This word has appeared in 124 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?
Meet the Parents Who Completed Their Bachelor’s Degrees Online During the Pandemic
We recently caught up with two of UNT’s May 2022 graduates, Venessa Ricketts and Adan Salinas. Hear why they chose to enroll in the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences program at UNT, what aspects of the program they found most valuable, and their advice for anyone who wants to finish their college degree online.
Back in 2020, Venessa, a Logistics Scheduler for an e-commerce leader, and Adan, a Senior Team Lead in Sales at a telecom giant, weren’t thinking about a career change. They were focused on preparing for their daughter to leave home in a few years, and thinking about life as empty nesters. Then the pandemic struck.
Suddenly, like so many, they were facing a world of unknowns. How would the future impact their careers? What could they do to feel more secure? They wanted to become better qualified for advanced, higher-demand roles, but neither of them had a four-year degree. “We needed a ticket into the interviews and jobs we wanted,” says Adan. They knew earning their degrees could be an important step forward, but as full-time employees with a daughter still in school, their options for pursuing higher education felt limited. That’s when they discovered Coursera.
A customizable degree, a high-support online program
Adan had heard of Coursera and searched the site for a degree program. UNT’s Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (B.A.A.S.) program stood out and looked like it might be a fit for both aspiring grads. They’d be able to customize their programs with one or two concentrations—like data analytics or information technology. They’d also receive hands-on support from advisors and coaches.
Adan was eager to start his learning journey. “I could see the B.A.A.S. degree program was a future-proof track at UNT, letting you acquire valuable skills you’ll keep using and building on,” he says. He hoped to show loved ones he could finish his degree, and he focused on data analytics and administration. “Big Data is the new Industrial Revolution. So, why not prepare and put myself at the forefront?”
“If you can spend an hour on Facebook or watching TV…”
Despite an interest in UNT’s program and dreams of being her family’s first college graduate, Venessa initially had fears about going back to school. Could she really do it? Then a friend told her it was time to invest in herself: “If you can spend an hour on Facebook or watching a TV show, why not invest that time in your education and future? You deserve it.”
Venessa became convinced she could do it and was inspired by the idea of being a role model for her daughter.
Develop the student mindset that works for you
As they began the B.A.A.S. degree program in August 2020, Venessa was proactive with her time management. She says it’s the key to your success as a student. Adan admits he can procrastinate a bit, yet with the eight-week courses and some self-pep talks, he kept the momentum. Both say that the eight-week asynchronous course structure was very motivating. “If I had to take 16-week courses like my daughter does, it would be too demanding,” said Venessa. “Eight weeks is manageable.”
Both Adan and Vanessa found the Coursera learner platform quite user-friendly, letting them easily keep track of their personalized learning plans, assignments, grading, and degree progress. Course expectations were always clear, so they could plan ahead with homework and family occasions.
Venessa’s doubts about returning to school were allayed early on when she saw how inspiring and accessible her professors were. “I love, love Dr. Watson,” she says of her favorite instructor. Adan also felt “the professors were fantastic. I loved Dr. Nasco, Dr. Watson, Dr. Lee Ann Boyce, and several others.” While they weren’t always in the same courses, they shared advice on classes and professors.
Their daughter was proud of them, and together, they were able to actively discuss college, courses, and career goals.
First in the family to graduate from college
In May 2022, Venessa realized her lifelong dream of earning her bachelor’s degree and becoming a first-generation college graduate. Not only a graduate but summa cum laude.
“It was a very personal, important goal for me,” she says.
Finally having a “ticket” to opportunities
Adan graduated cum laude in May of this year. The courses have helped him with leading and supporting his team, having an impact on morale, and improving communication. He’s gained the specific skills needed for future opportunities.
“Your bachelor’s degree is the ticket that gets you inside that interview room, that career VIP rope,” he says.”Once you’re inside it, you think, ‘Hey, I could do that cool job.’”
Some tips for anyone wanting to complete their bachelor’s degree online:
Venessa: “Do it. It’s time to invest in yourself. Don’t stop your dreams. You’re worth it. Becoming an online student is an investment in your future and your family. The knowledge and skills you’ll gain are priceless.”
Adan: “If you have to fake it till you make it, tell yourself you can do it. We all have impostor syndrome to some extent. Don’t set your mind and expectations low. Challenge yourself to learn something new.”
Learn more about UNT’s online degrees and non-credit courses.
Henry Rosovsky, Who Redefined Harvard to Its Core, Dies at 95
As dean of the faculty, he diplomatically persuaded his colleagues to tighten requirements for a degree and create a Black studies program.
IFC Report: One new job is added to the Mexican economy for every 20 people trained on Coursera
By Nicole Amaral, Skills Transformation Lead, Americas
Ana Lilia, a chemical engineer and working mother from Mexico, used online training to change careers and become a freelance scientific writer after losing her job in the country’s pre-pandemic economic downturn. It’s now her principal income, and during the pandemic, the flexibility of online learning and remote work allowed her to balance running an independent business and taking care of her son.
Stories like Ana Lia’s show the potential for online learning to create more equal opportunity for women and other underserved populations. According to new research from IFC, greater access to online learning for women can boost their economic opportunities by helping them develop in-demand skills and enter new careers. The study, developed in partnership with Coursera and the European Commission, found that 40% of women online learners in Mexico report positive career outcomes, while online learning also produces gains within the larger economy: in Mexico, one job is created for every 20 people trained on Coursera.
The new research about Mexico is part of the “Women and Online Learning in Emerging Markets” report from IFC, which uses data from Coursera to quantify women’s participation in online education, identify challenges to greater participation, and provide recommendations for the public and private sector to improve life-long learning opportunities and outcomes for women.
“Women are at the center of recovery efforts after the COVID-19 pandemic. Job losses for Latin American women were 2.5 times higher than for men, and recovery has been slow,” said Juan Gonzalo Flores, Mexico Country Manager, IFC. “This study shows that online learning can be a powerful tool that helps women find new jobs. It also creates new – much needed – jobs in the economy. At IFC we’re committed to investing in the technologies that shape the future of education and yield dividends for all.”
Among other key findings in Mexico:
- The COVID-19 pandemic increased women’s enrollment and accelerated an already strong trend towards online learning.
- Over half (51%) of women and (48%) of all learners in Mexico said they would have postponed studies or not studied at all if online learning were not an option.
- In Mexico, the pandemic pushed women’s share of online course enrollments to parity, from 45% in 2017 to 50% in 2021.
- According to platform data, 33% of all learners in Mexico do not hold a bachelor’s degree.
- 72% of women and 79% of men reported they will continue online learning following the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Online learning can lead to career outcomes and economic gains in Mexico.
- Since the onset of the pandemic, about 44% of all learners surveyed in Mexico found a new job, set up a business, or improved their job or business performance after taking online courses, compared to 37% on average for the four countries studied (Egypt, India, Mexico, and Nigeria).
- In Mexico, one job is created for every 20 people trained on Coursera, compared to one in 30 globally, according to the analysis. Improved skills and qualifications create new jobs directly through the creation of new businesses. Jobs are also created indirectly through increased consumption and economic activity driven by higher incomes.
- Women and other underserved populations view online learning as more accessible than in-person education.
- 66% of surveyed learners have a monthly household income below the 50th percentile of less than 15,000 Mexican pesos, suggesting that learners with diverse backgrounds are utilizing online learning opportunities.
- Nearly half (48%) of women online learners in Mexico paid for their online courses out of their personal savings, compared to 59% of men. Women are more likely to rely on free trials than men.
- Women in Mexico are more likely than men to be driven to online learning by family obligations (13% of men, 24% of women) and safety (23% for men, 27% for women).
- 47% of LGBTQ+ learners report feeling more comfortable voicing their opinions when learning online than in-person, and 36% of them report being more likely to request help or ask questions rather than in-person.
The “Women and Online Learning in Emerging Markets” study draws on data from nearly 97 million Coursera learners in over 190 countries, surveys of nearly 10,000 learners across Egypt, India, Mexico, and Nigeria who completed at least one lesson on the platform, and interviews with over 70 global learners and industry experts.
Our study found that greater access to online skills training can help women unlock career opportunities, and in doing so, build a more competitive and diverse workforce that creates new jobs and has the potential to grow the local economy. We hope this research inspires government, business, and academic leaders to address some of the key challenges facing women talent in Mexico, including free access to broadband connectivity, more flexible options to continue education, and increased job placements for women across the country.
For more information, download the report from the Digital 2 Equal initiative website here. To learn more about Coursera for Government, visit coursera.org/government.
Reporte de IFC: Un trabajo nuevo es agregado a la economía mexicana por cada 20 personas capacitadas en línea
Ana Lilia, una ingeniera química y madre trabajadora de México, usó el aprendizaje en línea para cambiar de carrera y transaccionar a una carrera como escritora científica independiente, después de haber perdido su trabajo en la recesión económica previa a la pandemia. Este es ahora su ingreso principal y, durante la pandemia, la flexibilidad del aprendizaje en línea y el trabajo remoto le permitieron un balance entre la gestión de su negocio independiente y el cuidado de su hijo.
Historias como la de Ana Lilia nos demuestran el potencial del aprendizaje en lía para crear una mayor igualdad en oportunidades para las mujeres y otras poblaciones desatendidas. El incremento al acceso a la educación en línea para las mujeres puede mejorar sus oportunidades económicas ya que les ayuda a desarrollar habilidades en demanda e ingresar nuevas carreras profesionales, según un reporte elaborado por la Corporación Financiera Internacional (IFC, por sus siglas en inglés), miembro del Grupo Banco Mundial. Según el estudio, 40% de las mujeres que aprenden en línea produce ganancias en la economía en general: en México, un trabajo es creado por cada 20 personas capacitadas en Coursera.
Esta nueva investigación sobre México es parte del reporte de IFC titulado “Las Mujeres y el Aprendizaje en Línea en los Mercados Emergentes”, desarrollado en asociación con la plataforma global del aprendizaje en línea, Coursera, y la Comisión Europea. El reporte analiza datos de Coursera para cuantificar la participación de las mujeres en la educación en línea, identificar barreras para una mayor participación, y ofrecer recomendaciones para los sectores público y privado para mejorar las oportunidades permanentes y los resultados para las mujeres.
Juan Gonzalo Flores, Country Manager de IFC México, comentó: “Las mujeres están en el centro de los esfuerzos de recuperación después de la pandemia de la COVID-19. Las pérdidas de trabajo para las mujeres latinoamericanas fueron 2.5 veces mayores que para los hombres, y la recuperación ha sido lenta. Este estudio demuestra que la educación en línea ofrece una herramienta conveniente para ayudar a las mujeres a encontrar nuevos trabajos. De igual manera, ayuda a crear nuevos puestos de trabajo, que son muy necesarios para la economía. En IFC estamos comprometidos a invertir en tecnologías que darán forma al futuro de la educación y generarán dividendos para todos”.
Entre otros resultados claves en México:
- La pandemia de COVID-19 incrementó la inscripción de las mujeres y aceleró la tendencia en crecimiento ya fuerte hacia el aprendizaje en línea.
- Casi la mitad (51%) de mujeres y (48%) de todos los estudiantes en México mencionaron que habrían pospuesto sus estudios o no habrían estudiado si el aprendizaje en línea no fuera una opción.
- En México, la pandemia llevó a la paridad la proporción de mujeres inscritas en cursos en línea, incrementando del 45% en 2027 al 50% en el 2021.
- Según los datos de la plataforma, el 33% de los estudiantes en México no cuentan con un grado de licenciatura.
- El 72% de las mujeres y el 79% de los hombres reportaron que continuarán aprendiendo en línea después de la pandemia de COVID-19.
- El aprendizaje en línea puede generar resultados profesionales positivos y ganancias en la economía en México.
- Desde el inicio de la pandemia, alrededor del 44% de los estudiantes encuestados en México encontraron un trabajo nuevo, establecieron un negocio, o mejoraron su desempeño laboral o comercial después de haber tomado cursos en línea. Esto es en comparación con el 37% promedio para los cuatro países de estudio (Egipto, India, México y Nigeria).
- En México, un puesto de trabajo es creado por cada 20 personas capacitadas en Coursera, comparada con uno por cada 30 a nivel global, según el análisis. La mejora en las habilidades y cualificaciones crea nuevos puestos de trabajo a través de la creación de nuevos negocios. De igual forma, nuevos puestos de trabajo son creados de forma indirecta, a través del incremento en el consumo y las actividades económicas atribuidas al incremento en los ingresos.
- Las mujeres y otros grupos desatendidos perciben el aprendizaje en línea como una forma más accesible de aprender comparada con la educación presencial.
- El 66% de los estudiantes encuestados tiene un ingreso mensual menor al 5avo percentil de menos de los 15,000 pesos mexicanos, lo cual sugiere que estudiantes de perfiles diversos están aprovechando las oportunidades del aprendizaje en línea.
- Casi la mitad (48%) de las mujeres estudiantes en línea en México pagan por sus cursos en línea con sus ahorros personales, comparado con el 59% de los hombres. Las mujeres son más propensas a depender en las pruebas de cursos gratuitas que los hombres.
- Las mujeres en México son más propensas que los hombres a ser impulsadas al aprendizaje en línea por las obligaciones familiares (13% de los hombres, 24% de las mujeres) y la seguridad (23% de los hombres, 27% de las mujeres).
- El 47% de los estudiantes LGBTQ+ reportan sentirse más cómodos expresando sus opiniones cuando aprenden en línea que de forma presencial, y el 36% de ellos reportan ser más propensos a solicitar ayuda o hacer preguntas en lugar del aprendizaje presencial.
El estudio titulado “Las Mujeres y el aprendizaje en línea en los mercados emergentes” se basa en datos de más de 97 millones de estudiantes de Coursera en más de 190 países, encuestas con más de 10,000 estudiantes en Egipto, India, México y Nigeria que han completado al menos un curso en la plataforma, y entrevistas con más de 70 expertos a nivel global y expertos en industria.
Nuestro estudio encontró que un mayor acceso a la capacitación en línea puede ayudar a las mujeres a desbloquear oportunidades profesionales y, al hacerlo, crear una fuerza laboral más competitiva y diversa que cree nuevos puestos de trabajo y tenga el potencial de hacer crecer la economía local. Esperamos que esta investigación inspire a los líderes gubernamentales, empresariales y académicos a abordar algunos de los desafíos clave que enfrentan las mujeres talentosas en México, incluido el acceso gratuito a la conectividad de banda ancha, opciones más flexibles para continuar la educación y más oportunidades de empleo para las mujeres en todo el país.
Para mayor información, puede descargar el deporte de la página de Digital 2 Equal, aquí.
Why Lua Is So Popular — & What You Can Build With It
If you’re one of the 58.5 million people who play the online game Roblox each day, there’s a good chance you’ve interacted with Lua before. Lua is a programming language that you can use to code game mechanics in Roblox and create custom features.
But game development is just one way that Lua comes in handy. The wildly popular language can also be used to build applications from scratch or extend the functionality of existing software.
In our new free course Learn Lua, you’ll learn the fundamentals of the general-purpose, embeddable programming language. You’ll practice using Lua data types, controlling the flow of a program with conditional logic, and building functions to pass data through them. If you’ve never coded before, don’t be intimidated — we’ll explain everything you need to know each step of the way.
Here’s what you need to know about Lua, the fast and flexible programming language taking the gaming world by storm.
What is Lua?
Lua is a powerful and efficient general-purpose programming language that was created in Brazil in 1993. Fun fact: Lua was inspired by the programming language SOL (Simple Object Language), and in Portuguese, “sol” means “sun.” When it came time to name the new language, the team of professors at the Pontifical Catholic University in Rio de Janeiro thought of “lua,” because it means “moon.”
The dynamically-typed, embeddable scripting language has a simple syntax that’s similar to Python. Lua code is read line by line, from top to bottom, making it concise and easy to read and write. Here’s an example of a Lua code snippet you’ll practice writing in the course Learn Lua:
print("Dear Self,")
print("Maybe Lua is the right language for me.")
print("Codey")
print("November 2022")What’s so special about Lua?
Lua is unique because it’s designed to be used as an “extension language,” which means that it can be embedded in any other platform or system, explains Brandon Haffen, a Video Game Software Engineer who worked on the course Learn Lua. Developers can use Lua to fully customize products, and Lua can interoperate with any C code. “Taking the existing functionality of something and extending it is extremely fun,” he says.
Whether you’re making new game systems, quickly changing a website to add a bespoke feature, or building a unique tool to level-up your favorite art program, Lua can facilitate changes to pretty much any basic system, existing application, or hardware (even down to tiny microchips), Brandon says. Lua’s small size, flexibility, and portability, makes it a go-to for extending all kinds of programs. “How could you not get hyped about the cool new feature you added to something you already use?” he adds.
What can you build with Lua?
Lua can be used to develop games, web apps, and developer tools. The mobile payment app Venmo, for example, was built using Lua. And the game Angry Birds was made using Lua and the game engine LÖVE. “However, it’s most useful for people to learn if they want to add new functionality to an existing game, website, or application that allows Lua code to extend it,” Brandon says.
A lot of popular games and gaming platforms support using Lua to extend or create new game systems, Brandon says. The gaming platform Roblox, for example, allows players to write code in Lua to create their own original games. In the massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft, you can use Lua add-ons (aka “mods”) to customize the game interface.
More of a photographer than a gamer? Lua is also built into the image-editing software Adobe Lightroom, so you can build your own plug-ins that help streamline your workflow and organize photos.
Get started learning Lua
Ready to jump in and try our free course Learn Lua? In Learn Lua, you’ll start working with different data types, variables, operators, conditionals, and functions. And you’ll get to put your Lua skills into practice creating a receipt generator for a (totally made-up) Mystic Moon Potion Shop. After taking this course, you’ll have the foundational skills you need to build an iconic game like Roblox and Angry Birds. (Check out these inspirational games built by members of the Codecademy community.)
If this is your first time learning to code, Lua is a great starter language because it’s straightforward. “The good thing about Lua is that it is very minimalistic,” Brandon says. “There is usually only one way to accomplish something.” With other languages, there may be multiple shortcuts or ways to execute something, which can be a little bit tedious when you’re starting out.
You can take your Lua knowledge a step further with the skill path Scan Systems with Nmap. You’ll learn how to use Lua to write scripts for the ethical hacking tool Network Mapper (Nmap), which is used in network discovery and security auditing.
And if you want to learn more about how popular video games like Roblox are created, be sure to check out our free course Introduction to Game Development or our blog post on other popular game development programming languages.
Learn Lua | Codecademy
Codecademy is the easiest way to learn how to code. It’s interactive, fun, and you can do it with your friends.
Learn The Basics of Programming & Game Development With Lua
You’ve been asking. We heard you.
Lua’s been one of our most highly requested programming languages in recent years. Much of its popularity comes from Roblox, where people use a derivative of the language to modify and build their own games.
In fact, Lua is one of the most popular programming languages for game development in general. You’ll find it in all types of games, including RPGs like The Witcher, Baldur’s Gate, and The Elder Scrolls Online, simulators like Civilization and The Sims, and other popular titles like World of Warcraft, Angry Birds, Age of Conan and Saints Row. Lua’s also used to build web apps like Venmo and various developer tools. And now, you can learn how to use it in our new free course: Learn Lua.
Who is the new course right for?
Lua’s popularity in game development makes it great for aspiring Game Developers, but you can also use it for much more than that. Codecademy Domain Manager Kenny Lin explains that Lua is a flexible, general-purpose programming language. It’s powerful and efficient, and it supports multiple programming styles. Meaning: Learning Lua arms you with skills and approaches to problem-solving that’ll easily transfer when you’re learning and using other programming languages.
What will you learn in the new course?
The new course provides an introduction to programming with the Lua language. You’ll learn about fundamental programming concepts and methods, and use your new skills to create text-based terminal programs.
Ready to get started? Sign up for Learn Lua!
What Movies, Shows, Books, Music, Games or Other Works Have Made a Strong Impression on You?
To practice for our Eighth Annual Review Contest, tell us about a work of art, entertainment or culture you’ve liked, or disliked, recently.
Bouldering
Are you curious about this growing sport? Have you ever tried it?
Word of the Day: arbitrate
This word has appeared in 15 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?
Color Love | Yellow & Brown
Autumn is one of my favorite seasons, and I love the look of stunning gold trees and clear blue sky. It was my main inspiration for this yellow & brown color palette. Even thou it is combined mainly with warm tones, the single blue shade makes it perfectly balanced.
Yellow & Brown Color Palette
For me, this color palette is like a sunny autumn day – warm & cold at the same time. Bold yellow tones match the pastel blue shade perfectly. Even thou it was inspired by the autumn season, it will work great for boho wedding invitations in summer or spring.
As always, we have put together a mood board with some inspiration. It is in perfect Pinterest format, so feel free to pin it for later.
See our collection of other gorgeous color palettes by visiting our color palette section.
What do you think about this color palette? Where would you use it? There are really no limits here. We would love to hear your thoughts. Share them in the comments below. In addition, make sure to check our other yellow & brown propositions:
Lastly, learn about the power of color in blog design in our blog post to see how important colors are in all the projects you create.
And, of course, don’t forget to check the 2023 Ultimate Planners! Over 100 pages that will help you grow your blog and social media and plan your perfect year!
If you create something using today’s color palette, don’t forget to share it with us!
