Code Zone 2022 ends with an ovation from Parents and Participants

September 14, 2022 in Business, Gallery, technology, Training, Upskilling

Code Zone 2022, the annual summer coding program for teens and pre-teens, with this being the fourth edition successfully came to an end on August 31, 2022 and it was amidst a standing ovation from parents and participants of the program.

Before the commencement of the program this year we had significant support from the media Business Day, The Nation Independent, Business Traffic, Trust Africa News, Business Watch

The one month long program that started on August 1^st 2022 had participants register for HTML, CSS & JavaScript classes. Most of the participants had no knowledge of what coding entails neither had they used a code editor before, however within the space of one month they were able to showcase their learnings by presenting website designs in their areas of interest. This year the areas of interest for our participants cut across, Games, Sports, Food, Books, Fashion, Skincare, Movies.

L-R Bolu Babatunde Instructor, Olufunke Akinloye Founder Code Zone for Teens & Pre Teens, Michael Umoren Lead Instructor, Anthony Achoba Instructor at the closing presentation of Code Zone 2022

Olufunke Akinloye, initiator Code Zone, said ‘Every year we feel privileged to have the opportunity to make impact and sow seeds of greatness in the lives of the young ones. Some of our previous participants have become professionals in programming because they upskilled further after the program, this gives us so much joy’.

Code Zone 2022 Final Presentation Day

She also went on to say ‘One of the reasons we have been consistent with quality output showcased through participants’ presentations year on year is the commitment of our instructors led by Michael Umoren and for this we are so grateful’

Emmanuel Olley, 14 a participant of Code Zone 2022 said he enjoyed participating in the program, as he has learnt a lot about HTML & CSS, he has been able to bring his area of interest to life through his project called Diamond wears.

Code Zone 2022 Virtual and In-Person Participants

L-R Bolu Babatunde Instructor, Olufunke Akinloye Founder Code Zone for Teens & Pre Teens, Michael Umoren Lead Instructor, Anthony Achoba Instructor at the closing presentation of Code Zone 2022

Feranmi Ojo, 18, another participant in the JavaScript class, interested in Skin Care expressed gratitude to her parents for registering her for the coding program. She said she has learnt so much building on the limited HTML knowledge she had before joining the program. Now within one month she has mastered HTML, CSS & fast becoming pro in JavaScript.

Accolades from parents were numerous during the closing presentation as they expressed how impressed they are. Mr Fadero a parent of one of the participants said he is amazed how much his son had learnt within the one month of enrolling in the program and he intends to support his child by encouraging him to continue to practice even though the program has ended.

Mrs Gbadebo, another parent with two kids enrolled in the program said ‘One of the things I really appreciate about the program is how intentional the instructors are about supporting the children to acquire the skill, only one of my son was in the program last year, but with what the sister saw him do she insisted she will join the program this year, I cannot say thank you enough to the organizers’.

Code Zone 2022 Participant Presentation

Participants Presentation

Code Zone 2022 had 3 classes hold simultaneously for the one month and just like previous editions they associate each class with programming veterans. The HTML & Cascading Style Sheet in-person class was called Team Wium Lie named after Hakon Wium Lie, a Norwagian web pioneer best known for developing Cascading Style Sheet. The HTML & CSS Virtual class was called Team Berners Lee named after Tim Berners Lee, an English computer scientist best known as an inventor of World Wide Web. The JavaScript Virtual class was called Team Gosling named after James Gosling, best known as the founder and lead designer of Java programming Language.

Class in session

Raising Stars through coding

Emerald Zone has always been proud to power Code Zone annually, as a business advisory organization involved in supporting businesses in areas such as Human Resources, Sales, and Marketing etc. and fully involved in training professionals in various fields, we have taken this as our Social project to upskill the young generation in readiness for the future they are growing into’ said Dapo Akinloye Chief Executive, Emerald Zone. ‘We are indeed proud of what all the children have been able to accomplish and we encourage them to build on what they have learnt with an intention to be the best in what they choose to do.

Teenagers should learn to Code

November 18, 2021 in Business, technology, Training, Upskilling

Why Teenagers should learn to code

There are a number of reasons why teenagers should learn to code some of which can start paying off immediately, while others hold their value for the long term.

To fill a gap

School is required. School is valuable. But most schools also haven’t come around to offering computer science courses. Unfortunately, though, coding is no longer a “nice to have” reserved as a selective skill for only the extremely dedicated to chase and learn on their own. It’s now something that is arguably more crucial to a well-rounded education, since ideally, “education” exists to prepare students for success in the real world.

So, teens should seek out coding classes and learn to code because the opportunity to do so is not going to come to them in the traditional school setting.

To get a leg up

If teens go out and seek to do something not available to most of their peers, they are going to stand out when compared to others. And one of the most important times that comparison happens is when it comes to college applications.

I mean, any extracurricular is typically going to bolster a college application, as it shows a student is taking initiative to take on more, and to develop alternative skills. But even beyond that, students who possess coding skills in particular can be reasoned to be logic-based problem solvers, or persistent and resilient challenge-tacklers who aren’t easily pushed off course by bugs or hurdles.

The benefits only snowball from there—those who seek to solve problems are often forced to communicate and work with others, and then are able to lead and teach once tasks are mastered, and so on.

To secure a lucrative career

First comes the opportunity, then comes college, and then of course, the ultimate goal, a career that pays well, is enjoyable, and has a noticeable impact on the general public.

Coding can very much be that career! While it’s up to the coder to decide whether or not coding is actually enjoyable and something they like doing, there isn’t any denying that a career rooted in coding is a lucrative one (the computer science major is one of the highest paying college majors available), and is something that is required and utilized throughout each and every day across the world.

In fact, there are a number of different coding languages that are used in order to make all of these things a reality.

Teens can code

Coding languages for teens to consider

JavaScript

Teens who are interested in web development and want to create front-end applications should consider JavaScript. It’s popular, and native to most web browsers, making it a very relevant and in-demand language when it comes to creating interactive web apps.

Quick fact: Netflix, PayPal, and a number of other recognizable web products lean on JavaScript (and the Node.js runtime environment, specifically).

Start now: JavaScript Coding powered by MIT Open Learning | Teen Tech

Read more: Web Design for Kids

Python

A great beginner’s language, teens can use Python to get their ideas up and running relatively quickly, given that Python requires fewer lines of code than other languages! Python is used by Google, Disney, other big brands, and can be utilized to develop video games, numeric computing projects, and web frameworks. Python is also flexible enough for use in cybersecurity and AI!

Beginners can expect to get started creating something like a text-based game, two-dimensional game, cybersecurity program, or console application.

Resources: Online python tutoring available now

C++

This is a versatile programming language that if mastered, will open the door to complex problem solving and a true understanding of how programs work. Teens might be most familiar with C++ as the language that is used to create computer applications. Thus, C++ is a time-intensive and complex language, but necessary for those interested in game programming.

Teens ready to get started can learn more about C++ tutoring.

Java

While Java might be easily confused with JavaScript, each language offers vastly different approaches, and they are used to accomplish a variety of different tasks. Teens who are familiar with and want to create Android apps will need to learn Java, and the language is also great for those interested in creating game engines and large backend environments, as well as those wanting to get into Minecraft modding.

Teens Coding

C#

If augmented reality is of interest, teens should consider diving into C#. By combining C# coding and Unity (the industry-standard game development engine), teens learn to use next-level sending and imaging tech to create their own mobile games!

Quick fact: Augmented reality is an interactive experience where digital objects are placed in a real-world environment in real-time.

Hands-on coding tools for teens

With something new and seemingly complex like coding, it might be useful for teens to get familiar with the tools and “toys” at their disposal, in order to make coding – and coding creations – more tangible.

micro:bit

The micro:bit is a small programmable computer more formally known as a microcontroller development board. It allows users to create awesome inventions. In addition to creating basic programs, teens can also use the device to develop games and solve real-world problems.

Sphero RVR

The Sphero RVR allows teens the opportunity to jump into autonomous robotics (which refers to robots that can be programmed to perform tasks on their own). The Sphero RVR is highly customizable and has many built-in sensors, a professional-level control system, and a powerful motor paired with all-terrain treads.

ProtoType HARP

Prototype HARP is an escape room style hardware game you have to “hack” to solve using cryptography and critical thinking skills. (HARP stands for hardware alternate reality puzzle.)

Arduino

An Arduino is a microcontroller, perfect for prototyping, and popular among teens who want to create new electronic devices and integrate sensors for something like an autonomous robot that understands and navigates its environment.

VEX

VEX is a popular, exciting, robotics platform designed for teens to build a wide variety of robots. Features includes sensors, which gather information for the robot, and motors, which allow users to create moving parts, like wheels and claw arms.

PyCharm

PyCharm is an Integrated Development Environment or IDE. You can think of it as a notepad in which to write programs.

TensorFlow

TensorFlow is a Google-developed library that makes it easier to create and train machine learning models and neural networks.

Quick fact: Machine learning allows computers to learn and improve at a given time with practice over time. Learn more about machine learning for kids.

IntelliJ

To start writing and running code in Java, teens can use IntelliJ, which is also an integrated development environment.

Visual Studio

Speaking of IDEs, Visual Studio is Microsoft’s integrated development environment. Teens can use Visual Studio for computer program development, allowing them to create websites as well as web and mobile apps.

MicroPython

As spelled out on micropython.org, “MicroPython is a lean and efficient implementation of the Python 3 programming language that includes a small subset of the Python standard library and is optimized to run on microcontrollers and in constrained environments.”

For instance, out at our robotics summer camps, MicroPython is used with Arduino to control the camera of an autonomous and self-driving robot, and sends information based on the camera readings to initiate commands in the Arduino programming language.

Coding by Teens

Coding project examples

When starting something new, a common piece of advice you’ll often receive is to go “step by step” or “one step at a time,” “walk before you run,” etc.

It’s all true, and great advice. But it doesn’t mean you can’t look ahead or around you at the same time. A perfect time to do so is when figuring out an end goal. Why coding? What does your teen want to do with it? What can they do with it?

So, here are a few example projects that combine a lot of what has already been explained above with languages and tools.

For instance, combining micro:bit and Javascript, teens can learn how to program games and then play them on their own or with friends—something like a falling fruit catcher as shown here!

Speaking of games, any game player is familiar with the famous side-scroller, made popular by titles like Super Mario Bros., Double Dragon, and others. And how about the endless runner? Sonic Dash and Super Mario Run are newer examples, made popular as mobile apps. With Java, 2D jump physics, and more, teens can make their own side-scrolling endless runner!

Switching gears to Augmented reality, AR is an interactive experience where digital objects are placed in a real-world environment in real-time. Recently, Augmented Reality technology has boomed due to applications and games that have made it more accessible to everyone.

Teens interested in creating their own AR games with C# can look to the massively-popular Pokémon Go for inspiration. Other AR app examples include Snapchat’s filters, and visualization experiences like IKEA’s Place app, which allows shoppers to virtually place furniture they’re considering in their homes (or, within/on top of photos of their homes) to see how it looks!

And then how about a game built with machine learning? Experiments with Google is a rabbit hole of fun, and one of the things you might come across is this drawing game where a neural network guesses what you’re drawing. It’s pretty amazing how accurate the guesses are, even when you’re terrible at drawing like me!

Last, for a hands-on, competitive endeavor, how about a little battle bot action? With VEX Coding Studio and VEX C++ (the robotics coding language), teens can customize and wire a robot base, and then put it through user-piloted obstacle course challenges and mazes, or stacking and object-moving activities, and more.

The time to code is now for TEENS

Something can’t be called cliche if it’s accurate, that’s my rule. So, seriously, if teens want to be able to get all they can out of learning to code, the time is now. Jumping in today will allow them to reap maximum benefits from all that coding has to offer.

And there is good news and bad news. The bad news is that opportunities to learn to code aren’t just going to fall into anyone’s lap. Teens who get up and go to school, then to baseball practice, and then home every single day may not ever be exposed to a coding opportunity.

The good news, though, is that opportunities are plentiful, but they need to actively searched for. Perhaps it’s an online coding course over the weekend, or a weeklong coding camp during the summer. You can even get the ball rolling by downloading a coding app, or watching a YouTube tutorial.

Either way, best of luck! Here are a few additional resources to help your teen get started.

Online coding resources

In-person coding courses and programs

Online learning

Coding Blogs & Organizations

Coding Tools & Toys

Co-working Space and its many Benefits

October 5, 2021 in Business, Co-Working Space, Professionalism, Training, Upskilling, Workspace

Co Working Spaces

Co-working space simply explained, is a commercial work environment where diverse groups of independent, hardworking & dedicated professionals such as techies, writers, freelancers and remote workers, work together in a shared communal setting for effective and productive use of their time.

It’s been proven over and over that the use of co working space is very beneficial to the users despite the fact that strangers have alongside each other in the workspace environment.

Emerald Zone as a co-working space provider for some years now following customer testimonials and tangible evidence alongside local and international has compiled the benefits of using co working space to customers.

Here are a quick summary of the benefits of using the co-working space

Since users of co working space work for different organizations and have varied interest, there is little or no competition nor internal politics. It strengthens the confidence and identity of the worker as they feel distinct and unique.
Co working spaces are focused on entrenching and strengthening values such as collaboration, learning and sustainability. It is supposed to be a norm that workers help each other as they all have different skill set and can support each other in the work space community.
Workspace provide amenities that may not be available in some office settings nor in many homes for those that Work from Home, neither do freelancers have easy access to such things as Conference Room, Meeting Room, Work out space etc
The opportunity to network with other professionals is one of the great benefits of co working space. Being surrounded with goal oriented and high achieving professionals and ensuring one is truly present among them by engaging and interacting surely has its way of strengthening the individual’s network.
Co working can increase productivity as it takes away the Work from Home distraction and because it’s facility that is paid for, users take their whole self to work so that they can get value for their money alongside the motivation they get from seeing other professionals operating at the top of their game. This also gives a sense of belonging as opposed to the feeling of loneliness that customers experience from Working From Home.
Happiness they say is a choice, the vibe a co working space gives often enhance happy feeling among users. The positivity of thinking about the possibility of connecting to the next great opportunity or the next big thing. The feeling of being among those that make things happen in diverse ways. The feeling of catching a snack with a stranger that can turn out to be a homie in a few more connect does bring forth the feeling of happiness and this impacts on work done from co working space.
Using a co-working space tend to give the user an opportunity to learn something new. It could be a new skill, a fashion style, personal space facelift, healthy lifestyle habits, gaming platform etc Many at times users may have come across the information but may never have used it until they are in close proximity with another user hence they get positively influenced to try out new things.

Emerald Zone is has been providing workspace that meets the needs of users from Personal space to private offices that can take from 3 to 10 people as well as training & conference room suitable for up to 70 people. Emerald Zone has workspace facilities located in different areas within Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria all strategically within serene environments that enhance concentration and productivity. The rates are friendly and the amenities are amazing so to make more enquiries you can visit on ezonelagos on Instagram or Facebook, you can also call 08038095408 or email info@emeraldzone.com.ng

June 5, 2021 in Business, technology, Upskilling

How VPN works.

Virtual Private Network (VPN) describes the opportunity to establish a protected network connection when using public networks. VPNs encrypt your internet traffic and disguise your online identity. This makes it more difficult for third parties to track your activities online and steal data. The encryption takes place in real time.

How does a VPN work?

A VPN hides your IP address by letting the network redirect it through a specially configured remote server run by a VPN host. This means that if you surf online with a VPN, the VPN server becomes the source of your data. This means your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and other third parties cannot see which websites you visit or what data you send and receive online. A VPN works like a filter that turns all your data into “gibberish”. Even if someone were to get their hands on your data, it would be useless.

Benefits of VPN connection

Secure encryption
Disguising your whereabouts
Access to regional content
Secure data transfer

Reason to use VPN

Your ISP usually sets up your connection when you connect to the internet. It tracks you via an IP address. Your network traffic is routed through your ISP’s servers, which can log and display everything you do online.

Your ISP may seem trustworthy, but it may share your browsing history with advertisers, the police or government, and/or other third parties. ISPs can also fall victim to attacks by cyber criminals: If they are hacked, your personal and private data can be compromised.

This is especially important if you regularly connect to public Wi-Fi networks. You never know who might be monitoring your internet traffic and what they might steal from you, including passwords, personal data, payment information, or even your entire identity.

Features of a VPN solution

Encryption of your IP address: The primary job of a VPN is to hide your IP address from your ISP and other third parties. This allows you to send and receive information online without the risk of anyone but you and the VPN provider seeing it.
Encryption of protocols: A VPN should also prevent you from leaving traces, for example, in the form of your internet history, search history and cookies. The encryption of cookies is especially important because it prevents third parties from gaining access to confidential information such as personal data, financial information and other content on websites.
Kill switch: If your VPN connection is suddenly interrupted, your secure connection will also be interrupted. A good VPN can detect this sudden downtime and terminate preselected programs, reducing the likelihood that data is compromised.
Two-factor authentication: By using a variety of authentication methods, a strong VPN checks everyone who tries to log in. For example, you might be prompted to enter a password, after which a code is sent to your mobile device. This makes it difficult for uninvited third parties to access your secure connection.

Some VPN Providers

How to install a VPN connection on your smartphone

Download the App
Log in with your account. Most apps will then guide you through the key functions of the VPN services.
Switching on your VPN, it’s just a touch of a button
Server switching is usually done manually if you want to fake your location. Simply select the desired country from the offer.
Advanced setup is available for users requiring a higher degree of data protection. Depending on your VPN, you can also select other protocols for your encryption method. Diagnostics and other functions may also be available in your app. Before you subscribe, learn about these features to find the right VPN for your needs.
In order to surf the internet safely from now on, all you have to do is first activate the VPN connection through the app.

We prepare adults and kids for the future through our annual training CODE ZONE, get ready to register for 2021 edition

Potect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19

April 11, 2020 in Business, Focus, Uncategorized

The coronavirus which is spreading like wildfire worldwide can be prevented if you protect yourself and your loved ones from iy – COVID-19. The battle to eradicate the pandemic is currently ongoing and even though there’s no cure for it yet, a lot of countries have begun managing the situation through aggressive awareness drives, and temporary suspension of activities which may enhance the spread of the virus. Here are some safety measures you need to keep in mind to protect yourself and your loved ones against the spread.

Wash hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based sanitizer: Maintaining good personal hygiene has been found to be effective in protecting against the virus. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised individuals to wash their hands for 20 seconds once in every 30 minutes or use a hand sanitizer with at least 70 percent alcohol content to clean hands in the absence of water.

Stay away If someone is coughing or sneezing: This is where social distancing comes into play. It’s advised to keep a distance of 6 feet from people, whether or not they are showing symptoms. This is because the virus can be transmitted through the respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks and these droplets can land in the mouth or nose of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

Don’t touch your face or the faces of others: Keeping our hands off our faces can prove a very difficult task. Oftentimes we find ourselves scratching our nose, wiping our eyes, biting our fingernails or even picking a pimple. While washing the hands often may be a protective measure against the virus, touching the face with dirty hands can get anyone infected. How? The virus lives on metals and plastics for days so, if your hands touch these surfaces and you touch your face without washing them, you could get infected.

Stay home for as much as possible: Your house is the safest place to be right now until the pandemic blows over. Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread the virus. So, by all means, stay at home and limit your contact with the outside world to the barest minimum.

Self isolate if you experience symptoms: As the experts have explained, It takes 14 days to fully detect the coronavirus symptoms so, if while at home you begin coughing, sneezing, or having a fever, it’s best to self-isolate and call the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control to get help. This simple act can help protect your loved ones against the virus.

Etiquette tips for Smooth Conference Calls

March 29, 2020 in Business, Professionalism

The Month of March 2020 will forever in history be recorded as when there was a
sudden spike in the use of Online Meeting Apps. The reason is not far fetched as
Covid-19 almost grounds the world to a halt in business activities, alternating means
have to be discovered while observing the mandatory Social distance.
Since more people now have to work remotely we have turned to Apps such as
Zoom, Free Conference Calls, Skype, Google Hangout, WhatsApp, OnSip etc to try
to get the business going. It is therefore important to give some tips on how to use
these correctly so that we don’t leave each other displeased with the non verbal
cues.

Here are some tips for making an effective and efficient conference call.
Send Notice Ahead: it is important to treat online meetings with agenda as a regular
meeting because discussions and agreements are official and legally binding. This
enables participants to prepare ahead – such as download the App if need be, check
their ear & mouthpiece, clear calendar, get the documents / references for the
meeting ready etc.
Confirm your Presence: When you join an online meeting it is important to
introduce yourself or you are introduced especially when the participants are not
your team members Even if the App will show the number of participants ensure
you register your presence with a comment or something especially if you joined the
meeting late.
Reduce or Eliminate Disruptions: It is disrespectful to others in the same call when
there are audible interruptions from someone’s end especially the type that can be
managed ahead e.g. loud ring tones friendly neighbour, screaming kids etc its only
fair to keep such interruptions away from your meeting as these will not likely happen
if you were physically in a meeting room. If you however have disruptions, then
apologize and ensure it doesn’t reoccur.
Be Present: Don’t just join the call because you are scheduled to be part of it and
nothing else. While you may want to multitask in order to optimise your time it is

important that you confirm your presence by contributing to the conversation when
the opportunity presents itself. There must have been a value expected from you to
have been invited for the meeting, this can’t happen if you are silent.
Be Audible: While you may be soft spoken remember that all attendees are relying
on technology to transmit the information to them, so if you have to increase the
intensity of your voice do it just for the period of the meeting. What you don’t want is
attendees asking you to repeat yourself over and over or you are being lectured on
how to use your microphone properly during the meeting.
Don’t Dominate the meeting: While you may be the host or you may naturally have
a deep voice you need to consciously not dominate the conversation all through the
meeting. This will be counter productive as you may not achieve any significant thing
since all attendees just have to agree with you so the meeting can come to an end.
Keep Meeting Official: Don’t fall for the temptation of drifting very far from the
objective and the Agenda of the meeting. There may be many other matters to
discuss, be disciplined enough to keep all matters official. Also do not make any
matter personal, disagreements may occur but it is important to take your official
position as opposed to turning it into a personality bout.
Recap agreements before closing: Before the meeting officially ends, ensure there
is a clear establishment of all that was agreed and the next steps to take. No
attendee would be happy to have spent time in a meeting with no cogent outcome.
Proper goodbyes can follow after agreements are established.

Setting Goals for Year 2020!

November 13, 2019 in Business, Professionalism

So Its less than 60 days to the end of this year, clearly Planning for Year 2020 starts now: Every Organization and even individuals that that intends to achieve milestone success in the coming year should have commenced the planning process this is kicked off with Goal Setting.

Setting business goals within an organization is common practice, shared globally by all businesses. Executives set business goals that help increase motivation and determination, as well as those that offer critical learning strategies for training purposes.

it is important to be deliberate about goal setting and here are some quick steps to help with setting achievable goals. Goals are best when they are

Defined
The first step in setting business goals is determining exactly what you want to accomplish. Make sure your goal is worth your effort. Think about how you would design goals if you were certain that they would be successful. Conversely, what would your strategy be if this was your last opportunity? It’s important to set clear goals; you should know exactly where you want to go and you should not waiver from your target regardless of failures along the way. Be as specific as possible, so you are able to determine when you’ve reached your goal.
Specific
Once again, make sure your business goals aren’t too vague. It’s critical to use a goal setting formula that gives your goal a built-in action plan. Define your end goal and create a road map for exactly how you’re going to reach your goal. Be specific with what you want to accomplish at each check point. You’ll achieve a great deal more than you would without these guidelines.
Focused on
Make a commitment and stick with it. Once you’ve set your plan in motion, stay motivated to see your goals through to the end. Don’t procrastinate or second-guess your decisions, as this will only delay the process. Don’t forget to enjoy the process and reward yourself for staying focused.
Timebound
If you don’t set a deadline, your goal will fail. Goals without deadlines indicate that you are not fully committed. Determining a deadline puts your goal into context. Pick a reasonable date that isn’t too aggressive, but also not too far away.
Motivation is attached.
In the goal-setting process, there’s one very important thing to remember: you. Once you’ve accomplished a goal or reached a milestone within your goal, make sure to mark the occasion. You’ve invested an incredible amount of time, energy and determination to reach your goal, so make sure you take a moment to celebrate your success.

We have capacity development sessions on Target Setting and Performance Management, contact us for more information info@emeraldzone.com.ng

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