Although I spend a lot of time at the computer and have taken more than 200 online courses since 2012, I’m still learning how to make the most of generative AI tools. I’m not a complete beginner in the world of AI, but definitely need to become more fluent in its use. In this respect, I found Google Prompting Essentials, created by Google Career Certificates, very helpful. This course, released in October 2024, provided plenty of ideas for creating and refining prompts in a variety of situatio

In today’s data-driven world, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) play a crucial role in analyzing and interpreting spatial information. GIS is a powerful tool that allows professionals in various fields (environmental science, urban planning, and business) to visualize, interpret, and make informed decisions based on geographical data. Whether you’re a geographer, urban planner, environmental scientist, or someone interested in leveraging spatial data, acquiring proficiency in GIS can open n

Class Central, yet again, came across a 2U employee’s layoff post on LinkedIn. This is its sixth layoff (that we know of) since 2U acquired edX in 2021. The first one happened in 2022 for profitability’s sake. Since then, the company filed for bankruptcy (mostly due to the debt it took to acquire edX for $800M), took down its bootcamps, exited many university partnerships, and even got delisted from the stock market. The previous layoffs were framed as strategy shifts, realigning operations, o

In 2026, the Open edX Conference comes to the American West, taking place from May 19 to 22 at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. The conference is hosted by Western Governors University (WGU), a Mission Aligned Partner of the Open edX project and a pioneer in competency-based education serving more than 193,000 students. The event brings together educators, developers, instructional designers, and technology leaders from around the world to explore how the Open edX platform is