Getting yourself on the ladder of prosperity can be difficult if we don't have the initial skills we need. With today's digital world the opportunities for literate and creative individuals are becoming ever increasingly varied. The methods of establishing yourself in the world of computer interaction, being front or back of house, are growing with each new internet innovation, each new platform update, each new leap of processing power. Sometimes a person will come along and shift the entire scene all by themselves in one move. More often, currents of like minded web developers, fashion designers, and creative writers all form unique niches within subcultures, and the mirroring within these media bubbles creates an amplified focus of the join direction.


We can see this in the evolution of Facebook pages, Twitter ads, Instagram image designs, and the adoption of similar functions across all platforms where possible, to give users the feel at home experience where ever they wander online.


The best thing to do when confronted with the ever shifting tide of online innovation and upgrades, is to remain on the ball. It's not a game of football, although having an outdoor activity is paramount for any digitally based career. Staying educated is vital, in short. Personally, my experience with online education has been mixed. There are many 'scam' sites out there, offering free webinars and ebooks in exchange for emails, and often they're nothing more than what can be found in a thousand blog posts. To get the real thing, we must go to the people behind those glass walls. The ones who are not screaming in your face to hand over your details for the revolution in getting you richer. These are best off left to the wannabes. Really, what is important is quality, professional, paid education.


It can be expensive, with the cost of life as it is, not many of us have the spare change to pay for a weekend away let alone a course in expert career skills. These things often cost a lot of money. Yes, unfortunately, they do. If we want the absolute best then we really must be prepared to pay for it. Most often this is the case anyway.


One of the most fun and entertaining educational experiences I have had recently is with Shaw Academy. Their live interactive lessons really make a difference, and it truly feels like I have human contact with my teachers. Once or twice I've had my name mentioned from posted messages sent through the in house chat box, and that guarantees that I am truly plugged into a live broadcast, made for me. Because of the sheer numbers of clients who can tune into these seminars, which last for just over an hour each usually, Shaw Academy have been able to squeeze some numbers and provide some cracking deals to get their cutting edge education. I'm really proud to have studied with these and my next course is already booked.


The other centre of education that I'm currently enjoying is Udemy. Their approach differs in that it is all pre-recorded and the is no real time interaction. My tutor is available via email for a period of time during my course, which is then available for life afterwards. The bonus side to this is that I am under much less pressure and the material can be pauses, rewound, and played again at my own leisure. OK, this means that Shaw have taken up a lot more of my time in the moment, and that's fine by me. Udemy are still there, being helpful on an almost daily basis. I'd really recommend you give both of these babies a try.  

Comic books are a really fun way to improve our reading, visual perception skills and simply chill out without frying our brain with a screen. When we get into things as children, the nostalgia for those days tends to remain with us well into our grown up years, and so a well produced comic book can encourage children to grow up to be serious graphic novel fans. The picture story idea makes the experience much more dramatic than pages of words alone and yes the majority of the story is told visually, in a language of universal art.


The educational value of a well made comic or graphic novel is often under estimated. The subject matter can be very awkward and the tactile nature of picture and comment, in a series of logical order can really help to introduce complex life situations to new comers, to inform and teach. The sensations that are displayed in the pictures via body language and facial expression can assist greatly with helping people to understand these situations for real, and an accurate conversation with realistic and visual feeling in the book will be a perfect guide for reality. As the medium is easily engaged and continues to hold its cool factor, it is an ideal route for teachers and artists, as well as readers and writers.


Learning how to use modern technology in order to create ideal comic books which encourage literacy, teach appreciation for art, visual empathy and many more gifts is no longer something for the lucky few. With global online education being a hugely growing industry, the number of subjects available to all with an internet connection is growing year by year. Mostly the courses are shorter and involve several forms of media, but they specialise in getting their students to grow into specific new skills.
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