Read more than you post. This forum is indeed extremely helpful with a lot of information you can find. Try looking through the same board this post is in, and I am sure you will find all you need to begin.
So, anyways, here is a summary of things you can try:
Exchange sites -- You definitely need on if you want to start trading.
Poloniex and
Bittrex are my top 2, but Kraken, Cex.io and Bitstamp are ok alternatives.
Market rates -- Check out
CoinMarketCap to see the trading volume, price and percentage change in the last day for a good gauge how the coin is going. If you don't know what a specific term is, search it up and I'm sure you will learn more than asking.
The best way to start is to try it out yourself. Once you have your own Bitcoins and researched upon the coins, you may try with small amounts, and it can grow with the experience you gain. Good luck!