There are thousands of different career options for students but one of the most popular and fastest-growing in the area of web design. Not only are students encouraged through this field to learn technical coding and design skills but they’re also able to develop their creativity by putting together sites that are aesthetically pleasing and functional.

Students that are interested in web design can check out several different apps and sites along with other web design articles like this one that will allow them to start to hone these important skills even before they hit a major study area in college. Learning to do the basics is as easy as signing up and getting started!

We’ve gathered together some of the best web design apps and sites for students so they can start learning and growing in the web design field!

Codemoji

If you’re looking for something that will engage students of any age, even as young as the second grade, Codemoji is a great place to start. As the teacher, you can guide students through the main coding technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript that are prevalent in today’s world.

Students can work collaboratively or independently and experiment to learn the ins and outs of each system. The teacher dashboard can help track lessons and progress so each student is shown to grow and mature as they work through the program.

The design elements that you can tinker with are limited to images, videos, and sounds that are inside the program already. But each lesson is taught sequentially and follows along with the traditional core web technologies that run and design our world.

Weebly

This is a great place to get started coding and designing websites with students in mind! There are both paid and free versions of Weebly available so however, you want to invest is up to you.

Weebly is designed for students aged 6^th-12^th grade and is a drop-and-click based platform. Students will be able to design and create websites that can be monitored and receive feedback from the teacher or other instructor.

The sites themselves are easy to direct and manage and help teach students the ins and outs of being part of a bigger community. They can safely design and manage their sites through Weebly.

Codecademy

Get any upper-level students coding with Codecademy! The courses and classes offered on Codecademy allow you to start working on technical computer science information, application development, and many other related topics.

Each of the projects offered by Codecademy is a simulated version of a computer engineer’s work environment that will quickly introduce any students to this fast-growing career path with an eyes wide open approach to the work.

Teachers and students can both jump right in and not need to install or download anything with all of the lessons and feedback happening on the interface. There’s both a free to try and a paid version of the site so you can test the waters before investing in the program for your classroom needs.

Adobe Spark

Adobe has consistently turned out programs that have made a mark on society and continue to influence the next generation of designers and collaborators. Adobe Spark is a flexible design tool that allows you to create and design images, videos, and websites starting in 6^th grade!

This is an in-depth design site and app that teachers and students alike can use to create eye-catching videos, sites, and images. The interface is easy to use and teachers can follow along as students design and create. One of the biggest drawbacks is access as your school will need to have the Adobe Suite subscription to access the interface and content therein.

CodeHS

Each of the video lessons in CodeHS is easy to follow so your students and anyone who chooses to use the program will get guided information from real tutors. The video tutor lessons can be accessed by a premium subscription and the tutors are completely accessible with the subscription as well.

All of the aspects of CodeHS are great to teach kids the ins and outs of coding and programming but to access all of the features, you’ll need to get a subscription which can cost you some cash in the long run. The individual aspect of the program is such that students can effectively teach themselves without as much oversight from the instructor or teacher.

Treehouse

The programming on Treehouse is more applicable to high school students or those that have a basis of coding and programming already. Each lesson is self-directed and self-paced so students will be able to work through the issues themselves without as much oversight from the instructor.

The overall program is one of clear instruction, directed by a clean interface that offers focused and clear goals for students. It does require them to be self-motivated when it comes to finishing lessons. If your students are self-starters and motivated to do projects on their own, this is a great site that is hands-off for teachers but effective for students.

Takeaway

When you’re on the lookout for web design apps and sites that are great for students, you want to choose a site that offers great benefits without breaking the bank. If you’re planning to have lots of students use the program, you’d be better off finding money in your budget to go with the full subscriptions so you can access all of the features on whatever site you choose.

Entering into the world of web design and coding is a gateway to a passionate career choice that will benefit society at large as well as engage the minds of the most curious students. Starting small with web design apps and sites like these can help students learn the basics of coding before launching on to bigger projects.

Choosing a web design app or site is a great way to add quality skills to your student’s repertoire at an early age without recreating your entire lesson plan or overwhelming students. Get started and engage their curious minds with a whole new way of thinking!

For many people, a brand new year means a fresh start. For others, there is anticipation about upcoming events, such as another birthday or a special holiday trip. As one year rolls into the next, you may be looking for clues as to what the future holds. Here are 100% genuine true predictions you can count on.

1. You will hear or read something that will hurt your feelings.

Unfortunately, this is a fact of life. Remember that everyone sees the world differently and everyone has a different opinion. And just because you hear or read something that stings you, the commenter might not have meant anything mean.

The key is to not take things too personally.  Expect that people will disappoint you from time to time and sometimes they may even make you mad. Humans make mistakes and often do not intend to hurt others.

2. You will try to reach a goal and fail.

Winning at anything means taking steps along the way and stumbling. Every time you fail at reaching a goal, you get close to actually getting there.

Many famous and successful people have said that there is no success without failure. It is an essential stepping stone to greater things as long as you keep on trying.

3. You will try to reach a goal and succeed.

It might be a small goal, like getting a great mark on a pop quiz or finally being able to make a super-serious friend laugh at one of your jokes.

Every time you try to do something, it makes you stronger and more confident. Most people make lists of huge, towering resolutions and ultimately break them before the year has even started. Make lists of small goals and soon you will find bigger goals easier to tackle.

4. Something you do will have a major effect on your life.

It could be a friend that you make. It could be some nice act you perform for another person that changes how you feel about yourself. It could be a new skill you learn or an achievement in school or online.

You might not even know that this “thing” is important until years later. Still, this year will make a difference for years to come. Think about that when you get up each morning.

5. One of your idols will do or say something idiotic.

Yup. That’s a guarantee. As a matter of fact, all of us will do or say something idiotic in the future.

It could be in person or online, but every single living human being will say or do or post something that will look silly to others. That’s why everyone of us should expect to say, “I’m sorry,” or “I’ve made a mistake” at least once.

6. You will make at least one decision between right and wrong.

Doing the right thing in the face of adversity is never easy. You may be approached to cheat on a test or be tempted to ignore a good friend because of peer pressure.

You may see someone being bullied and want to help them but be faced with fear of what will happen if you do.  Accept that you will make mistakes like every other human on the planet.   The important thing is to decide now the kind of person you want to be and surround yourself with the type of people that will help you “be that person”.

7. You will work and you will play – and you can have fun doing both.

A good life is about balance.  All play and no work brings discontentment.  We all need goads to strive for.  All work and no play will stress you out and is not healthy.  Plan now to make sure there is balance in your life… between sports and school, between family and friends and even your own “alone time”.

The next year is going to be an interesting one. The person you are when it begins is not the person you will be when you celebrate the next new year.

Enjoy the changes in your life and around the world.

Students are our future, which is why we are obligated to provide them with a well-rounded and hands-on education experience with lots of room for expressionism. This way, students can see higher potential for professional and communal success.  The future is gunning to mesh tech with reality – how can we be as efficient as helpful?

When the time comes, future employers will be thirsty for diverse minds ready to problem-solve, especially those who have been trained amidst the industry’s current transition. Since 2011, we have been undergoing the world’s Fourth Industrial Revolution – also known as Industry 4.0. That’s serious stuff, huh?

This is the time innovators create world-changing gadgets, business models, workflows, systems, and materials to set us up with better circumstances. Ultimately, this pushes civilization forward. The last time this happened was between 1950 and 2002, which is when robots and PLCs were invented.

In short, an “industrial revolution” is any mass transition into new manufacturing processes. When all is said and done, the way we work will have been improved, as well as what we gain from our work. Along with that, we will have created more resources for ourselves.

The primary focus of Industry 4.0 has been inter-connectivity. Electronics, IT, robots, and PLCs were created by Industry 3.0 innovators, which is what modern innovators are

optimizing. Resulting from this, we will have a workforce that includes higher-level automation driven by artificial intelligence and an integration of cyber-physical systems across both global and domestic supply chains.

Here’s another example.  After the First Industrial Revolution, machines and tool were created. This reduced and eliminated animal labor. However, Industry 1.0 took place between 1760 and 1830, so the most advanced machines created at the time were driven by steam and internal combustion engines.

During the Second Industrial Revolution, innovators were eager to improve the current workforce’s efficiency and productivity. So, innovators built the world’s first railroad systems, telegraph lines, and assembly lines. This made shipping and physical labor a lot easier. Furthermore, innovators of 1870-1914 also introduced new materials such as stainless steel and plastics.

What does every innovator have in common? Education . Knowledge is power. A lot of the bright ideas we use today were developed from an innovator’s thought to make a system better. This is why expressionism is an important element of education. Let their thoughts roam free and allow them to build systems to work around their innovative roadblocks.

Students are our innovators-in-training. Parallel to Industry 4.0’s progression, STEM curricula has taken off at all-time-highs. In other words, there is no question Industry 4.0 will have plenty of room for your child to partake. The question is: what will they create?

Check out the infographic below to learn more about Industry 4.0 and how it can help shape your child for the future.

If you keep up with the news, then you’re all too familiar with stories about cyberbullying. As a parent, you might be concerned that your child could become a victim of online bullying. Equally worrying is the possibility that your child is a cyberbully.

Whether your child is being bullied online or your child is doing the bullying, there’s a good chance that they won’t tell you what’s going on. However your child is involved in cyberbullying, it can have serious consequences, which is why you must learn how to recognize the signs. The critical first step to helping your child is being able to tell if they’re involved in online bullying.

You want to protect your child from the dangers of the world and that includes cyberbullying. Even if you don’t consider yourself internet savvy, you can still familiarize yourself with the indicators for if your child is bullying other children online or if they’re the target of cyberbullying. Since your child may not even know what counts as cyberbullying, stay vigilant for any signs that they may be involved in online bullying.

The Dangers of Cyberbullying

To start, the definition of cyberbullying is using technology such as social media to deliberately and repeatedly harass, threaten, and humiliate another person. Online bullying can range from someone spreading rumors online and creating fake social media profiles to sending mean texts or emails. Your son or daughter might not come home from school with a black eye, but online bullying can be just as damaging as physical bullying.

Because cyberbullying is a relatively new phenomenon since it’s directly related to the rise of the internet, there isn’t much research available regarding its long-term effects. But, psychologists agree that being the victim of traditional bullying puts a child at risk for anxiety and depression as well as decreases their ability to concentrate in school. Individuals who experience emotional trauma as children or adolescents can carry that stress and anguish well into adulthood.

The victims of bullying aren’t the only ones who suffer. Bullies themselves endure long-term consequences. Unlike their well-adjusted peers, bullies often don’t learn essential life skills such as the ability to compromise and negotiate. Children who never grasp how to work with others could have trouble forming healthy relationships as an adult and may even be more likely to engage in criminal activity. For both bullies and victims, cyberbullying can lead to mental health issues in children.

How to Tell If Your Child Is the Victim of Cyberbullying

Often, children are reluctant to tell their parents that someone is bullying them. In the case of cyberbullying, kids sometimes don’t even realize that they’re being bullied. Since there is a good chance your child won’t come forward themselves, you should know how to tell if your child is the victim of online bullying.

Children with learning or thinking differences could be at a higher risk of being cyberbullied. Signs to watch out for include sudden changes in their computer usage, not wanting to use the computer in common spaces, and changing the screen when you’re around. If your child seems nervous or on edge when they receive a message, text, or email, someone might be bullying them online.

Your child expressing feelings of loneliness or saying something along the lines of “I have no friends” could also indicate they are the victim of cyberbullying. Finally, if your child becomes withdrawn and doesn’t want to go to school, there’s likely an issue that requires your attention. Encourage them to turn off social media, and on your own, research the school’s cyberbullying policies. Depending on the severity of the situation, you may need to involve other parents, the school, and possibly law enforcement.

Signs Your Child Is a Cyberbully

Being the victim isn’t the only way your child can be involved in cyberbullying. They could be the one doing the online bullying. Your first instinct might be to shut your eyes and cover your ears and deny that your child could ever do such a thing, but ignoring the problem only serves to deny your child the chance to change their behavior and learn from what they’ve done. You can’t teach your child not to be a cyberbully if you ignore the signs that they are one.

Furthermore, failing to recognize your child’s actions could mean that you’re overlooking underlying issues. Keep in mind that cyberbullying is even more common among older teenagers (14-18). They might be cyberbullying in retaliation or feeling pressure to follow the lead of someone in their peer group and simply acting as a cyberbully bystander. It’s possible that online bullying is their way of handling a bigger stressor such as divorce or changing schools. You’ll never get to the bottom of the issue if you don’t first see the signs and confront the fact that your child is a cyberbully.

One major indicator that your child is involved in online bullying is if they’re unwilling to discuss or share information about their online accounts or activities. As with the victims of cyberbullying, increased secretiveness is a warning sign. If you’re suspicious, then enforce keeping devices in commonly used areas.

Whether your child is showing signs that they are a cyberbully or the target of cyberbullying, your first step in addressing the issue should be talking to your child. One way to start the conversation is to share your own experience with bullying. But, you won’t be able to have that all-important talk unless you’re able to tell if your child is involved in cyberbullying. Take time to familiarize yourself with the indicators, and then, make a point of staying vigilant. Cyberbullying can have serious consequences for both the victim and bully, so keep a watchful eye for any signs that your child is involved in online bullying.