On Friday, August 12th, I read articles and watched videos on other types of online trading, asides from the typical tradings of cryptocurrencies, stocks, bonds, etc. Some of these less well-known trading options were Forex, REITs, Options, and Commodities. Within their respective sections, a beginner’s guide was given and some online resources that could be used to develop one’s skill in this trade. Likewise, there were also videos and articles that explained the risk of each trade and the potential scams that come with it. After finishing up this section, I went exploring the other sections and decided to continue with the “Earning Immediate Income” section as my learning opportunity with Techie Youth ends today. Within this specific section, I watched videos on how to resell used products and profit from garage sales. To summarize, I am grateful for my experience at Techie Youth and would look back on these lessons in the future.
For the last few days, from August 9th to August 13th, I was exploring the “Stocks, Cryptocurrencies, & Other Types of Online Trading” section again. However, this time, I mainly focused on the cryptocurrency aspect of this section. After attending a Blockchain workshop, my interest in cryptocurrencies, which utilize the blockchain was ignited again. For this section, I watched videos relating to the different types of cryptocurrencies, their fundamentals, a basic overview of how the blockchain worked, and how to trade cryptocurrencies. For example, the videos covered the three most prominent cryptocurrencies - Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. Despite the similarity in its purposes, each cryptocurrency has its own advantages and disadvantages. An example of this can be seen in how Ethereum has smart contracts, which are basically middlemen, while Bitcoin does not. Lastly, I finished up the cryptocurrency subsection by reading articles and watching videos on how to buy and trade them, mine, and the risks involved.
Today, August 8th, I began watching videos and reading articles on the topic of “Social Network Community Organization.” Within this unit, the hurdles and benefits of attempting to earn profit from social media platforms were explained. For example, in order to earn a passive income for the long term, one would need a large following in their platforms so they would only need to post sponsored messages to earn a profit. From there, I explored how to organize a page on the following social media platforms: Instagram, TikTok, Wechat, and Snapchat. For all the social media listed previously, some background history was shown and advice for how to be successful on this specific platform was also explained. Lastly, for each social media platform, examples of a creator’s life in each respective platform were shown.
For the past two days, August 4th and 5th, I finished up the videos and articles within “Selling Digital Goods.” These last few videos mainly consisted of information regarding how to advertise digital products that you have created. Some methods that were explained in depth were ads using popular social media platforms, such as FaceBook, Instagram, and Twitter. The majority of the videos showed how to monetize, the requirements, and some tips in doing this. Afterwards, I moved onto the Artificial Intelligence Section, where I first watched a video regarding the lifestyle of an AI Engineer. From there, I would learn some popular and existing AI that are used in day to day life. I would proceed to learn the technical skills to code an AI, which I spent the majority of my hours learning python. Lastly, I watched videos on the basics of machine learning and neural networks.
Today, August 3rd, I continued where I left off yesterday by watching videos, reading articles, and completing quizzes for the following sections. In the first section, two types of business models were talked in depth- Subscription and recurring-sales models and Freemium long-tail profit models. However, unfortunately, I still need to review the contents of this section for an improved score for the quiz. Lastly, In the second section, I learned about trading intangibles, which included in-game items and crypto currencies.
Today, August 2nd, I continued where I left off yesterday by watching videos and articles relating to Selling Digital Goods. Unlike yesterday, the videos’ and articles’ content didn’t exist in the different sections. For example, some topics covered were email-blast marketing, buying ads, calculating conversions, and more. Furthermore, other videos explored how I can create a subscription membership to access my digital content. After knowing how to sell digital goods, I moved on to the Creating Digital Assets section to learn more methods for earning income. However, most methods, such as E-Books, Webinars, online course creation, and Podcasts, do not seem applicable to me. I do not believe that I possess the necessary skill set to gather an audience for the above-mentioned methods. Nevertheless, it was beneficial to learn about it and I would keep it in the back of my mind if these methods become applicable.
Yesterday, August 1st, I completed watching all the videos and reading the articles under the Crafts topic. Through the videos and articles, I learned about other online retailers that could be used to sell an individual’s products. This was an eye-opener as I only knew about the famous and popular retailers, such as Amazon and eBay. Furthermore, some videos explained and emphasized the importance of sales funnels, which is an online channel whose main purpose is to have a client conduct an action we would like. Additionally, I learned about secure sales practice in case of fraud cases and unethical customers. Afterwards, I moved onto the Selling Digital Goods section to explore what it had in store for me. From the few videos and articles I have read for this section, this section seems to be composed of information from the rest of the sections.
Today, July 29th, I continued in my exploration of the Crafts topic, especially learning about how to price and sell items. Within the Pricing and Inventory section, the articles and videos discussed and gave tips regarding how to price items as a newcomer. For example, they explained the typical strategy used by newcomers, which was to sell their products at a lower price compared to their competitors. However, as explained in the videos, this strategy is not without its flaws as the low price could potentially cause doubt within a client's mind. A client might question the low price and if it was the result of an item’s poor quality. Lastly, the videos explained where I could potentially sell my products, how to calculate profits, and to be mindful of unexpected costs when selling using existing online platforms.
Today, July 28th, I moved on to the next section within Crafts, which was Electric Products. Within this section, the videos explained how to repair old items and sell them for a profit. Additionally, these videos stated an alternative in case the old items were unrepairable, the user can still disassemble the items and sell or keep the parts that are still functional and usable in today’s society. On the other hand, some videos and articles provided a guide on how to use one item and make it into another. From there, I started watching videos on Digital Art, whose content is mostly composed of artist software, such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and others. Lastly, within this section, the descriptions provided advice regarding how to create, sell, and prepare digital art. Nonetheless, I look forward to seeing the different artist software as I have been interested in photoshop since I was little.
Yesterday, July 26th, I completed the videos within the 3D objects lessons. For the video content, more platforms for 3D object design and creation were explored. Furthermore, there were multiple tutorials to create certain 3D objects within each platform. Nevertheless, the primary features within each platform remained constant. One platform was not better than the other, it was up to personal preferences to decide which platform is best for you. For example, I still prefer Fusion360 due to my familiarity with its display settings and functions. After I completed these videos, I moved on to the Laser Cut Product videos and articles, where I watched a video on a tutorial on AutoCad, “the industry standard for rendering 3D objects.” From watching the videos and the brief description located within the lesson, I realized that Laser Cut Products might not be applicable to me as I do not have a laser. Nonetheless, I plan on continuing to watch the videos to expand my knowledge.
Today, July 27th, I continued on from yesterday and proceeded to finish the remaining videos within Laser Cut Products. I watched a tutorial video on Adobe Illustrator, which was unexpectedly a 3-hour long video. Adobe Illustrator, similar to AutoCAD that I learned yesterday, was the industry standard for vector drawing in 2D and is the main platform for designing digital art. For example, if an individual is commissioned for designing digital art, the majority of the time, it can be assumed that the client would like the project to be completed on Adobe Illustrator. Furthermore, the tutorial also went over how to install Adobe Illustrator, some of its functions, and a few techniques that can be used. Lastly, I watched videos on tutorials on different 2D drawing and vector platforms, such as Inkscape, LibreCad, and CorelDraw.
Today, July 25th, I continued from last Friday and proceeded to watch videos regarding 3D object construction. I was introduced to multiple platforms for these constructions, which included the usage of TinkerCad, Blender, Autodesk Meshmixer, AutoCad, and SolidWorks. These platforms differed from the 3D construction platform I was familiar with, Fusion360. Hence, I was thrown off by the display of some of these platforms as the tools are displayed differently from what I am used to. However, the majority of the features remained constant through the platforms, such as the feature to duplicate, midpoint, align, etc. Nevertheless, some features were not implemented within Fusion360. For example, Fusion360 does not have a tool to create certain shapes, such as a sphere and cone. Whereas, the platforms listed above did. After finishing these videos, I realized that I prefer Fusion360 as I am more aware of where the tools are located and have more experience with this specific platform.
Yesterday, July 21st, I continued off from what I left off yesterday, completing watching the videos and reading the articles within App Development. I spent a little more than 2 hours watching a tutorial on how to create an app using Native React. Additionally, I found out what popular apps, such as Facebook and Instagram, were programmed using Native React, instead of device-specific programming languages. Furthermore, I continued to watch videos regarding promoting the app an individual creates and what benefits using Native React had over other coding languages. After I watch these videos, I went back to previous lessons to review the material and attempt the quizzes again for an improved score. Eventually, I was able to obtain a satisfactory result for all the quizzes within App Development. Lastly, to finish off the day, I watched some videos on how to earn money right away through a remote job.
Today, July 22th, I was thinking about what I should do with the money I have I will be earning from SYEP. I didn’t want my money to sit in the bank with barely any increase in interest, and the only method of investment I knew were stocks. Hence, for today, I watched the videos and read the articles within the Stocks section. I learned the additional types of investments which included estate, cryptocurrency, and bonds. Additionally, I learned how to read certain aspects of the stock market, such as what indicates when the stock market closes, opens, and what price a stock might be at a specific time of the day. After I finished the sections within Stocks, Cryptocurrency, and Other Types of Online Learning, I moved on to the topic of 3D objects as I personally had experience making 3D objects in the Mechatronics class I had. I was curious how the creation of 3D objects can generate income for an individual. Unexpectedly, I was exposed to different types of creation and platforms for creating 3D objects.
Today, July 20th, I finished reviewing all the secondary lessons within Web Development. By doing so, I realized I didn’t watch some of the videos and didn’t complete some of the quizzes. Similar to yesterday, I had to rewatch some of the videos along with a few attempts in order to achieve a satisfactory result on the quizzes. Eventually, I was able to complete the final Web Development Quiz too, which honestly took more time than the others as it involved me resorting to some online sources for information. With the completion of the Web Development topic, I went to the Techie Youth website to research some themes the organization supported. I went through some of the pages on the website and watched some news features of Techie Youth on the news. Surprisingly, the Techie Youth explained in the news seemed different than what I was doing. I proceeded to brainstorm some potential formats or topics for my last Web Development assignment. However, to refresh my mind, I started to look at some videos under App Development and how to monetize them.
Today, July 19th, I went over the Introductory Courses to ensure that I completed all the necessary quizzes and assignments. I had to create a LinkedIn Profile, which I had trouble with, due to my inability to locate certain features, such as an Experience tab. Additionally, I wrote a general cover letter that I could use for future coding opportunities and submitted my resume. Furthermore, I completed an assignment that tasked me to follow all the social media platforms belonging to Techie Youth, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube. I proceeded to go review the contents within Web Development to attempt the quizzes again for a better score. However, some questions on the quiz were not explained in the videos and I had to rely on online sources to determine the answer. I essentially had trouble finding the correct answer for the correct procedure to perform on WordPress. Nevertheless, the reviewing of these materials enforces and expands my knowledge regarding Web Development.
Today, I learned about how to monetize niche informational websites through the usage of ads and how to gain more followers through emails. Furthermore, these videos also explained what exceptions an individual should have regarding monetization from these websites and some additional tips regarding maintaining a consistent following. For example, a video talked about how in order for individuals to subscribe and be added to your email list, you need to provide something of value to them, typically an EBook or a tutorial of interest. Some videos also stressed the importance of detailing your financial expenses using spreadsheets, like Google Sheets or Excel. Lastly, I found out about websites where one can conduct activities to gain some quick but small cash. These websites require the user to complete surveys, play games, or watch videos for money in return. However, this is not really a viable source of income as the income from doing this will average out to be below minimum wage.
Yesterday, July 14th, I learned about other coding languages, such as JavaScript. With the links provided within Techie Youth, I experienced the basics of JavaScript through some gameplay related to StarWars. Additionally, I learned the basics of App Development, which appeared to be much simpler than I thought. Within the video, creating a calculator seemed extremely simple and the coding style resembled that of Java and JavaScript. Lastly, I realized that the coding of applications only seems simple due to the platform they are coded on.
Today, July 15th, I explored the other topic fields provided within Techie Youth. Some topics that caught my interest were Niche Informational Websites, Analysts, and Artificial Intelligence. To my surprise, the video explained how Analysts rarely dealt with numbers and some additional skills an individual should have if they are interested in joining the field. Furthermore, I learned what Niche Informational Websites are and their benefits. Nevertheless, I expanded my knowledge regarding the multiple STEM fields today.
Today, I learned the basics of Word Press, such as how to change the font of words and add images to the website. From this, I realized why Word Press is such a popular application for creating websites as it makes knowing coding languages unnecessary to create websites. Furthermore, I learned the basics of databases and what potential sources I could use to open my own web. Additionally, information regarding the promotion of an individual's website was also gone over. Lastly, some of the videos watched today also went over web design.
Yesterday, July 11th, I learned about networking and building connections. The videos went into depth regarding who you should attempt to network with. Additionally, they went over a few tips to do before attempting to talk to an individual. The most important advice given was to not be afraid to talk to strangers. Lastly, the videos emphasized the importance of knowing when to leave a conversation when you have deemed an individual to not be important to your career.
Today, I learned about the variety of careers within the broad topic of Web Development. Under the shadow of Web Development, careers, such as web designer and development and front-end and back-end developers, can be found. Furthermore, these videos explained the foundations that are optimal for each of these careers and a few tips to follow in order to be successful. Additionally, I learned how to create a live website that can be accessed by anyone on the web. Lastly, the videos explained how live websites worked in detail, such as the basics of SSL and web administration.
Today, the videos that were viewed by me went over the topic of productivity. These videos explained how to remain productive throughout the day and others. Furthermore, I also watched videos relating to what an individual should do with their income. I learned how to have money work for me and what are some of my investing options. Lastly, these videos also listed the pros and cons of each investment option.
Today I learned how to create useful connections and how they are categorized. For example, I learned how to strike up a casual conversation in order to keep in contact with the other person. There were also examples of what not to do, such as asking for one's business card without interacting with the other party, asking during or before a presentation, and finally deciding whether or not the connection is worth my time. Lastly, I obtained some tips regarding the dos and don'ts of an interview.
Today, I spent 5 hours reviewing material related to the remote workforce. Videos went into depth on topics, such as how to prepare for an interview, banking, and currency that can be used in a business. These topics interested but also bewildered me since I conducted certain actions that should have never been done in an interview. An example of this was saying no when the interviewer asks you if you have any potential questions. Nonetheless, now that I learned from my mistakes, I can build upon them and improve.
Today was my first day at Techie Youth and the features within it were unexpected, to say the least. When I noticed that I had to pick a field of interest to learn about, I instinctively choose Web Developer, as I plan on pursuing a degree in Computer Science. Throughout the videos that I have watched regarding this topic, I learned the basics of HTML and CSS. Topics, including tags, styling, and others, with examples shown along. Nevertheless, with only 5 hours, I was barely able to reach the starting point for Web Development.