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Computers are here to stay. Most of our world can’t run without them — including household appliances — and in order for things like your car to drive, planes to navigate, televisions to play your favorite show, or grandmas’ dinner to not burn in the oven, the world needs coders.

What you may not know is that between the steadily increasing demand for employees in this sector and competitive salaries, you may be overlooking a very stable career path.

As with any subject matter there is a variety of nuanced fields which all relate to the main topic, but the differentiations between those roles is dependent on the type of knowledge and experience gained. Here is a breakdown of some major sectors in the coding business world and the average salaries that accompany those positions.

1) Software Developers

Software developers create a broad range of tools generally meant to enhance functionality of mobile, desktop, and operating systems for customer usability. They accomplish this by creating and testing the programs that become the client-facing web pages and applications the public use every day.

In order to do this, they employ a host of problem solving skills all while translating solutions into program languages, “code”, which serve as the directions for those mobile and desktop applications.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “the median annual wage for software developers was $120,730 in May of 2021.” Starting wages for such positions are around $90,000 annually.

2) Database Administration

Data administrators do a little bit of everything. They need to monitor, manage, and manipulate code in ways that allow for companies or programs to interact with each other. These professionals seek to make sure the software is complete and working properly. They also strive to prevent data loss, and make any necessary changes when flaws are found in a system.

Before you make a commitment to career in coding, While there is a much broader spectrum of salaries to this position — $63,000 on the low end, $125,000 on the top end — U.S News found that a median annual salary for Database Administrators is around $96,000.

3) Data Scientists

Data Scientists have the responsibility of formulating systems which perform detailed analytics of massive amounts of data. By building machines and software which engage with users and systems, they seek to learn from that gathered information. The infrastructure that data scientists create are crucial to understanding how people and software interact with each other.

Salary.com shows the average salary for Data Scientists as $139,631, with a range of $124,400 to $153,880 per year.

4)  Web Developer

Web development (similar to web design) is the production of the underlying code which directs the actions of websites. They are the front-facing, interactive pages that people engage with anytime they visit a website. High demands from large and small business owners over the years have seen a rise in the need and availability of work for companies and as freelancers. Generally providing design, formatting, and troubleshooting, web developers attend to a broad range of responsibilities.

This is another job with a significant salary range — around $43,000 starting, $91,000 for more experienced work — but still a very steady median range. Payscale.com lists web development positions at around $62,000 annually.  Full stack developers tend to earn a lot more, from around $99,000 to start up to $150,000 for the most experienced workers.  This is because these developers possess both front and back end skills. Therefore, companies only need to hire one person, as opposed to getting two people who are only equipped to do one or the other job.

Next Steps

In order to save you some time, and the annoyance of sorting through thousands of websites and opinions about what coding is, here is a solid survey of the different job positions and what their salaries are.

What should also be noted about this sector of the tech industry is the emergent demand for women in fields traditionally held by men. The intentional diversification of teams has created a host of opportunities and incentives for women, such as scholarships, with the goal of encouraging the betterment of society and closing the gender gap.

Today, nearly every school in our country has an emphasis on STEM subjects. The growing demand of accessibility to STEM activities has created plenty of programs and clubs to join in or out of school rooms. If, however, a club or classroom setting is not what you respond to, there are also coding games (yes, you heard me right) designed to simultaneously engage and teach principles of coding. Each provides the opportunities to try out the subject matter needed to pursue an education or career in coding.

• Read 7 things to consider before joining online coding classes
• Starting kids young!  The basics of coding explained

The Ultimate Guide to Creating Effective and Engaging Instructional Videos is a step-by-step guide that provides the tools and knowledge required to create effective and engaging instructional videos. These including planning and scripting, filming and lighting, and editing and post production.

Educators who create instructional videos engage their students while learning and studying.  This is especially the case with those who respond to visual learning. All aspects needed to easily make instructional videos are included in this guide:

Planning and Scripting:

Planning and scripting are critical steps in producing an effective instructional video. The following are some suggestions for writing a clear and concise script:

1. Define the video’s purpose and objectives.
2. Determine the intended audience.
3. Outline the main points that will be covered in the video.
4. Avoid jargon and use simple language.
5. Keep your script brief and to the point.

You should plan the video ahead of time.:

1. Make a storyboard to visualize the video’s flow.
2. Divide the script into different sections or scenes.
3. Determine the necessary props, equipment, and locations.
4. Determine the video’s overall length.
5. Plan the video’s pacing so that it flows smoothly and keeps the audience engaged.

Following these guidelines will allow you to write a clear and concise script that effectively conveys information to the audience while also ensuring that the video flows smoothly.

Filming and Lighting:

Lighting and filming are critical components of producing a professional-looking instructional video. The following are the best filming practices:

1. To avoid shaky video, use a stable camera mount.
2. Correctly framing shots to create a visually appealing composition
3. Keeping the camera steady and smoothly panning or zooming
4. Taking photos from various angles to add visual interest and variety
5. To keep the camera steady, use a tripod or stabilizer.

The following are the best lighting practices:

1. When possible, use natural light to achieve a more natural look.
2. Adding depth and dimension to your shots by utilizing multiple light sources.
3. Diffusers are used to soften harsh shadows.
4. Backlighting should be avoided because it can cast unwanted shadows.
5. Using a light meter to ensure consistent and balanced lighting levels throughout the video.

You will be able to create a visually appealing, professional-looking instructional video if you follow these best practices.

Editing and Post-Production:

Editing and post-production are important steps in producing a polished and professional instructional video. Among the methods for making a clip are:

1. To organize and edit your footage, use a non-linear editor (NLE) software such as Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro, or Avid Media Composer.
2. Trimming and cutting footage to achieve a consistent flow and pacing
3. Adding transitions, text, and graphics to improve the video’s visual appeal
4. Using color correction and grading to improve the video’s overall look and feel
5. Including sound effects and music to improve audio quality and make the experience more engaging.
6. Create clip from the footage to highlight key moments.

Adding special effects, animations, and other visual enhancements to the video is also part of the post-production process. Following these techniques will allow you to create a polished, professional instructional video with engaging and effective clips.

Publishing and Distribution:

The final step in creating an instructional video is publishing and distribution. The following are the best publishing and distribution practices:

1. The final edited video is exported in a format that is compatible with various platforms and devices.
2. Optimizing the video for various video hosting platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and Wistia.
3. Creating a captivating video title and description in order to attract viewers
4. Making the video more discoverable by using keywords and tags
5. Creating a visually appealing video thumbnail that accurately represents the video’s content
6. Adding closed captions or subtitles to the video to make it more accessible to a larger audience.
7. Sharing and promoting the video across multiple platforms, including social media, email marketing, and other channels.

Conclusion:

Creating an instructional video is simply another way to capture the attention of students.  It’s another method of storytelling no matter what the subject is.  By following the steps outlined in the guide, you will be able to create engaging, effective, and professional-looking instructional videos.

In order to understand the information in this article, you should be made familiar with the term “data subject”, which is the person to whom the data belongs. The data subject has legal rights that say how a company is allowed to use your data – for example, your address and name.

In this instance, the data subject will be your family and we will explain what counts as personal data.  In 2021, this happened 1,243 times, up from 1,120 in 2020. This resulted in 5.13 billion pieces of information containing sensitive data being accessed by people who should not see them.

Here, we explain what a data breach means, who is responsible for protecting your family’s data, and what the best steps to take are if data involving my children has been “breached” (viewed by someone not allowed to see it).

Who protects my data?

In the UK, the organisation that protects your family’s rights concerning personal data is called the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

You may have heard of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which is the law that protects the data of European citizens (check out how to comply with GDPR here).  In the UK, the GDPR laws were largely copied and developed to protect our citizens. In UK law, this is known as the Data Protection Act 2018, and there are many similarities between them both.

The ICO states that anyone who handles personal data must follow a set of rules, which they call the “data protection principles.”

Any organisation that stores and uses personal data must make sure that the data is:

• Used lawfully, fairly and openly (which means telling you exactly how they use it)
• Used to reach goals clearly set out
• Accurate
• Not stored for longer than necessary
• Well-protected, by adopting security steps to prevent the chance of the data being lost, destroyed, or damaged

The ICO takes seriously the protection of the privacy of personal information relating to:

• Race
• Ethnicity
• Political beliefs
• Religion
• Union member position
• Biometrics
• Health
• Sexual orientation

What does an organisation have to do if they notice a data breach?

If an organisation notices a breach, by law it must tell the ICO within 72 hours on the ICO website.

The 72-hour time limit begins when the organisation first notices the breach, not when the breach actually occurred. If the ICO is not notified, there is very little chance the data will ever be recovered, meaning that it will be lost forever.

If you find out that there was a breach in an organisation that stores your family’s data, asking for expert help from solicitors who specialise in data breaches can make sure that the breach of your data is fully investigated and that the necessary steps were taken to react to the breach. Often, if the organisation was found to not have protected data well enough, or used someone’s personal data inappropriately, they may owe compensation to the data subject affected.

How can you prove that your data was used unfairly?

Proving that an organisation used your family’s data unfairly is possible. However, you can keep a log of the events surrounding the breach, as it could help to build your case that your data was used unfairly.

Keeping a log should include a timeline of the following:

• What happened to the data (for example, did you or your children send it to the organisation or fill in a form?)
• Who was involved in the data sharing?
• How did you find out the data was breached? (Did your child have a credit card?)
• What has been done since finding out?

The “data controller” – the organisation storing your family’s data – will also have to keep a similar log. If the ICO has a complete picture of the facts surrounding the breach, it can react better and more efficiently.

Contain the data breach

Finding out what happened to breached data is essential and can limit any spread. The data controller must follow security steps to protect anybody who could be exposed to future security breaches.

In some cases, you can also take action to minimise the damage of the breach. For example:

• If your family’s sensitive data was accidentally sent to someone, you can simply ask that they delete it or send it back safely.
• Trace your or your child’s steps to pinpoint where the breach began
• If you can remotely delete data or erase a device of its data, do so immediately.

Why you should know your rights

As a data subject, you should get in touch with the organisation that stores your family’s data directly if you believe it has been used unfairly or not kept secure, so they can respond appropriately. If you are unhappy with the business’s response or think that more should be done to respond to a breach, you should get in touch with the ICO.

Do I have a claim for damages following a data breach?

The organisation in charge of maintaining the data may be held liable and ordered to pay compensation. Usually, this involves the sharing of private information that is not already in the “public domain” (it is available to the public as a whole), such as sensitive financial or medical data.

The ICO has the authority to look into data breaches and try to identify the parties legally responsible. An ICO ruling that finds that the data controller unfairly used or stored data can result in the victim being paid compensation.

A data subject does not have to go through the ICO or wait for the results of its investigation to make a data breach compensation claim.

Often, organisations at fault for a breach might try to minimise their responsibilities to recover the data they have lost or share details of the breach. This is another reason why many families who are victims of a personal data breach find that getting help from legal experts with knowledge of data breaches makes sure that their legal rights are respected.

By Stuart Snape, Managing Partner at Graham Coffey & Co. Solicitors

With the pervasion of mobile phones and other digital devices, it’s no surprise that screen time has become a significant issue for parents. We live in a digital age where children are constantly exposed to screens. From televisions and video games to tablets and mobile phones, it’s hard to escape the temptation of screens.

Studies have shown that 4 in 5 children have access to tech devices. While there are some benefits to children using technology, there are also risks. Too much screen time can lead to health problems, such as obesity and poor sleep habits. It can also affect your child’s social and emotional development. So, what can you do to help your child control their mobile phone addiction? This article gives some tips that can help manage your kids’ mobile phone addiction.

Mobile Phone Addiction

As the world becomes increasingly digital, more and more children are becoming addicted to their mobile phones and other tech devices. So, the responsibility falls on parents to wisely choose the tech devices for their kids and supervise the digital content they consume.

Concerning safety for kids and young adults, the tech industry has also come up with several parental controls that can be implemented in the devices they manufacture, for digital well-being. Regarding tech for kids, there are many options available on the market. Tech reviews give you a real-life opinion of the latest kids’ tech devices, which can help you select the perfect device for your child.

While there are some benefits to using mobile phones, such as staying connected with friends and family, there are also some adverse effects. These include:

• The constant need to be online leads to symptoms of anxiety, depression, and even loneliness.
• Kids struggle to connect with real people, preferring to communicate through social media or text messages.
• Young adults miss important social cues and body language, making it difficult to form strong relationships.

In extreme cases, mobile phone addiction can lead to severe problems, such as sleeping disorders, academic problems, and financial issues. If you think your child may be addicted to their mobile phone, you must talk to them about it.

If you’re concerned that your child may be addicted to their mobile phone or other tech devices, there are a few signs you can look for, such as:

• Constantly needing to be on their phone or device, even when they’re not using it for anything in particular.
• Getting agitated or angry when they’re not able to use their phone or device.
• Neglecting other essential activities, such as homework or spending time with friends and family, in favor of using their phone or device.
• Lying about how much time they’re spending on their phone or device.

So what can you do to help your kids control their screen time addiction? Here are a few things you can do to help your child manage their mobile phone addiction:

1.   Understand the Problem

Most kids will admit to using their phones for hours, but it’s essential to understand that this is not normal behavior. It is more than just boredom or a lack of exciting things to do.

We live in a world where technology has become an essential part of our lives, and many parents are unaware of how detrimental it can be if children are allowed too much access to their devices. The first step towards controlling your child’s phone use is understanding the problem. If you know what they’re doing with their phone, then it’s easier to develop a solution.

2.   Set Limits

Most kids aren’t using their phones because they want to. They’re using them because there are times when you’ve let them get away with it, and now they can’t live without it. That’s why it’s essential to set limits for screen time. Try to create a routine that includes time for reading, exercising, and other activities that are good for your child’s development. Establish a daily limit on how much time your child will spend using mobile devices. This should include both online and offline usage.

3.   Lead By Example

Many kids tend to repeat what they see from their parents. The best way to overcome mobile phone addiction is by setting an example of how you handle your phone. Your kids will likely follow suit if you’re constantly on your phone, checking social media, or playing games. Instead, limit your screen time and be present when your kids are around. This will help them see that there is more to life than just staring at a screen all day.

4.   Monitor Device Usage

With the help of your kids, it is essential to monitor their usage to overcome internet addiction. This is a great way to help them realize how much time they spend on their devices and how much they get in return. You can keep an eye on the apps they have downloaded and monitor how much time they spend using them. The best way to do this is by turning off the device when not in use.

If you have apps like Google Family Link or iOS parental controls, you can set time limits for each app and even make it so that the device automatically locks after a certain amount of time.

5.   Help Them Participate in Other Activities

Kids need social interactions and activities that are not related to screens. They need time with friends, family, and teachers to develop strong social skills and interests outside of electronics. This will help them learn how to interact with others without getting distracted by their phones. Don’t settle for them simply sitting around inside off their screens, get them outdoors in the fresh air.  Helping your child find other outlets for activity will also keep them from becoming addicted to their devices as they age.

6.   Encourage Breaks From Devices

Children who are addicted to their phones tend to spend more time using them than they do doing other things. Encouraging breaks from technology can help prevent overuse and help you identify when your child needs help managing their screen time habits.

Give your kids breaks from devices by walking with them outdoors or even taking them somewhere else for a bit of fresh air. This will help them get some of the same benefits that adults get from exercise, such as releasing endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers.

7.   Explain the Importance of Moderation

The best way to help your child to manage their phone use is by teaching them about moderation. You can start with a few simple rules and gradually increase the time they are allowed to use their phone.

It might be tempting to wait until your child has abused their phone, but this will make it harder for them to learn how to control themselves. Instead, start by setting some boundaries and then gradually increase those boundaries over time.

A rule of thumb is that if you’re worried about your child seeing something online or chatting, then it’s too much. If you’re concerned about them being on their phone too much, then they should be using them less often.

Conclusion

You can do several things to help your kids control their mobile phone addiction. Set limits on how much time they can spend on their devices daily. Encourage them to participate in activities that don’t involve technology, such as sports, hobbies, and spending time with friends and family. Finally, lead by example and ensure you spend little time on your devices. With a little effort and guidance, you can help your kids break their mobile phone addiction and regain control of their life.