Semi-new to it too and I've since learned enough to figure out how to trade bitcoin for alt coins.  You can read about it and learn about the tech but to trade you just need to know a few things.

1) When to buy it.  Earlier in the year BTC was flying up and no one know where it would hit resistance so those of us who were impatient, bought and watched it go down over $10,000.  It looks to have found support around $7800 and the next resistence hurdle appears to be around $11,500.  If it clears $11,500 it could go back to the all time high or higher.

2) How to buy it.  I use coinbase and it's pretty easy once you click around.  The mobile app is great.

3) For someone that doesn't have bankroll to buy full bitcoins, the crazy money is being made in alt coins or as some people call them, third gen coins.
These will loosley track btc and are very cheap as you've probably heard.  Using Binance and tying it to your Coinbase account is the best for buying these.
Online research through these boards and reddit can help you find the popular or most reputable coins.  Searching the coin on Wallet Investor will also show you some projections to help determine if the investment is a good one or poor.

Good luck!