LESSON 2: LEVERAGING INTERNET FOR PERONAL & CAREER GROWTH

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants should be able to:

• Differentiate between passive internet consumption and productive internet usage.

• Discover actionable ways to use the internet for self and career advancement.

• Apply best practices to stay safe, focused, and intentional online.

• Create a personal action plan to start leveraging the internet effectively.

1. Introduction: The Power of the Internet

• “Did you know the average person spends over 6 hours online daily? What if half of that time was used productively?”

• The internet is a gateway to knowledge, opportunities, and growth — but only when used intentionally.

• Two types of internet participants exist: Consumers and Users.

2. Internet Consumers vs. Internet Users

⚠️ Note: Everyone consumes content. The key is balancing it with productive usage.

3. Key Ways to Leverage the Internet for Growth

A. Skill Acquisition & Learning

• Platforms: JomoRC, Coursera, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, freeCodeCamp, Khan Academy

• YouTube tutorials, blogs, and documentation

• Micro-learning through reels/shorts (if curated wisely)

B. Career Development & Job Search

• Create and optimize LinkedIn profile

• Build digital portfolios: GitHub (coders), Behance (designers), personal websites

• Apply for jobs and internships on platforms like Indeed, RemoteOK, Jobberman, Upwork

C. Networking & Community Engagement

• Join Facebook groups, Twitter Spaces, Slack/Discord communities

• Attend webinars, Twitter/X chats, LinkedIn meetups

• Reach out to mentors via DMs or email (with clarity and courtesy)

D. Showcasing & Sharing

• Write blog posts, tweet insights, start a YouTube/Instagram channel

• Share your learning journey (build in public)

• Create digital products: eBooks, templates, tutorials

E. Personal Organization & Efficiency

• Productivity tools: Notion, Trello, Google Docs, Calendar

• Automation tools: Zapier, Buffer, Calendly

• Habit trackers and digital planners

4. Cautions and Best Practices

❗ Cautions

• Digital Overload: Avoid spending too much time without breaks

• Comparison Trap: Don’t compare your journey to others on social media

• Misinformation: Verify sources before accepting online advice

• Scams & Fraud: Beware of job scams, fake gurus, and phishing links

• Addiction: Uncontrolled scrolling or gaming can affect productivity

✅ Best Practices

• Set daily/weekly screen time goals

• Curate your online feed with purpose

• Schedule regular digital detox

• Use strong passwords, 2FA, and be cyber aware

• Balance learning with implementation

5. Personal Action Plan Template

Participants to create their own action plan using the structure below:

🔹 Personal & Career Goal:

E.g., Become a freelance graphic designer

🔹 Online Tools & Platforms to Use:

E.g., JomoRC, YouTube tutorials, Canva, LinkedIn Learning, Fiverr

🔹 Daily Internet Use Goals:

E.g., 2 hours learning, 1 hour practice, 30 minutes networking

🔹 Communities to Join:

E.g., Facebook group for designers, Discord design server

🔹 Digital Content to Create:

E.g., Share one design project per week on Instagram

🔹 Accountability Plan:

E.g., Weekly progress check with a friend or mentor

Class Activity Ideas

• Audit Your Internet Use: Track how much time you spent online in the last 24 hours and classify it as “consumer” or “user”.

• Platform Scavenger Hunt: In groups, explore and present one internet platform that supports personal/career growth.

• Goal-to-Platform Match: Each participant writes a goal and others suggest internet platforms/tools to help achieve it.

Conclusion:

The internet is your best tool — or your biggest distraction. Choose to use it intentionally. Shift from consumer to creator, observer to actor, and viewer to doer. Small, consistent actions online can lead to real-world success.