engineering is just solving headaches.

Nick Duckwiler

Codecademy Software Engineer II

There was just so much we needed to do to make sure all those requests are allowed, and that each service recognizes the source of the request, and responds in kind. Things randomly fail, or requests will come back with an unusual response that doesn’t make sense. It’s very difficult to debug, and it really was annoying until I understood it.

It helps to have a good team of people that are really supportive and want to help. That really carries me a lot of times when I’m so frustrated that I want to break my computer. The nice thing is that other engineers have all been through this type of thing, so they know how it is. The more little wins you get, the longer you can go without one, because you know there’s another one at the end.”  

Ship

“The first time seeing Jupyter Notebooks fully run in our learning environment and having it look like what I wanted it to look like was super rewarding. I remember standing up with my hands in the air — it was so exciting. It took so much effort, and you start to doubt whether it will even work, because you just keep hitting another roadblock. Then you think, this is going to fix the roadblock, and it works for a while, and then someone else breaks it.

Here’s what it looks like to have a fully-functioning Jupyter Notebook embedded in our learning environment.

For my team, the main metrics we measure for success are delivery of the product and the developer experience. So if other people are using this code or using this new feature, how easy is it for them to work with it? There are also more technical metrics with more formal tracking, such as Largest Contentful Paint, latency between requests, or if there are dropped connections. We also listen for feedback from customer support. The Curriculum team was really happy, and they’re our main sort of ‘consumer’ because they’re using Jupyter Notebooks all the time and designing the experience.”

Retrospective 

“I feel like every time I take on a new project that I don’t totally understand, I learn so much new stuff. With engineering, there are infinite rabbit holes that you can go down and down until you get to, like, how circuits work. This project forced me to learn what the heck is going on behind the learning environment. 

This project was spread across multiple teams and phases. Mariel Frank, Software Engineer II, was super instrumental and did a ton of work on this, as well as Senior Software Engineer Tim Jenkins. Ian Munro, a Senior Software Engineer, helped out a lot. Leon Pham, a Staff Engineer on the Infrastructure team, helped me with the proxy in particular. And then we had two Product Managers, Dónal Ó Dubhthaigh, and Daniel Munter.”

Over 75 New York Times Graphs for Students to Analyze

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Over 75 New York Times Graphs for Students to Analyze

What do you notice?
What do you wonder?
What’s going on this graph?

These three simple, open-ended questions are at the heart of “What’s Going On in This Graph?” — a weekly activity we’ve been running in collaboration with the American Statistical Association (A.S.A.) for the past six years. This feature invites students to analyze and interpret graphs previously published in The New York Times, first by noticing and wondering, then by creating a catchy headline to capture a graph’s main idea, and finally by considering what impact this data might have on them and their communities.

Classrooms around the country, and around the world, participate regularly — either by joining our public forum where students post comments and interact with our teacher moderators, or by having a discussion in their own classroom. They analyze graphs about sports figures like LeBron James, environmental trends like rising temperatures, economic activity like price inflation, and political realities like the ages of world leaders.

If you’re new to the feature, here is how it works:

  • Most weeks during the school year, from September to May, we take a graph that has been published in The New York Times and ask students to share what they notice and wonder about it. This feature is completely free.

  • We post these graphs on Thursdays, and include them in our free weekly newsletter, so teachers can plan for the coming week.

  • Then, on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern time, we host a live-moderated discussion where students from around the world post their observations and analysis while moderators from A.S.A. facilitate the student conversation.

  • Your class can join the discussion any day of the week, not just Wednesdays, and students can even comment on graphs in our archive.

  • On Thursday afternoons, a week after we publish each graph, we add a “reveal” to the post which includes additional background about these graphs, shout-outs for great student headlines, and relevant statistical concepts.

You can find all the graphs we have ever published, organized by topic and graph type, in two collections: 69 graphs from 2017-2020 (published in 2020) and the 79 graphs from 2020-2023, listed below. You can also find also find them in this column, which continually updates as we publish new graphs each school year.

Graphs, Charts and Maps From “What’s Going On in This Graph?” (Sept. 2020 — May 2023)

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Graphs, Charts and Maps From “What’s Going On in This Graph?” (Sept. 2020 — May 2023)

Each of the graphs in this slide show was featured in one of our weekly “What’s Going On in This Graph?” discussions from Sept. 2020 to May 2023. To learn more about a graph, including source information and related statistical concepts, visit the accompanying link.

Climate Threats

Imperial College London launches new Specialization on Coursera to help learners unleash their creativity in the age of AI

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Imperial College London launches new Specialization on Coursera to help learners unleash their creativity in the age of AI

By Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer, Coursera

Today Imperial College London has launched a new Specialization, Creative Thinking Tools for Success and Leadership.

Generative AI has massive implications for the modern workforce – up to 49% of workers could have half or more of their tasks exposed to large language models. And this impact goes beyond the repeatable jobs that AI has historically displaced. Jobs that require creative and complex cognitive skills are now also at risk.

This new Specialization, taught by design engineering expert Peter Childs, will help workers advance their creative thinking to add value beyond AI using structured processes as well as new and innovative techniques. 

The three-course Specialization builds upon Imperial’s successful course, Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for Success, which has amassed more than 280,000 enrollments on Coursera since launch in 2019. The new Specialization not only delves deeper into how to use creative tools to tackle global challenges, but also teaches learners how AI can help augment their work and generate creative outcomes. 

“I am delighted to launch this Specialization on creative thinking. The courses provide an overview of fundamental approaches to creativity as well as exposure to a wide range of approaches to productive thinking and a framework to guide the selection of what approach you might want to use to augment your innate creativity,” said Peter Childs FREng, co-director of the Energy Futures Lab at Imperial College London. “I am really looking forward to the emergence of many wonderful ideas and seeing learners’ creativity flourish as the courses progress.” 

Upon completion, learners will be prepared to:

  • Use diverse brainstorming techniques, systematic creativity tools, and advanced creative thinking strategies in their work.
  • Use various approaches such as the creativity diamond framework, biomimicry, analogy, metaphor, and AI-enabled platforms to generate innovative ideas. 
  • Use creative techniques to effectively address challenges or opportunities in their projects or activities. 

To provide more expert perspectives, the program features interviews with various CEOs, including Coursera’s CEO Jeff Maggioncalda, who uses generative AI to refine and augment creative ideas and initiatives. 

As generative AI continues to revolutionize the world, it’s more important than ever for workers to gain new skills that can’t be replicated by technology. We’re fortunate to partner with an esteemed institution like Imperial College London to help learners unlock their creative potential.

Available today, the Creative Thinking Tools for Success and Leadership Specialization is designed to take 18 weeks to complete and costs $49 a month. Click here to learn more and enroll.

How To Create A Free Blog Website For Affiliate Marketing

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How To Create A Free Blog Website For Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is everything it’s cracked up to me. If you do it right. In a nutshell, Affiliate Marketing involves empowering others by sharing the products and services you’re passionate about all while earning an income for yourself. The best part about being an affiliate is that anyone can do it. So where do you start? One of the most popular and successful ways to kickstart your promotional journey is to get an affiliate blog up and running. But this can be tricky so we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll outline the steps you need to create a free blog website for Affiliate marketing.

What is an affiliate blog?

When the concept of blogging (short for weblog) first took off, it was a web journal where the blogger (you) would create and share information and content on an array of topics. These included arts, lifestyle content, and design to name a few, taking an informal and conversational tone. It hasn’t changed much. An affiliate blog is a blog where you add affiliate links to the content you share. When visitors click and make a purchase through these links, you earn an affiliate commission from the business or advertisers who provide the links. With an affiliate blog, you are ultimately using the power of words to sell and promote another company’s product or service.

This sounds easy enough but unfortunately, many people don’t know even how or where to start when creating a blog. 

Benefits of using a blog as an affiliate

Firstly, you may be wondering if there are other platforms you can use as an affiliate. There are, but being an affiliate marketer without a blog or website is not recommended. Here are a few reasons why you should create a blog to grow as an affiliate marketer.

  • A blog allows you to create useful content. You’re not limited to a character limit so you can provide your readers with more information about the products and services you are promoting. 
  • A blog helps you generate more traffic to your Affiliate links. A new audience can find you through search engines such as Google. More eyes on your page means more opportunities to get conversions.
  • A blog is primed to promote your affiliate link through emailing lists, special offers and discounts, reviews, and other marketing techniques you can use.

How to create an affiliate blog

The good news is, you don’t need to be a tech expert or know anything about coding to create a blog. Anyone can do it. 

  1.     Identify your niche

The first step in affiliate blogging is knowing your niche. This is the market segment you want to appeal to. It’s an important step because if you get it wrong, your affiliate marketing career won’t take off and yield the results you hope for. In finding your niche, you need to take time to research what people are interested in, which topics are oversaturated (high competition), and which products or services have a high sales volume. For example, you initially think of a blog about shoes, which is a broad category. You can, however, narrow this down and create a blog about mules which is much less saturated but is growing and has lots of interest.

  1.       Put a name on it

What’s in a name you ask? Everything. This name is your address on the internet. It’s where people will find you when they search the web. Some domain names are more expensive than others so it’s imperative you search different hosts to see what names are available and suit you best. A host like NameCheap is a great and affordable place to start. You want to choose a domain name that is memorable yet easy to find and one that relates to your niche.

  1.       Choose a host

Now that you have a name for your blog, you need to decide if you want a blogging platform like WordPress or Bluehost or an independent website to host your blog. Each option has its own pros and cons, but you need to read through their affiliate marketing T&Cs and guidelines to decide which host you want to make your home in. With an established blogging platform, you can choose from their selection of templates for a look and feel that suits you. Or if you choose to do it all independently, you have full creative control over the design elements but, this may cost you a small penny if you aren’t skilled at building websites.

  1.       Create content

Once you’ve built all the important pages on your blog, for example, on WordPress, it’s time to post your first piece of content. The content you create, and share is a critical part of your success as an affiliate marketer. There are thousands of other affiliates and blogs competing for clicks. Therefore, you need to put out content that sets you apart from the rest. Here are some tips on creating memorable content:

  • Make sure your content is search-optimised content. This means using natural language and ensuring your content is full of keywords that are related to your niche. There are plenty of free keyword research tools to use, for example, Google Trends. 
  • Create content with intent. All content you create should be written with your audience in mind. Ask yourself if you are answering their questions or providing them with valuable insights and information on the topic.
  • Stick to blog-style formatting. Blog writing is different from magazines, newspapers, and your regular social media posts. Use headings and subheadings, bullet points, and add images and videos to your posts.
  • Make it engaging. Check your blog tone, be lighthearted, and if you can, share anecdotes that will make your readers want to come back again.
  • Get help. If you are struggling for inspiration or suffer from writer’s block, ask ChatGPT to help you. You can use this tool to help you write a first draft and then put your own personal touch on the final article to make it your own.
  1.     Find an Affiliate marketing programme

Once your blog is up and running and you’re starting to see traffic, you can take the next step and add affiliate links. You need to ensure that the affiliate programme you sign up for suits your blog’s niche and has a product or service you genuinely believe in. It may all be online, but your audience will smell if you’re being disingenuous about what you’re promoting. Additionally, you want to make sure that the affiliate programme you sign up with will support your affiliate journey, is reputable, has a reasonable cookie duration, and finally, that you understand their terms and conditions to ensure it’s the best fit for you.

Alison’s Affiliate Programme is works

It’s easy to become an Alison Affiliate. Once you’ve created your Alison account, you can sign up to become an Affiliate.

  1.     Register an Affiliate

Go to our Affiliate Page and click the button “Become an Affiliate”. Once you accept the T&Cs, you are fully registered. It’s that easy! You can also join one of our informative webinar sessions and speak directly with an Alison representative to learn more about empowering others as an Alison affiliate.

  1.     Invite

Using the Affiliate link generator, share your Affiliate links online with your friends, family, colleagues, neighbours, and anyone else you can think of who might benefit from our free educational and professional tools.

  1.       Earn money

You will receive 20% of the revenue generated by the new learners who come to Alison through your Affiliate links.

But remember, using a blog for affiliate marketing doesn’t automatically mean you will be swimming in your affiliate commission once it goes live. The truth is it will take some time. And it’s only if you push through the hard part that you will reap the benefits. You need to put in the time, patience, hone several skills and be persistent in putting out good quality content. And doing this consistently. Happy blogging.

Word of the Day: happenstance

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Word of the Day: happenstance

The word happenstance has appeared in 47 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on June 19 in the Opinion essay “Cormac McCarthy Had a Remarkable Literary Career. It Could Never Happen Now” by Dan Sinykin:

Then something remarkable happened. In 1992, after a career spent eking out a living, Mr. McCarthy had a hit. “All the Pretty Horses,” which won the National Book Award and was adapted by Hollywood, set him squarely on a path to literary stardom and an outsize reputation as one of the greatest novelists of his time.

This improbable trajectory — writer toils for decades in obscurity before finding international renown — is the stuff of legend. But it did not occur by accident or happenstance. Mr. McCarthy’s career was made possible by a tectonic shift that was happening in the publishing industry as it moved from the boutique model of the early 20th century to an era of conglomeration. If the first part of his career was illustrative of publishing’s old model, the second half was made possible by a new approach. With his famed reclusiveness and idiosyncratic prose style, Mr. McCarthy might seem like an obdurate anachronism. But his career arc reveals that he was serendipitously of his time.

Can you correctly use the word happenstance 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 happenstance 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.

6 Coding & Tech Newsletters You Need in Your Inbox

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6 Coding & Tech Newsletters You Need in Your Inbox

Trying to stay up-to-date on tech news in today’s rapidly-changing world can feel like drinking from a fire hose. That’s why subscribing to email newsletters is such a convenient way to stay informed — you get curated insights and thought-provoking articles delivered straight to your inbox, no scrolling endless news feeds or trying to find a link. 

Knowing what’s happening in the tech industry at large will give you a valuable edge at every stage of your learning journey and career. If you’re brand new to coding, being able to identify emerging technologies and programming languages can help you decide which skills you should focus on to have a successful and rewarding tech career. Or if you’re an experienced dev who leads a tech team, keeping your finger on the pulse of the tech world can help you guide and direct your team so you can make strategic decisions that align with market demands. 

These days, everyone seems to have a newsletter, and we get it: your inbox is precious real estate. To help you cut through the noise, we found the newsletters about tech, coding, and work that are worth a place in your inbox.

in_development

Did you know there’s a Codecademy newsletter? Each month, we’ll send you a heads up about new course launches, upcoming community events, as well as inspiring blog articles to read, and tips straight from other Codecademy learners like you. Check your inbox, because anyone with a Codecademy account is already subscribed to our newsletter. (And if you don’t have an account yet, this is another reason why you should sign up for a free Codecademy membership.) You can also enter your email address in the box below to get access. The next newsletter drops on August 15, so keep an eye out!

TLDR 

The name says it all: Get the TL;DR version of the daily news around tech with TLDR’s newsletters. There are several newsletters on different tech beats that you can choose from (we’re fans of the TLDR AI newsletter). Best of all, the newsletter is concise enough that you can read it before your team stand-up meeting.

Management Tip of the Day

Folks who are leading a tech team for the first time will appreciate getting these bite-sized management tips from Harvard Business Review in their inbox. Each day tackles a specific leadership issue, like how to nail a presentation when your time is cut short or how to advance your career if your company is downsizing. Even if you’re not managing a team right now, there’s tons of wisdom that you can get from this newsletter so you can feel prepared for the next step of your career. 

The Algorithm 

MIT Technology Review’s Melissa Heikkilä runs a weekly newsletter all about AI and its effects on society. If you want a thoughtful and pragmatic take on the latest AI innovations making headlines, subscribe to The Algorithm. Melissa includes links to longer articles from publications around the internet that will help you contextualize the age of AI.

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Frontend Focus

HTML/CSS might’ve been the very first languages you picked up, but there’s always something new you can learn to take your front-end programming skills to the next level. The Frontend Focus newsletter is a sweet way to discover buzzy new front-end coding tools and web dev technologies. In addition to links to relevant news articles, Frontend Focus often shares useful video tutorials and explainers that’ll help you master specific CSS tricks and techniques. And if you’re looking for more hands-on guidance, we have lots of CSS courses that are geared towards developers of all levels.

Rendezvous with Cassidoo

We look forward to reading Cassidy Williams’ friendly and funny web development newsletter every week. Cassidy is a Software Engineer and CTO whose newsletter Rendezvous with Cassidoo highlights intriguing articles and just plain cool finds from the web (plenty of mechanical keyboard content if that’s your thing). She also shares an interview question that’ll help you keep your skills sharp. 

Benedict’s Newsletter

This no-frills tech news roundup is curated by Benedict Evans, a tech analyst who has decades of experience in the VC space. The newsletter is a mix of tech news with commentary, links to big ideas, relevant data stories, and “outside interests.” If you need some reading material for your commute or want some perspective on the news of the week, it’s worth subscribing to. (There’s a free version that drops on Tuesdays, or you can pay extra to get the newsletter on Sundays.) 

Want to read more about the tech industry? Follow Codecademy on Instagram for our weekly roundup of tech articles, explore the articles on our blog, and see what folks are talking about in our forums.

The Benefits of Microlearning for Employee Training

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The Benefits of Microlearning for Employee Training

Microlearning has gained popularity in recent years due to its effectiveness in employee training. It offers several benefits that can enhance learning outcomes and overall employee development. In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of using microlearning for employee training.

What is microlearning?

Microlearning is an approach to learning and training that involves delivering information in small, bite-sized units or modules from a few minutes to around 10 minutes in duration. The distinguishing feature of microlearning is its brevity and focused nature. It focuses on delivering specific and targeted content in a concise and easily digestible format. The content is often delivered in various formats, such as videos, interactive presentations, quizzes, infographics, podcasts, or short articles.

The principles of microlearning

In short, the principles of microlearning can be summarized as follows:

  • Bite-sized: Microlearning breaks down content into small, focused modules that are easily digestible and can be completed within a short timeframe.
  • Accessible: Microlearning is designed to be easily accessible to learners anytime and anywhere, often leveraging mobile devices and online platforms.
  • Engaging: Microlearning incorporates interactive and multimedia elements to engage learners and enhance their motivation and interest in the content.
  • Personalised: Microlearning allows for customisation and personalisation based on individual learner preferences, needs, and job roles.
  • Reinforcement: Microlearning utilises spaced repetition and reinforcement techniques to enhance knowledge retention over time.
  • Scalable and adaptable: Microlearning can be easily updated, modified, or expanded as needed, making it scalable and adaptable to changing content or training requirements.

With these principles, organisations can create effective microlearning experiences that maximise learning outcomes and engage employees in continuous skill development.

A few examples of microlearning

The below examples demonstrate the versatility of microlearning in delivering targeted and engaging content in various formats.

  • Skill demonstration videos: Short videos demonstrating specific skills or tasks can be created and shared with employees.
  • Interactive quizzes: These quizzes, developed to test knowledge on specific topics, can be completed in a few minutes and provide immediate feedback to the learners.
  • Infographics: Infographics present information in a concise and visually appealing manner, making it easy for learners to grasp and remember.
  • Podcast episodes: Employees can listen to these bite-sized podcast episodes during their commutes or breaks, enhancing their knowledge of various subjects.
  • Mini simulations: Interactive simulations can be developed to allow employees to practice specific tasks or decision-making scenarios in a controlled environment. These simulations provide hands-on experience and immediate feedback.

By utilising such microlearning approaches, organisations can enhance employee learning experiences and facilitate continuous skill development.

The benefits of microlearning for businesses

Microlearning has various benefits and each of these showcases the value of microlearning as an effective approach for employee training.

  • Time-efficient: Microlearning breaks down training content into bite-sized, focused modules that can be consumed in short periods. This makes it easier to fit learning into their busy schedules.
  • Engaging and interactive: Microlearning often utilises interactive elements such as videos, quizzes, simulations, and gamification techniques. These elements make the learning process more engaging, enjoyable, and memorable.
  • Mobile accessibility: Microlearning is highly compatible with mobile devices and employees can access training modules anytime, anywhere, allowing them to learn at their convenience.
  • Cost-effective: Microlearning can be a cost-effective training solution compared to traditional methods. Creating and updating small learning modules is often more efficient and less expensive than developing comprehensive training programmes.

The drawbacks of microlearning

While microlearning offers numerous benefits, it is important to consider its potential drawbacks as well. Here are a few drawbacks:

  • Lack of depth: Microlearning modules may provide a limited scope of information. Learners may not gain a comprehensive understanding of complex subjects or topics that require in-depth exploration.
  • Fragmented knowledge: The lack of integration between modules may make it challenging for learners to connect and apply the acquired knowledge effectively.
  • Limited context: Microlearning modules may not always provide sufficient context or real-world examples. This can make it difficult for learners to understand how to apply the learned concepts or skills in practical situations.
  • Potential for superficial learning: Due to the brevity of microlearning modules, there is a risk of surface-level or superficial learning where they complete modules without deeply understanding the underlying principles or concepts.
  • Technical limitations: Depending on the delivery platform or technology used, microlearning may have technical limitations. Issues with internet connectivity, compatibility across devices, or access to necessary resources can hinder the effectiveness of microlearning initiatives.

It’s important to address these drawbacks by carefully designing and implementing microlearning programmes that complement broader learning strategies. Combining microlearning with other forms of training can help mitigate some of these limitations and provide a more holistic learning experience.

Best practices for microlearning

To fully experience the benefits of microlearning, there are some best practices to consider in implementation:

  • Identify clear learning objectives: Clearly define the learning objectives for each microlearning module. This ensures that the content remains focused and aligned with the desired outcomes.
  • Chunk information effectively: Break down content into small, easily digestible units. Keep each module concise and focused on a single topic or skill to maximise learner engagement and retention.
  • Leverage multimedia: Utilise a variety of multimedia elements such as videos, interactive quizzes, animations, or infographics to make the learning experience more engaging and effective. Use visuals, audio, and interactive features to enhance understanding and retention.
  • Integrate with the learning ecosystem: Integrate microlearning modules with other learning resources and platforms, such as learning management systems (LMS), to create a cohesive and seamless learning experience for employees.
  • Evaluate and iterate: Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of microlearning initiatives through learner feedback, assessments, and analytics. Use this feedback to make improvements and iterate on the content and delivery strategies.

By following these best practices, organisations can ensure that their microlearning initiatives are well-designed, engaging, and aligned with the learning needs of their employees.

How can Alison help your employees with learning for free?

Alison offers a wide range of courses and resources for individuals to enhance their knowledge and skills. Here’s how Alison can help your employees with learning for free:

  • Extensive course catalogue: Alison has over 4500+ courses covering various subjects, including business, technology, health, languages, and more.
  • Free: Employees can enrol in courses without any cost, making it a cost-effective option for organisations seeking to provide learning opportunities to their workforce.
  • Flexibility and self-paced learning: Alison’s courses are self-paced, allowing employees to learn at their own convenience and fit learning into their schedules, making it suitable for remote or busy employees.
  • Certification and diplomas: Learners can earn certificates or diplomas. These credentials can serve as proof of their newly acquired skills and can enhance their resumes or professional profiles.
  • Specialisations and learning paths: Alison provides specialisations and learning paths that guide learners through a curated series of courses, enabling them to develop expertise in specific areas or pursue a structured learning journey.
  • Continuous learning opportunities: Alison encourages continuous learning by regularly updating its course offerings. Employees can access new courses or revisit existing ones to stay updated with the latest industry trends and developments.

By leveraging Alison’s free resources and courses, organisations can empower their employees to engage in continuous learning, acquire new skills, and enhance their professional development. It’s a cost-effective way to invest in employee growth and upskilling.

The Benefits of Microlearning for Employee Training

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Microlearning has gained popularity in recent years due to its effectiveness in employee training. It offers several benefits that can enhance learning outcomes and overall employee development. In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of using microlearning for employee training.

What is microlearning?

Microlearning is an approach to learning and training that involves delivering information in small, bite-sized units or modules from a few minutes to around 10 minutes in duration. The distinguishing feature of microlearning is its brevity and focused nature. It focuses on delivering specific and targeted content in a concise and easily digestible format. The content is often delivered in various formats, such as videos, interactive presentations, quizzes, infographics, podcasts, or short articles.

The principles of microlearning

In short, the principles of microlearning can be summarized as follows:

  • Bite-sized: Microlearning breaks down content into small, focused modules that are easily digestible and can be completed within a short timeframe.
  • Accessible: Microlearning is designed to be easily accessible to learners anytime and anywhere, often leveraging mobile devices and online platforms.
  • Engaging: Microlearning incorporates interactive and multimedia elements to engage learners and enhance their motivation and interest in the content.
  • Personalised: Microlearning allows for customisation and personalisation based on individual learner preferences, needs, and job roles.
  • Reinforcement: Microlearning utilises spaced repetition and reinforcement techniques to enhance knowledge retention over time.
  • Scalable and adaptable: Microlearning can be easily updated, modified, or expanded as needed, making it scalable and adaptable to changing content or training requirements.

With these principles, organisations can create effective microlearning experiences that maximise learning outcomes and engage employees in continuous skill development.

A few examples of microlearning

The below examples demonstrate the versatility of microlearning in delivering targeted and engaging content in various formats.

  • Skill demonstration videos: Short videos demonstrating specific skills or tasks can be created and shared with employees.
  • Interactive quizzes: These quizzes, developed to test knowledge on specific topics, can be completed in a few minutes and provide immediate feedback to the learners.
  • Infographics: Infographics present information in a concise and visually appealing manner, making it easy for learners to grasp and remember.
  • Podcast episodes: Employees can listen to these bite-sized podcast episodes during their commutes or breaks, enhancing their knowledge of various subjects.
  • Mini simulations: Interactive simulations can be developed to allow employees to practice specific tasks or decision-making scenarios in a controlled environment. These simulations provide hands-on experience and immediate feedback.

By utilising such microlearning approaches, organisations can enhance employee learning experiences and facilitate continuous skill development.

The benefits of microlearning for businesses

Microlearning has various benefits and each of these showcases the value of microlearning as an effective approach for employee training.

  • Time-efficient: Microlearning breaks down training content into bite-sized, focused modules that can be consumed in short periods. This makes it easier to fit learning into their busy schedules.
  • Engaging and interactive: Microlearning often utilises interactive elements such as videos, quizzes, simulations, and gamification techniques. These elements make the learning process more engaging, enjoyable, and memorable.
  • Mobile accessibility: Microlearning is highly compatible with mobile devices and employees can access training modules anytime, anywhere, allowing them to learn at their convenience.
  • Cost-effective: Microlearning can be a cost-effective training solution compared to traditional methods. Creating and updating small learning modules is often more efficient and less expensive than developing comprehensive training programmes.

The drawbacks of microlearning

While microlearning offers numerous benefits, it is important to consider its potential drawbacks as well. Here are a few drawbacks:

  • Lack of depth: Microlearning modules may provide a limited scope of information. Learners may not gain a comprehensive understanding of complex subjects or topics that require in-depth exploration.
  • Fragmented knowledge: The lack of integration between modules may make it challenging for learners to connect and apply the acquired knowledge effectively.
  • Limited context: Microlearning modules may not always provide sufficient context or real-world examples. This can make it difficult for learners to understand how to apply the learned concepts or skills in practical situations.
  • Potential for superficial learning: Due to the brevity of microlearning modules, there is a risk of surface-level or superficial learning where they complete modules without deeply understanding the underlying principles or concepts.
  • Technical limitations: Depending on the delivery platform or technology used, microlearning may have technical limitations. Issues with internet connectivity, compatibility across devices, or access to necessary resources can hinder the effectiveness of microlearning initiatives.

It’s important to address these drawbacks by carefully designing and implementing microlearning programmes that complement broader learning strategies. Combining microlearning with other forms of training can help mitigate some of these limitations and provide a more holistic learning experience.

Best practices for microlearning

To fully experience the benefits of microlearning, there are some best practices to consider in implementation:

  • Identify clear learning objectives: Clearly define the learning objectives for each microlearning module. This ensures that the content remains focused and aligned with the desired outcomes.
  • Chunk information effectively: Break down content into small, easily digestible units. Keep each module concise and focused on a single topic or skill to maximise learner engagement and retention.
  • Leverage multimedia: Utilise a variety of multimedia elements such as videos, interactive quizzes, animations, or infographics to make the learning experience more engaging and effective. Use visuals, audio, and interactive features to enhance understanding and retention.
  • Integrate with the learning ecosystem: Integrate microlearning modules with other learning resources and platforms, such as learning management systems (LMS), to create a cohesive and seamless learning experience for employees.
  • Evaluate and iterate: Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of microlearning initiatives through learner feedback, assessments, and analytics. Use this feedback to make improvements and iterate on the content and delivery strategies.

By following these best practices, organisations can ensure that their microlearning initiatives are well-designed, engaging, and aligned with the learning needs of their employees.

How can Alison help your employees with learning for free?

Alison offers a wide range of courses and resources for individuals to enhance their knowledge and skills. Here’s how Alison can help your employees with learning for free:

  • Extensive course catalogue: Alison has over 4500+ courses covering various subjects, including business, technology, health, languages, and more.
  • Free: Employees can enrol in courses without any cost, making it a cost-effective option for organisations seeking to provide learning opportunities to their workforce.
  • Flexibility and self-paced learning: Alison’s courses are self-paced, allowing employees to learn at their own convenience and fit learning into their schedules, making it suitable for remote or busy employees.
  • Certification and diplomas: Learners can earn certificates or diplomas. These credentials can serve as proof of their newly acquired skills and can enhance their resumes or professional profiles.
  • Specialisations and learning paths: Alison provides specialisations and learning paths that guide learners through a curated series of courses, enabling them to develop expertise in specific areas or pursue a structured learning journey.
  • Continuous learning opportunities: Alison encourages continuous learning by regularly updating its course offerings. Employees can access new courses or revisit existing ones to stay updated with the latest industry trends and developments.

By leveraging Alison’s free resources and courses, organisations can empower their employees to engage in continuous learning, acquire new skills, and enhance their professional development. It’s a cost-effective way to invest in employee growth and upskilling.

Word of the Day: discern

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Word of the Day: discern

The word discern has appeared in 183 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on May 31 in “Quiet, Please: You Are Not Alone in Your Garden” by Margaret Roach:

When we slow the pace and cultivate stillness, there is the chance to see such things, or learn to identify bird songs. Perhaps we’ll get so connected that we can eventually discern the subtle difference in sound between a snake moving through the leaf litter and an Eastern towhee or another sparrow kicking it up, or a squirrel diving in head first.

Can you correctly use the word discern 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 discern 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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