Do you use honorifics like Mr. or Ms. to address your neighbors, friends’ parents, doctors, bosses and the people who work at your school?
8 Films About the Uses and Abuses of Digital Media
Social media, viral videos, conspiracy theories and “Sesame Street.” These are a few of the topics students can explore in this collection about the benefits and dangers of digital media.
Word of the Day: circadian
This word has appeared in 32 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?
Vegas and The Learning Conference Scene
I’m here. Sitting in another hotel, typing a post with a high burner speed of 30mbs. A speed that costs over 30 bucks a day. A speed, that for someone whose home speed is 1GB, must remember this is Vegas.
Another hotel. Sandwiched between two conferences. This past week, Cornerstone Convergence (more on what I saw, screens, etc.) and soon-to-be DevLearn.
Another hotel. Three to be exact.
All on the Vegas strip. There is something about Las Vegas, NV. that draws people. The gambling capital of the world is one. Shows are another. Food, sure, depending on what you fancy or desire. For those who oversee conventions, it is a guaranteed place for large attendee gatherings, compared to some other cities, which are less so.
Vegas, of course, comes at a price. The days of the $3.99 buffet and a hotel stay that won’t cost a small fortune are gone. At one time, the Bellagio buffet of $39.99 was considered – unbelieve in terms of price, but the quality was exceptional. Today? That price point is low. The fact the buffet is back in the post-pandemic world is nothing short of impressive or consternation, depending on your perspective. At one establishment, the buffet for one runs $68 USD before tax and service fee (the bonus you get).
A hotel stays especially during convention week (regardless of whether it is your conference) will drive up the prices on the strip, especially in the center of it. The Mirage where DevLearn is being held, for four nights, was pushing 3K. If you booked say four months ago, it was going in around 1.5K (for the standard room, King bed). Still high for the Mirage. Sure you can stay at Circus Circus for around 64 dollars a night, but CC isn’t a place I’d recommend unless it is 1967 (Westward HO, RIP).
A surreal experience awaits anyone who comes to Vegas for a convention, especially those in the learning and training communities. It makes Orlando seem like an afterthought (I despise going to Orlando for a trade show, travel there is not kind to folks out west). Yet there is something there, something that grabs hold and takes you on a journey of discovery, exploration, and acquirement of knowledge.
Attending Cornerstone Convergence held at Resort Worlds (the Frontier was one property that once stood there), brought out some intrigue and in my case, well, me.
I wrote down 23 questions I wanted to ask the executives during analyst day and the other days when I had one on one meetings.
I jotted down my notes, took some photos (you will see some), recorded a short video or two of presentations of interest, and asked attendees – customers of Cornerstone their thoughts of the show and what they saw. I walked around the expo of partners and explored even more.
23 questions. Screens of new solutions, updated UI/UX including metrics, and diving more into skills studio and content.
Overall, I love where Cornerstone is going with learning. While I disagree with the L&D-only focus (ignoring training – as though L&D is the only entity around), I found that the latest version of Cornerstone CSX (Learn – LMS), is going in the right direction. The tags of traditional and legacy are nothing more than marketing spin by competitors who believe an LMS is an outdated solution best left behind.
I have always disagreed with that premise. An LMS can be as good or as bad as a learning platform, a PXP, LXP, skills-focused, or whatever someone wants to call their learning system. Cornerstone’s LMS is ideal for those in the mid-market, Enterprise (5,000 and up), and Large Enterprise space. I do not see it for small businesses (999 or less) or customer education. It lacks some items on CE, plus you can’t say L&D focus and believe customer education/partner training folks are going to jump right in.
Did I let them know that? Absolutely. And it was one of my questions.
A few more.
One minus I’ve always found with Cornerstone CSX is their analytics UI/UX. For a system and a company worth an estimated 1B dollars, the UX for metrics should be impressive borderline unbelievable. However, time after time, it just was dated, as though Lotus 1-2-3 was making a comeback.
In the newest version (target launch is Nov/Dec 2022), an “intelligent board” makes its debut. With a wide selection of widgets available, an administrator can see some instant data, with a UX and UI that is fresh, and modern.
.
Definitely an uptick. It’s not perfect, but compared to previous versions, it is a huge win. The intelligence board in fact, was a very nice treat.
Skills studio comes with CSX, another question I had – which means you get access to over 50,000 skills in the system. You can add Skill Graph, too, which is nice. The API is available to anyone who has Skill Graph and there is even a Skill Graph community – something I am a fan of.
With Skills Studio, you can select your own skills with a very intuitive design 
Content Studio
Cornerstone CSX still doesn’t come with a built-in authoring tool, a reason my guess, is the presumption that the client already has one, but then with CSX comes Content Studio, the name of which adds to some confusion.
I love the look, modern and fresh. Of course, if you do not purchase any 3rd party content/off-the-shelf or purchase content anytime (name to be rebranded), you won’t be seeing much – besides your own content.
Cornerstone owns Grovo, and mentions often that with the Grovo content you can edit it and add your own stuff, change, etc. Great, but why charge extra for Grovo? The biggest selling point is the ability to change the content, something that isn’t the case with the majority of 3rd party providers. My suggestion is simple – include it at no charge to the client, when they buy Cornerstone CSX. Not an upgrade, included it.
EdCast has an alphabetical acronym, but I can’t recall. It can be purchased – EdCast as a standalone or as part of CSX. I found that when added as a module with CSX, some capabilities could be pushed even farther. EdCast though still lacks an LRS, for those who are wondering. However, the bookmark extension, elite appearance in MS Teams is all there.
Missed Opps
Cornerstone like the majority of learning systems on the market, uses an algorithm for predictive including recommendations of content. However, if you do not complete the content, the algorithm is negatively impacted. Thus, you have to complete. They are not the only vendor who goes against why WBT was established in the first place but having an impact (negatively) will ensure that your data – recommendations is misleading. Following my post on LinkedIn, I spoke with a Cornerstone executive who told me they are going to review the algorithm and see what changes they can do – so that this negative impact doesn’t occur. I can’t be sure the change will be made with the November release, but it was clear that something was going to get done in the coming year.
The mobile app though – you still cannot white-label it (other vendors offer this, always fee-based), and while the metrics are moving in the right way, there are still areas to push.
SumTotal
For SumTotal clients and/or those considering SumTotal, rest assured that Cornerstone will continue to invest in the system, including learning. And if you are someone who still wants Saba, it is available – you just can’t find or see it on their web site – so you have to ask for it. I met one attendee who has Saba Cloud and EdCast, so its doable.
Last Thoughts
Cornerstone CSX has vastly improved, that was my key takeaway from the event. A crisper look. A better vibe – modern, fresh, with a finished UX to boot.
One feature that caught my eyes was the ability to upload a resume and the system can extract what skills that person has from it – into the system. From my understanding this is not part of CSX, rather it is from recruiting (another module).
I mention it because if you can upload a resume to extract that information, just think what might be possible for learning with the right materials being uploaded or integrated.
Bottom Line
Two weeks.
Three hotels.
DevLearn is here.
And soon, I’ll be there
too.
E-Learning 24/7
6 Impressive Video Games Built By The Codecademy Community
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Lessons
4 Entry-level Jobs To Consider if You Want To Get Into Game Development
Being a gamer often means having the humility to start at level one — and the same goes for your career. If you’re trying to break into the exciting field of game development, you need some experience. Luckily, there are plenty of entry-level jobs that are perfectly suited for beginners.
Not sure which aspect of game development interests you the most? In our free course Introduction to Game Development, you’ll learn about the foundations of the video game development process and the technical tools (like programming languages and game engines) that are used in the industry. You’ll also get an overview of the types of roles that exist in game development and how a team collaborates to create an immersive and beautiful game.
Read on to learn about the entry-level gaming jobs you can get to kickstart your career in game development. Whether your goal is to program the next big role-playing game or design cutting-edge video game graphics, these jobs will help you pick up the skills you need to eventually “level-up.”
QA/Playability Tester
An easy way to get in the door at a game company is through the quality assurance (QA) department, explains Marc Mencher, a technical gaming recruiter who works with companies like SEGA, Sony, and Nintendo. Look for jobs titles like QA Tester, Playability Tester, or Playtester.
In these types of roles, you get paid to play video games — seriously. “You’re literally playing the game all day long, just trying to break it and find the problems in it,” Marc explains. Playability Testers typically work with games that are in pre-production and haven’t been released to the public yet, which is a pretty cool perk. In addition to reporting technical flaws like bugs and glitches, Playability Testers are also looking at the overall user experience of playing a video game.
Good to know: If you’re applying for a job as a Playability Tester, you should list the names of the games you have experience playing on your resume, Marc says. Be sure to read the job description carefully and incorporate the specific games that are mentioned into your resume.
Social platforms like Twitch and Discord have made community a key component of the gaming world. Companies are looking for Community Managers who can interact with fan bases on social media, represent studios at events, respond to player feedback, and host live streams. Some similar job titles that you might come across are Community Moderator or Community Developer.
Though Community Managers aren’t necessarily coding or having a hands-on say in the game development process, they get to know the players and game culture on a deeper level — an important asset that will help as you climb the ladder into more senior roles.
Junior or Associate Game Developer
It’s common for game development studios to hire Junior or Associate Developers, which are beginner developers who work alongside more senior team members. (This is also the case for other areas of game development — Concept Artists and Animators might look for folks to join their teams at the Junior or Associate level.) The job title will usually include the programming language right in it, for example, Junior Unity Developer or Junior Java Software Developer.
Depending on the company, they may call people in entry-level technical positions “interns” or “apprentices.” The neat thing about internships and apprenticeships is that they’re a way for people from non-traditional backgrounds to get paid experience working as an engineer, often with the potential to get hired in a full-time position at the end of the program.
Customer Support Specialist
Even hip industries like gaming need customer support staff to address players’ issues or troubleshoot problems. Jobs like Hardware Support Technician, Customer Support Associate, or Support Operator are a lot like IT jobs. In these jobs, you’d be tasked with duties like filing tickets for bugs, repairing hardware, working with the QA team, and triaging complaints.
Customer Support positions are great opportunities to build on your technical knowledge and learn the ins and outs of a game or console. Since you’d be talking to customers and players in these roles, soft skills like communication and emotional intelligence are crucial.
Start your career in game development
Feeling inspired to start browsing jobs in game development? Be sure to check out our free course Introduction to Game Development to get primed on the video game design process — from art and design to game mechanics and UX — and learn about the types of jobs that you can get in the field.
The job board Hitmarker is a good place to look for open game development jobs at any level, says Dylan Lavis, Senior Technical Recruiter at Nxt Level, a recruiting agency for gaming and technology. “It’s got the big players that anyone in gaming knows, like Nintendo and Blizzard, and all the smaller ones that you would never hear of,” Dylan says.
Once you find a role that you want to go for, don’t forget to put together your game development portfolio, make sure your resume is all set for gaming jobs, and brush up on the programming languages you need to know. And remember: You may feel like a newbie now, but you’ll be leveling-up in no time.
Game Development Courses & Tutorials | Codecademy
There’s a gamer in all of us — whether you play on your phone, a console, a computer, or a virtual reality rig. And it takes people, either individually or in large teams, to bring these great experiences to life. Learn the foundations of Game Development and create your very own video game.
How To Break Into Game Development (It’s About More Than Just Playing Games)
Whether you were raised on Mario Kart or consider yourself an Elden Ring expert, many of us have fond memories playing video games. Some people love gaming so much that they decide to pursue a career in game development. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to break in if you want to work in gaming.
“In the gaming industry, there are so many different avenues,” says Dylan Lavis, Senior Technical Recruiter at Nxt Level, a recruiting agency for gaming and technology. From Gameplay Programmers who write code that makes animations move to Data Scientists who analyze esports pros’ performance, there’s a variety of careers you can have in the field.
Breaking into the gaming industry requires more than just logging hours playing games (though that experience definitely helps). To get you started, we’ve rounded up some tips from recruiters who specialize in game development. If you want to dive even deeper, our new free course Introduction to Game Development will give you an overview of the different roles that are involved in the game development and design process, plus familiarize you with the tools that pros use to make your favorite games.
Think about games you like to play
First thing’s first, you have to figure out what types of games and platforms you’re interested in making, Dylan says. Think about games that you enjoy playing: “Is it a computer game? Is it a mobile game? The type of game makes a difference in the programming languages that you would use,” he says. In Introduction to Game Development, you’ll learn about the most common game types and how the design process can differ.
Narrowing your focus will help you determine which technical skills you need to learn or projects you need to build in order to ultimately land a job in the gaming business. It’s best to start with your immediate interests, rather than trying to project what your exact path will be. “Figure out what you want to build, not what you want to do with your life,” Dylan says.
Learn the programming languages
Every video game requires code to bring the characters, stories, and actions to life. Here are the most popular programming languages used in game development that are worth learning:
If you’re brand new to coding or are overwhelmed by all of the options, take our coding personality quiz. It’ll help you discover the courses, careers, and languages that align with your interests and goals.
Practice using game engines
Game engines (or frameworks) are game development environments that come pre-packaged with libraries specifically for gaming. “Game engines are huge assets,” Dylan says. For example, there are game engines that allow developers to incorporate sounds, movement, 3D renderings, and lighting effects into their games without having to code it from scratch.
Just like programming languages, there are lots of different game engines that do different things — the right one for you depends on what you’re building. In the skill path Create Video Games with Phaser.js, you’ll get to use the JavaScript framework Phaser to build your own web-based game. Some other popular game engines that you’ll learn about in Introduction to Game Development course are:
Get portfolio-worthy experience
The number one thing that job-seekers need to break into game development is a portfolio of game projects, Dylan says. “You’ve got to be able to show your work,” he says.
Don’t sweat it if you don’t have professional experience in the gaming space yet — any games that you’ve created or contributed to can go in your portfolio, explains Marc Mencher, a technical gaming recruiter who works with companies like SEGA, Sony, and Nintendo. Even if it was a just-for-fun game jam contribution, or one level of a game that you designed, it all counts as relevant experience. “It’s just about showing the effort and getting it done,” Marc says. For some inspiration, check out these incredible games made by Codecademy learners.
A pro tip to keep in mind as you build your portfolio: Recruiters want to see a couple paragraphs of code that you’ve written, Marc says. “Of course, you want the code to be clean, and it can’t just be system calls — the code has to do something,” he says. Linking to your GitHub profile in your portfolio also “makes a huge difference,” because recruiters can see you’re actively contributing to projects and read code that you’ve written, Dylan says.
Refresh your resume
A few details that should definitely be included on your Game Developer resume are the programming languages you know, the games you have experience playing, and any game projects that you’ve worked on.
Beyond that, be sure to include the titles of games that you’re knowledgeable about from a player’s perspective, Marc says. While it might seem weird to write “proficient in Call of Duty” on your professional resume, it will catch a gaming recruiter’s eye. “Put down names of games on a resume — people don’t think to do necessarily,” he says.
Express your passion for gaming
In today’s job market, the people who stand out are the ones who clearly dedicate their time to playing, building, and learning about games, Dylan says. “If you’re in the gaming industry, you’re a gamer at heart,” he says. You have to find ways to showcase your passion for gaming and tell your story.
For example, you could write about the games you grew up playing in your professional bio, or talk about a specific game that inspired you to pursue game development during your job interview, Dylan says. Engage with the gaming community so you’re up-to-date on industry news, and use social media sites like Discord and Twitch to network with gaming professionals. (BTW, Codecademy’s Discord server is a great way to meet other people who are learning to code, as well as folks who are interested in game development.)
Lastly, when you’re brand new in any industry, Dylan says you have to strike a balance between feeling confident in what you know, and having the humility to admit what you don’t know. “Studios want eager go-getter types and quick learners,” he says. “But at the same time, humility is a trait I’ve discovered over time that you really want.”
Ready to start applying for jobs in game development? You can start your journey today by taking the free course Introduction to Game Development. And be sure to check out all of our game development courses to learn the important technical skills you need to make games and get recognized by recruiters.
Game Development Courses & Tutorials | Codecademy
There’s a gamer in all of us — whether you play on your phone, a console, a computer, or a virtual reality rig. And it takes people, either individually or in large teams, to bring these great experiences to life. Learn the foundations of Game Development and create your very own video game.
Learn The Ins and Outs of Game Development In Our New Course
How much time have you logged playing your favorite game? Whether you’re fighting monsters and dragons in Elden Ring or battling your friends in Smash Bros, it can be easy to lose yourself for hours.
And that’s the best thing about gaming. For millions of people across the globe, it’s a way to explore fantastic worlds, connect with friends who live far away, and unleash our inner heroes — which is why gaming has grown to become a multi-billion dollar industry.
But have you ever wondered how these games are made — or even wanted to make one yourself? How does an idea come to fruition? What technologies underlie all the graphics, action, and gameplay? We’ll show you in our new free course: Introduction to Game Development.
Who is the course right for?
Considering a career as a Game Developer? Then this course is for you! As you delve into the game development process, you’ll explore the different roles in the field and what they entail. “Developers exist within every aspect of the process,” says Codecademy Curriculum Developer Jace Van Auken. “Even if you aren’t writing code when working on a game, knowledge of the coding process can help with design or working with assets.”
But you don’t need to be a developer to enroll in the course. It’s great even if you’re interested in non-technical roles or just want to learn more about how video games are made. “Our goal is to give everyone a broad look at game development and provide enough information for you to make a decision on how to move forward in the industry,” Jace says. “This course is for anyone interested in getting involved in game development, whether through design, programming, or content creation.”
What will you learn from the new course?
By the end of our Introduction to Game Development, you’ll have a better understanding of:
- The different roles in game development
- Each step of the game development process, from ideation to distribution
- The tools and programming languages used in the industry
- Game elements like story, controls, and mood
- Different game types and their gameplay
Ready to learn about how your favorite games were made? Check out our Introduction to Game Development! (And don’t forget to fill out the survey at the end. “We love feedback — it helps us adjust our courses and approach to content creation,” Jace says.)
And stay tuned for more game development courses! “This is just the beginning,” Jace says. “We’ll have more rich, interactive content covering the modern skills and tools used for game development coming soon.”
Do You See the Point in Learning Math?
Is there value in learning algebra, geometry and calculus? Do we appreciate math enough?
25 Picture Prompts for Writing Scary Stories
Photos and illustrations from The New York Times to inspire your spooky stories, poems and memoirs.
