8/18
Through Techie Youth e-learning to earn I found out what it takes to be an app developer and I read about something intriguing and telling - that people are more interested in career advancement and company perks and feeling valued even more than they care about salary. This taught me a valuable lesson that a supportive company with good benefits that will hear your concerns and value your efforts where you are a name and not a number will pay off more in the future than just more dollars now. Actually, a job that pays a lot but where a person doesn’t receive the proper support and training will be more harmful in the long run for one’s career than making less of a salary now. I also took and passed a quiz on an overview of mobile apps.
8/19
Techie Youth enabled me to learn about App Development which is not a strong point for me. I’m not the best at technology despite being a young person in this day and age. I took an Advanced Android in Kotlin 06.1: Android Login with FirebaseUI code lab and learned the following: 1. How to add Firebase to your project by adding the necessary dependencies in your Gradle file and setting up the project in the Firebase console. 2. How to implement login for your app using the FirebaseUI library and specifying how you want to allow your users to login. Note that any account a user creates in your app is specific to your app only, and isn't shared with all apps that utilize Firebase for the login functionality. 3. How to observe the current authentication status of your app using LiveData. 4. How to log out users. I also learned a disclaimer that when users create an account for your app, this account is tied specifically to your app only, and not to every app that uses Firebase for the login functionality. Overall, I did struggle with this chapter because creating apps is something that’s not in my wheelhouse however I tried to absorb the material as best as possible and my readings helped me become somewhat more comfortable with the terminology which is quite technical. Yah! I also took and passed a quiz covering an overview of mobile apps for Android development.
Additional items learned:
The process of making your Android app work on Wear OS and understanding how to design effective interfaces for smartwatches. It was so helpful to learn that if one does not own different types of Android devices to test out one’s app, a person can make sure that they work by testing them using an emulated environment such as the Android Emulator to test the app.
Also I loved reading that the first commercial Android device was launched in 2008. I thought it was more recent probably because I was only 5 years old at the time and was not using smart technology until many years later.
I also learned about getting people to use your apps - monetization of apps and Google Analytics
that you can use to better understand how to improve your app, including strategies to market them and earn more money. I watched a set of videos on Google Analytics. I now understand that Google Analytics is a powerful tool that you can use to more accurately understand how to improve your app, including your marketing strategies and user base to earn more money. Please note that I had some technical issues while watching the videos and found the content a hard hard to understand. Totally my fault because I’m not the best at app development however I took this module to increase my comfort level in this area.
The last two days I have been working through the music production unit, completing the quizzes along the way and thoroughly reading every article, researching every resource, and watching all the videos provided. Alongside this I have also been working on a Techie Youth-related song using free software I downloaded; I've been putting a lot of care, effort, and attention into it, and I should be uploading it tomorrow (today) by the end of my shift. On top of this, I have been careful to go back and review old assignments that were considered inadequately completed so I can pass the Learn to E-Earn program and fully earn my credits.
Over the last two days, I have been working on the assignment for the entrepreneurship unit, creating an executive summary for a company and researching economic terms and trends to make it as convincing and accurate as possible. I submitted the finalized version today. Additionally, I found a photo I took recently, which was developed, measured for dimensions, as well as professionally framed, and I crafted a compelling Techie Youth-related blurb explaining its thematic. significance in a sociological perspective. I’m currently researching how to get a New York art sale ID so I can work on selling this photograph on the hosting site.
Wednesday August 3:
Today at Techie Youth, I learned how to sell art online. I am so happy to become educated about this because I think there are more platforms now for artists to showcase and sell their work, ameliorating the starving artist syndrome. Artists can decide whether to sell originals or reproductions, work with galleries who will represent them, set up their own online stores, apply for exhibits and pop-ups, and market their art in general. I even learned about economical ways to package art for shipping. I learned about the unfortunate situations of people stealing the work of artists and how registration is technically not mandatory for a copyright to exist; that it's technically implied the moment one's unique product is created, however to exercise legal rights in the event of an infringement, it's recommended to register the work officially. Another thing I learned today was resources on how to edit photos online for free, as well as received tips on the EASIEST to use photo editing software that is FREE. Last but not least, I read about portfolio templates because a portfolio website is the base for a successful career in the creative arts.
Thursday August 4:
Today, I learned a term I never heard before - sprites - which is combining multiples images into a single image file for use on a website with the goal of helping with performance. I also learned about principles of design such as pattern, rhythm, repetition, variety. I also learned that you can actually get a machine learning job without a degree by proving yourself at hackathons and boot camps. There will be tough competition but there is still a slim chance of gaining employment without a college degree.
8/1: At Techie Youth today I learned the distinction between project managers and product managers. I also found out about the best press release writing services currently both in terms of cost effectiveness and fastest turn around. Lastly, I learned the term minimum viable product which is the basically a business striving for the maximum amount of customer validation and satisfaction for the least amount of business effort.
8/2: Today while doing Techie Youth e-learning I found out something I honestly don’t think I would have gathered anywhere else. I found out what native advertising means. Guess what? Almost half of consumers don’t know the term either. It’s actually paid advertising content that aligns with the publication’s editing style and the advertisements provide information that appeals to the typical audience member of the publication. Since this job is promoting learning to e-earn, I also found out about paid research studies which is great for someone like me to do in my spare time when I’m not in class.
Today at Techie Youth e-learning I heard the word culture fit. I learned that it means to utilize the unique strengths of a group to effectively achieve the goals of a business. I appreciate this and also feel that a good company should have many different personalities working for it and these unique personalities are needed in the workplace so that it is not homogenous. I also learned about an up and coming industry - that of being a virtual assistant. Being a VA sounds really achievable for the right person who’s organized and likes to be a planner and a supporter.
Today I learned that Microsoft Teams is free and doesn’t require a paid subscription. It’s awesome that it kept businesses afloat during the Covid pandemic. I also learned that you can share Word, PowerPoint and Excel files with your group on Microsoft Teams.
I learned that for Niche recruiting, it’s helpful for recruiters to subscribe to industry publications and attend trade shows for the jobs they’re recruiting for. Also, it’s good to use jargon in job postings because those who understand the jargon will be attracted to apply and you’ll inherently attract a good pool of people for your niche / those with the special skill sets you’re looking for.
At Techie Youth today I learned the importance of hiring managers using gender neutral language in their job descriptions so as not to exclude one gender over another or to alienate those who feel they don’t belong to either gender. Example of gender neutral language would be words like support, share, together as opposed to words such as leader, decision maker, driven, competitive, etc. I’m totally in favor of this and will be mindful of these hopeful changes when I peruse job descriptions and postings in the future.
Today I learned about headhunters, recruiters and hiring managers and the difference between external and internal recruiters. I also learned helpful action words for job descriptions and how 80 percent of open job positions never get advertised. I am also motivated to try the Jobscan sample scan of my resume to boost my interview chances. Lastly, it was great to hear that for HR managers, learnable skills like data analytics can be taught, but empathy cannot and that is so much more invaluable and harder to come by.
Among many other things, I learned about digital goods that are created initially and then sold repeatedly to new customers without having to update inventory. This is perfect for educators who can benefit from today’s digital world. My dad often enrolls in webinars and I realized that an online webinar in a digital good. I began to appreciate how there used to be in person seminars that weren’t recorded and future students couldn’t learn from this knowledge and the company presenting couldn’t profit from repeat viewings as they now can with a webinar that’s digitally available for purchase by different customers. I also use blank calendar templates from WIN quite frequently and it never occurred to me that this product is technically known as a digital good.
Great learning today!
Today I learned really cool things. Foremost, that you don’t have to have formal training to be a magazine writer. I also learned that you don’t need a teaching degree to teach English abroad, just a TEFL certificate. That’s very practical and a cost saver indeed! I loved learning that Bali is a digital nomad hub. Lastly, I found out about taking online classes from Master Class learning from the best of so many industries for only $15 per month! To complete my day, I also tried to go back and master quizzes I hadn’t passed before.
I learned many useful and positive things today. I learned about how vital self-care (proper sleep, exercise, relaxation techniques) is and unfortunately, it's something I often take for granted. I like the statement that spending extra money on good foods now is an investment in my health long-term. I never viewed it that way but it makes total sense. Also, maintaining friendships and relationships is not only necessary for emotional health, but physical health and longevity. Spending money on a dinner out with friends is also considered an investment in one's well-being. I learned tips on being an effective leader - don't talk constantly and more than necessary just for the sake of being heard; listen and then put forth thoughtful responses and also to project one's voice (no mumbling). Additionally, I learned that we control our own emotions and how it's best to stay calm under pressure because if we cave to the provoker or aggressor, they are simply gaining power over us. I also learned how to search for a mentee and great links to mentorship projects. What a great resource to give youth access to!
Today I learned about time management and productivity. This seems like an area where there is so much to learn! I really appreciated learning that time management is more than about time - it's about energy and attention just as much or even more! I'm going to use what I learned to help me decide what goals are the most relevant and focus on achieving the most meaningful things that add value to my life. Great module!
Today I learned more about scamming and fiscal responsibility, including how to open bank accounts and save money effectively. I believe learning these personal finance tips are the foundation of a strong entreprenerial career and wise fiscal decisions.
For today's Techie Youth, I delved further into the intricacies of remote work – the faux pas, do's and don'ts, and tips for how to increase productivity while retaining sanity. I am now close to completing the Intro unit and moving forward into more specialized material.
For yesterday, I just begun my learning with Techie Youth and started reviewing the introductory assignments provided, watching videos on the benefits of remote work and basic personal finance skills like how to open accounts and cash checks. I am excited to continue my Techie Youth journey and tackle more advanced, specific concepts as I Learn to E-Earn!