ANIMATION FOR THE WEB

Few career paths offer the perfect blend of creativity, technology, and lucrative opportunities like animation. As businesses increasingly rely on visual storytelling to capture audience attention, animation has emerged as one of the most exciting and financially rewarding career choices available to young professionals. Let’s take a look at the rise of the animation profession and how our team here at CTeLearning is helping to meet these growing needs at high schools nationwide with our Web and Computer Animation course . The Growing Demand for Animation Professionals The animation industry has experienced unprecedented growth over the past decade, driven by the explosion of digital content across multiple platforms. From blockbuster movies and video games to social media marketing and educational content, animated visuals have become essential tools for communication and engagement. According to industry reports, the global animation market is projected to reach over $587 billion by 2030, creating thousands of new job opportunities for skilled animators. This growth spans multiple sectors, including entertainment, advertising, education, healthcare, and corporate communications, providing animation professionals with diverse career paths and stable employment prospects. Why Animation is an Attractive Career Choice Creative Freedom and Personal Expression Animation offers professionals the unique opportunity to bring ideas to life through visual storytelling. Unlike many traditional careers, animation allows individuals to express their creativity while solving complex problems and communicating important messages. Whether creating characters for a video game or developing commercials, social media content, educational materials or corporate training, animators have the freedom to shape digital storytelling to improve audience experience and engagement. Competitive Salaries and Financial Security One of the most compelling aspects of an animation career is the financial potential, with experienced professionals earning well over $100,000 per year. Specialized roles such as lead animators, animation directors, and technical directors often command high salaries, making animation one of the highest-paying creative fields. Location Independence and Flexible Work Options The digital nature of animation work provides professionals with unprecedented flexibility. Many animators work remotely, collaborate with international teams, and enjoy the freedom to work from anywhere in the world. This location independence has become increasingly valuable, especially as companies embrace remote work policies and seek global talent. Diverse Career Opportunities Animation careers extend far beyond traditional entertainment. Today's animators work in: Entertainment: Creating content for movies, television shows, and streaming platforms Gaming: Developing characters, environments, and effects for video games Digital Marketing: Producing animated advertisements and social media content Education: Creating interactive learning materials and educational videos Healthcare: Developing medical animations and training simulations Corporate Communications: Producing training videos and presentation materials Essential Skills for Animation Success Technical Proficiency Modern animators must master various software applications and technical tools. Industry-standard programs include 2D animation with Weditor or Adobe Animate and 3D animation supported by Adobe After Effects, Maya, Cinema 4D, and Blender. Understanding these 2D and 3D tools allows animators to create professional-quality work that meets industry standards. Artistic Fundamentals Strong drawing skills and understanding of artistic principles remain crucial for animation success. Knowledge of color theory, composition, and the twelve principles of animation (developed by Disney) provides the foundation for creating compelling animated content. Storytelling and Communication Skills Effective animators understand how to use visual elements to tell stories and convey messages. This often begins with storyboarding and script development. These skills require strong communication and the ability to translate complex ideas into engaging visual narratives that resonate with target audiences. Project Management and Collaboration Animation projects often involve multiple team members and tight deadlines. Successful animators develop project management skills, learn to work collaboratively, and understand the importance of meeting client expectations and project timelines. Project teams include animators, sound effects artists, audio engineers, music composers, voice actors, storyboard artists, character creators, scriptwriters, project managers, producers, and directors. There is a place for all talents and passion to come together and create. The Future of Animation Careers  Emerging Technologies The animation industry continues to evolve with new technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI). These innovations create exciting opportunities for animators to explore new forms of storytelling and develop cutting-edge content experiences. Increased Demand for Digital Content As businesses recognize the power of visual content in marketing and communication, demand for skilled animators continues to grow. Social media platforms, streaming services, and digital advertising agencies actively seek animation professionals who can create engaging content that captures audience attention. Global Market Expansion The international nature of digital content creation means animation professionals can work with clients and companies worldwide. Animation generates stories that can transcend culture and bring information and engagement to the broadest of audiences. This global market expansion provides unlimited growth potential and diverse project opportunities for skilled animators. Building a Successful Animation Portfolio Success in animation requires a strong portfolio that demonstrates technical skills and creative abilities. Aspiring animators should focus on: Creating diverse projects that showcase different animation techniques Developing a unique artistic style that sets them apart from competitors Building projects that demonstrate problem-solving abilities Including work that shows understanding of different target audiences Regularly updating their portfolio with new projects and improved skills Preparing High School Students for Animation Success Our comprehensive Web and Computer Animation Course is specifically designed to prepare high school students for successful animation careers. This innovative program combines technical training with practical experience, giving students the tools they need to excel in the competitive animation industry. Comprehensive Curriculum Design Our animation course is a media-rich and engaging program that gets learners excited about the world of animation and opens their eyes to potential career paths. The curriculum features tutorials and project-based learning that gives students an opportunity to build projects they can add to college and career-ready portfolios. It is turnkey, meaning teachers can administer the course with no prior animation experience. The course includes comprehensive coverage of fundamental animation concepts, including the 12 Principles of Animation lesson module based on Disney's foundational animation principles. This ensures students understand the theoretical foundations that underpin all professional animation work. Virtual Internship Model We offer an innovative approach to experiential learning with our Virtual Internship Model, which immerses the students in interactive story-based projects that look and feel like a career simulation. This unique project-based learning methodology provides students with a taste of what working in the real world is like, ensuring they develop both technical and soft skills necessary for career readiness. Portfolio Development Focus Understanding that a strong portfolio is essential for animation career success, our program emphasizes practical project creation. Each student is tasked with building their college and career-ready portfolio to prepare for their futures, ensuring graduates have tangible examples of their skills when applying for jobs or college programs. Industry-Recognized Certifications We go beyond basic education by offering students the opportunity to earn industry-recognized credentials. These international industry-recognized animation certifications (IIRC), also referred to as Industry-Based Certifications (IBC), are backed by Web Professionals Global , which is the professional association for those who work on the internet tools used daily across industries. These certifications carry significant weight with employers because the standards are developed by industry professionals—including many who are responsible for hiring for their respective companies. These certifications test students for skills, knowledge and aptitude—not simply how well they can study for an exam. Deliver Engaging Animation Curriculum to Your Students For high school students considering animation careers, programs like our Web and Computer Animation Course provide the perfect foundation for success. By combining comprehensive technical training with industry-recognized certifications and practical portfolio development, we help ensure students are well-prepared to enter the competitive animation industry with confidence. To learn more, contact us today at 913-764-4272 or hello@ctelearning.com . Our free 30-minute demo will show you how we can help your students explore this exciting career pathway. Note: If you are a Texas school, ask us about the Web Animation IBC 967 listed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) on the 2025-2030 Industry-Based Certification List for Public School Accountability. Our course is TEKS aligned and provides a simple path for your students to earn the Certified Web Animator Associate (CWAA) credential. Our curriculum and free online animation tool set works with PC, Mac and Chromebook. We also have a curriculum version to support schools that use Adobe Animate.

This summer, CTeLearning was proud to once again contribute to the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta, GA at the Georgia World Congress Center from June 23-27. Our professional association partner Web Professionals Global ran the Web Design and Development competition for the 22nd year in a row, providing students from a number of states with the opportunity to participate.  Our founder and lead developer, Steve Waddell, has been helping to run SkillsUSA competitions since 2005. Additionally, this past spring, CTeLearning and Web Professionals Global helped to facilitate the SkillsUSA Web Design and Development state competitions, the winners of which were invited to the national competition. Let’s hear a recap from Mark Dubois, Executive Director of Web Professionals Global, who spent the week in Atlanta. Week Recap June 23 (Monday) - After arriving late Sunday night, Mark arrived at the registration desk very early in the morning. He met our colleague Tammy Finch (Web services, Inc). Once Mark checked in for the event and received the packets of information and badges, he and Tammy were off to Courtesy Corps to arrange for their assistance in setting up the competition area. Mark had previously requested their help and needed to confirm all details once on site. He also worked with SkillsUSA personnel to get the wifi router installed and configured. Shortly after noon, both he and Tammy participated in the Technical Chair meeting. This event is held just prior to the competition to communicate last minute information (such as the current dispatch phone number and emergency procedures in the event of severe weather or other disruptions). Mark also picked up a plaque honoring our long time co-chair, Steve Waddell, for his numerous years of service to this competition. Once the meeting concluded, both Mark and Tammy returned to the competition area to verify the wifi was working. Although there was no easy way to stress test the environment, all appeared to be working once the router received a software update. Many thanks to SkillsUSA for their help in getting this set up and working. June 24 (Tuesday) - We began the day once again testing the network and confirming all was working for the competition. At noon, we held a written test for competitors in room B-311. This was the room we also used for competition debriefing and training during the week. The test covered various aspects of web design and development including fundamentals every competitor should know as well as a few more advanced questions. When completed, competitors had a moment to grab some lunch prior to our mandatory training session (which started at 2 p.m.). We covered the use of our online coding environment as part of our training and explained how the competition would be run along with providing a written overview. We also provided links to videos explaining the coding environment. Mark also reviewed some potential pitfalls which could happen when using the environment. He also reviewed why it is important to preview your work in the browser periodically. Once questions were addressed, Tammy and David Jackson (Tekki Systems) [long time member of our on site technical team] provided an overview of what it is like to work in the industry today. After a brief discussion, they answered many questions from competitors. We hold these sessions concurrently for both the secondary (high school) and post-secondary (college) competitors. Each state was represented with a team of two competitors who had to work together to complete a series of specific tasks. More information about that can be found below (Wednesday). The session ran a bit over as there were many keen questions from those who aspire to work in our industry. Before we left the room, we reviewed the test scores of all competing teams and confirmed that their answers were properly recorded in our system. These scores are later input into a large spreadsheet for calculating the winners (gold, silver, and bronze) for both secondary and post-secondary competitions. We mentioned to all competitors that we were throwing a wrinkle into the process this year. We have a practicing web professional who spent the same amount of time and used the same work order and assets to create a website. Since we are a global organization, we were able to ask someone from another time zone to do this. We decided that we would be reviewing their work as part of the competition debriefing. Everyone seemed intrigued by this new approach. They also got to meet this individual at the end of the training session (obviously via a Zoom meeting). June 25 (Wednesday) - On this day we focused on the secondary teams. Roughly two dozen states were represented by teams of two. In order to compete in Atlanta, each team had to win first place in their respective state. We were honored to be able to work with many states in their respective state web design and development competitions. We provide the coding environment, assets, rubrics, and judging criteria. We ask each state to provide on-site personnel and judges. Dan Dao (our SkillsUSA .NET [National Education Team] member was able to join us again this year. This is his second year and we greatly appreciated his help. The competition began with a briefing and a client interview. In this case, David Jackson served in the role of client. He spent some time explaining what he needed as a client and was asked a number of questions by competitors about his business. Many of the questions were quite insightful and showed competitors wanted to understand his business to provide the best experience for his clients who would be visiting his website. Once the client interview was finished, competitors returned to their workstations and spent about an hour drafting a low fidelity wireframe (some also did a site map and a few did a mood board/ stylesheet). We supplied the paper for use in this part of the process. Once they were finished with their version of the wireframe, they flagged down a team member who had them secure their work and the team was then handed a medium fidelity wireframe developed by a practicing professional. This is what each team used as they developed the website. We have used this approach for a number of years and it vastly helps with judging as all judges are examining and comparing similar work (for example, they expect mobile versions to display images in a certain spot that is different from the desktop version). Competitors worked as a team and had until 3 p.m. to complete their work and validate it was working properly in our online coding environment. While each team was working, they were called up for a team interview. In addition to addressing why their team should be considered for future work with clients, we also asked detailed questions about their individual wireframes. Those wireframes were left with the interviewers. At 3 p.m. the competition concluded and competitors were able to leave the venue. Judges then began reviewing competitor work (each team had one submitted spot). We use our custom online tool as it has a judge view. In that view, judges can move from one team to another effortlessly. Judges are able to view the source code, validate it, and test in various mobile device settings. However, judges are not able to make any changes to the code itself (they are operating in a read only mode). We have been doing this for over 20 years (and a few of our judges have been with us for almost the entire time). June 26 (Thursday) - The post-secondary teams competed on this day. We had roughly a dozen post-secondary teams. We have noted that there are often fewer post-secondary teams than secondary teams. This is part of the reason we have the high school teams compete on Wednesday as judges can spend Wednesday evening as well as most of the day Thursday evaluating the work of the secondary competitors. As with the Wednesday competition, all teams met with the client and had the chance to ask many questions about his business. They then began to develop their own low fidelity wireframes. After an hour, they notified team members who secured their wireframes and provided competitors with a medium fidelity wireframe they could use to develop the website. As before, the competition ended at 3 p.m. We then held a debriefing session in B-311. We reviewed the work of our volunteer web professional and showed his work in the judge's view (so competitors got a behind the scenes look similar to what judges use - although it was in a different but similar coding environment). We then opened the floor for questions and comments by the competitors. Mark took notes as these comments will be reviewed and incorporated into next year’s event. Those notes have been shared with all team members and we are starting to make modifications already. Once the debriefing session concluded, a number of competitors accompanied us back to the competition venue as we had to dismantle the tables and chairs and stack all for the move out happening on Friday. Thanks to those who helped. You made a big difference. We then returned to our respective hotel rooms. Mark reviewed the score sheets provided by judges for the secondary competition and entered those scores into the SkillsUSA judges data store while the work of the post-secondary teams was being evaluated. Judges got all completed and the final scores were all recorded before the 9 p.m. deadline set by SkillsUSA. They need the time to then develop the materials for the awards ceremony on Friday. June 27 (Friday) - This was the first year that we knew when we would be handing out the awards (to the minute). We arrived at State Farm Arena and navigated our way backstage. Tammy and David placed the medals on the winning teams (gold, silver, and bronze) for both secondary and post-secondary teams. We went with the teams for official back state photos after the event. Congratulations to all who participated. Although there can only be one first place team in each event, you are all winners because you stepped up and tested your knowledge, skills, and abilities on a national stage. In a number of states, competitor teams had to win a regional competition, proceed to the state competition, and then on to the national competition (winning first in each to qualify for our competition in Atlanta). Well done and congratulations to all! Get in Touch CTeLearning is proud of its work over the years with SkillsUSA. Reach out to us today for information on our collaboration with SkillsUSA and course offerings.

Today we are taking a look at one of our most popular courses, Web Design . Schools all over the country have been using our Web Design course for years and showing students what an exciting career path web design can be. Thanks to Web Professionals Global , our association partner, students who complete the Web Design course can earn a professional web design certification, the Certified Web Designer (CWDSA) certification , that showcases their skills and aptitude in web design. One of the states where we see the most certifications being awarded is Texas. The CWDSA certification is on the 2025-2030 Industry-Based Certification (IBC) List for Public School Accountability, which is the official list of state-approved certifications. Maintained by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the purpose of the IBC list is to “identify certifications that prepare students for success in the workforce, military, or postsecondary education.” Every five years, there is an assessment process that determines whether certifications will be accepted for the list. Being on the list means that our schools know our courses and certifications meet rigorous state standards and are preparing students to excel in future educational and professional pursuits. We are proud to be certified by the TEA for the next five years and look forward to working with students and teachers in Texas for years to come. CWDSA Overview We at CTeLearning are not the providers of the certification. We develop curriculum, as our first priority, to help teachers prepare their students for careers. For many teachers, this includes helping students get an industry-based certification. So, in many of our courses, that means making sure our curriculum helps students build not only their knowledge and portfolio but also the broad industry and technical skills needed to earn an industry-based certification. In this case, our curriculum aligns with what a student must know to get The Certified Web Designer Associate (CWDSA) certification. The examination measures more than just the essential competencies for aspiring or practicing Web Designers. The examinee must demonstrate working knowledge of Internet basics, HTML including HTML5, CSS3 and WYSIWYG editors, Web graphics, Web audio and video, Web site design, Web site management, and basic legal issues at the standard defined by this test specification. The skills and knowledge measured by this examination are derived from an industry-wide and worldwide job task analysis which was validated through a survey of hundreds of designers. The results of the survey were used in weighting the domains and ensuring that the weighting is representative of the relative importance of that content to the job requirements of a Certified Web Designer Associate. The intent is to certify individuals in a body of knowledge that is identified and accepted as the baseline or foundation of any Web Designer. Web Design as a Career If you are considering what to teach or coaching your students about future career options and pathways, web design can be a great choice. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 8% growth in employment for web developers and digital interface designers from 2023 to 2033—faster than the average for all jobs. Demand is strong and still rising as more businesses move online and prioritize digital experiences. Web developers earned a median annual salary of $90,930 in May 2024, showing that this field doesn’t just offer creative freedom—it pays well too. Design matters more than ever. Around 65% of all website traffic comes from mobile devices, making a mobile-first approach essential. Plus, 94% of businesses say website design impacts their impression of a brand, and 42% of users will leave a site if it’s hard to use. To stand out, a strong portfolio is your best tool—it shows what you can do. But industry-recognized certifications can boost your credibility, especially if you’re just starting out or want to specialize. In this pathway, whether you're freelancing, joining a design agency, or building your own brand, the web design world is full of opportunity. Just keep learning, stay creative, and always design with the user in mind. Reach Out Today If you are a teacher or administrator interested in our Web Design course and certification, reach out to us today. Our free 20-minute demo can show you the value for you and your students.

Today we are highlighting an aspect of CTeLearning that many of our clients may not know about: research projects. Although much of our work is focused on providing curriculum to middle schools and high schools, we also work with universities and research groups to support research projects. We recently completed a project with Dr. Jessica Morales-Chicas and Dr. Mauricio Castillo of California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA). We have partnered with Dr. Morales-Chicas and Dr. Castillo for years and this project was yet another successful collaboration. Project Overview This project revolved around a research study focused on culturally responsive education. Five focus groups guided youth in reflecting on their identities and imagining culturally responsive mobile apps to support this endeavor. The team at CTeLearning provided the code and curriculum that made it possible for the participants of the study to build their mobile apps. This development work was done on a custom basis for this specific CSULA research project. Participants in the project conceptualized culture in different ways including traditions, customs, language, beliefs and more. All of these factors shaped the culturally responsive coding curriculum. Q&A with Steve We caught up with CTeLearning founder and lead developer Steve Waddell to discuss his team’s experience working on the project. What was the experience like working with CSULA? We have been working with CSULA since 2006. Primarily we have worked with their College of Engineering, Computer Science & Technology, Department of Education, and with their work with local STEM programs. What challenges did the team encounter in building the curriculum? How did the team overcome those challenges? This is much of what we normally do. As curriculum developers we are always looking for ways to engage the learner and get them to viscerally care about the project they are working on. That is just good project-based learning design. What we loved about working with the CSULA team was the chance to add a cultural twist to what we naturally do and to then see how that enhanced the engagement. Increased engagement means increased learning. How rewarding is it to see a completed research project and know CTeLearning played a role in its success? I loved the pride the kids had for where they and their families came from, and how they recognized their values of the importance of family came through so clearly. It was very cool seeing how proud they all were that they had built a mobile-ready app that they were sharing with their families and friends. So, that cultural pride was being shared with the people most important to them. How did CTeLearning get involved working with the research community? It started in 2007 when the state of Kansas asked us to save a WIRED project to develop a workforce training course for biotechnology that had stalled. This introduced us to the local biotechnology and life sciences community, and just a year later we were invited into projects with the regional stakeholders. Today we are working with researchers all over the US and doing projects on vaccine hesitancy, wellness, pediatric cancer, autism, urban health disparities, and more. We have even created projects that are active in Africa. Are there any other thoughts you would like to share? As developers creating courseware to teach careers and how to be successful in industry, I think it is important to have a foot in both worlds. Our work with industry and research keeps us grounded in what it takes to be successful in the work world, and gives us a bit of “street cred.” To learn more, click here for the full article that was published in the Computer Science Education journal in July 2025. If you are a researcher looking for assistance with your research project, reach out to us today.

Today we are highlighting one of our long-time partners, Dr. Maurico Castillo, and his students. Dr. Castillo teaches in the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology at California State University, Los Angeles and is an Advisor for Web Professionals Global , the professional association for all things web. This semester, Dr. Castillo has been teaching students at the Esteban Torres High School Engineering & Technology Academy. He is teaching CTeLearning’s AI for the Workplace course . 30 students worked their way through the course that teaches students how AI can be harnessed in the workplace, no matter what the future educational and career paths of the students may be. The course features the PromptScout tool, which helps students learn how various AI prompts can be used in a variety of professional settings to streamline work. The 5,360 prompts cover 63 different industries ranging from welding and business and cosmetology to agriculture. We caught up with Dr. Castillo to hear about his experience working with CTeLearning and teaching the course: “AI is here and is becoming a part of every career pathway. As CTE educators we must prepare learners for their future, and their future will include AI. AI will not replace people in their chosen pathways, but I see it helping to do more in less time. For example, people in a variety of career fields including welders, electricians, mechanics, solar techs, cosmetologists, web designers, and arborists are small business owners and entrepreneurs. As a welder, you have a craft that is high-paying and you may own your own business. AI can help you with many administrative tasks including digital marketing, customer service communications, and even safety reviews and codes review. AI is becoming the new career literacy. Every student needs to learn about how AI is a valuable tool and not something we should be afraid of. I was the first to deploy this course in CA. I took the opportunity with a class at a local high school that had 30 students. As a member of the advisory committee of Web Professionals Global, I got to see much of the early development of the microcredential and its supporting curriculum. So, when I had the chance to give it a test drive, I could not resist. I am a professor, and so like all professor types I am passionate about learning and can talk forever on any topic I love. I am excited for you to hear from the first class of certificate earners.” Hear From the Students Let’s hear from Dr. Castillo’s students about how they liked the course.  “What I liked about the CTelearning course is that it made you learn ways you can work with AI without letting the AI control your work. It helps you understand how to make the AI work with you and what you want to create. I also like the scenarios because it helps us get an experience of what it's like to use AI to help which work. ” –Veronica Perez “To learn about AI is a great thing considering that’s what is increasing in this economy. I feel like this program is doing a good thing teaching us high school students how to use it. Learning AI can help us in the future as we can find a path in an AI-based career or even in common life situations. I’m very glad to be able to have this opportunity as I see this as something very useful for my future.” –Josie Beltran “There were many things that I enjoyed about the AI in the Workplace course. Before this, I was always skeptical about AI, and even considered myself a hater. When I started reading the modules, I really enjoyed the new information I was learning about AI and how helpful it can be in work life, but also in real life. I also liked how there were sections in the modules that showed the dangers and cons for AI. A lot of people who are passionate about something seem to only show the bright side of it, but I really liked that the course didn’t show any bias and showed how AI can be bad as well. Another reason why I liked this was because it taught me new ways to use AI and all the capabilities it has.” –Derrek Aparicio “The program was very helpful because it helps you learn completely different things and can help prepare you for the future.” –Jesse Mendez “What I like about the program is the attention to detail throughout the course. Each action is divided into different topics, making it more accessible to users.” –Emely Perez “What I liked about the program we took was the scenarios. They allow me to see situations where I could use AI in real life. The situations were mainly in work environments, where I could really use AI to help me in situations.” –Abel Gonzales Your School Could Be Next Contact us today at hello@ctelearning.com or 877-828-1216 to schedule your free 20-minute demo. One of our team members will show you how you can bring this innovative AI curriculum into your classroom and prepare your students for success.