Week 8

Group Video Project 

• Can AI Replace Tutors? -- General Audience.                                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx7sTidBF9w

• Can AI Replace Tutors? -- Professional Audience.                                         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMS4kjELDWg

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Video Peer-Review -- General Audience:

Autonomous Weapons and the Ethics of Killing by Algorithm (2025). https://youtu.be/jWQoO-hBeQc

Review: The topic was covered well, and briefly touched on some of the issues behind autonomous weapons and human intervention. The quality of the video was well put together with video clips for visuals and informative text. Overall, very engaging and carries the viewer along with cute and light music. I'm not entirely sure I would know, if I weren't an active student who understood this was a group assignment, that it was a joint team effort until the end, when "Group 8" was displayed, suggesting that the video likely was made by a group. Some of the information uses advanced vocabulary, which may be familiar to some viewers in the general audience, but not all.

Suggestion: I recommend using a voice-over, if no changes are wanted to be made to the video, to build on some of the information given in text for users unfamiliar with the mentioned concepts or terminology. If there is a desire to avoid voice-overs altogether, the text could include a follow-up explanation or expansion on some of the points made, such as "Categorical ban or regulatory approach" is not middle-school friendly in that they won't understand what the presenter means by "Categorical ban" or what would be considered "regulatory approach."

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Delivery Drones (2025). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTrd9qXZAWg

Review: The topic of delivery drones was beautifully presented with high quality audio and spokesmanship (though, now that I've discovered AI is being used for voiceovers, if this is not the natural speaker, the following review holds true). Absolutely loved this presentation! It presented a very clear objective and gave appropriate detail with engaging video clips that aligned well with the speech. Very approriate for the general audience. Introduces the group at the beginning of slides, indicating a joint effort. 

Suggestion: I really can't suggest anything that would make this better. Beautifuuly done. If AI was used, I still find it should be acceptable for a general audience video!

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Digital Detox (2025). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMY_ZBHa6Ic

Review: Very unique approach and I will say that I absolutely love this method for a general audience video. This is very authentic, honest, and infomative from a more personal stand point. It introduces the topic of digital detox, what it is and why it's important, in a peer-interview presentation. This is a fantastic display of team work as it examples the contribution of the team beyond just stating names of the author in text. The research is very narrowed to personal experiences, but applies some research about digital detox, for which they applied to their speech, using Q & A method. Very appropriate for the general audience for it's introductory discussion, friendly terminology, and presentation style. 

Suggestion: I'm unsure if this is even anything the general audience would care for, but the only recommendation I have would be to remove the recording studio from the first presenter's video. It just makes the video feel drafted a little. 

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Video Peer-Review -- Professional Audience:

Unplugged: The Digital Detox Culture in the Tech Industry (2025). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C24i5uP98k

Review: Very cute and clean video with light music complimenting the flow of the speech. Clearly discusses the overwhelm that is associated with the industry, as far as fatigue, poor posture, and eye strain. Supportive imagery that aligns with the speech and beautifully represents the topic with sufficient information and fluid transitions throughout the video. I'm not entirely sure if I'm qualified to judge professionalism, as this video, from my limited experience, is well done! However, like many of the other videos, it uses AI and I don't really have input on the presentation power of the presenters, so perhaps for a general audience, this video would be more fitting. 

Suggestion: I don't have to many suggestions that I can really give other than that, since it is intended for professionals, it might be more advantageous for the presenters to share this information with a little more data, terminology, and include authentic voice overs. 

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Autonomous Weapons and the Ethics of Killing by Algorithm (2025). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdkkDc02Ktk

Review: Well structured, clear agenda and objective. Voice over is slightly theatrical, which contributes to the intensity of the topic itself. Vocabulary is advanced and certainly meets professional standards, with ample information build upon the texts within the presentation. Authors team members to illustrate team effort, and uses supportive visual aids that engages with the view. I love this presentation, but I have been battling its approriateness for professionals, as it still appears somewhat geared toward the general audience in style, but professional in context. 

Suggestion: As I was in conflict with myself regarding the targetted audience, I don't know if my suggestions would be beneficial. However, I would recommend one or two revisions: Remove lower quality or uneccesary visual aids and replace them with still images that bullets some of the key points currently being discussed, and if using AI or changing the presenter's natural voice, replace the audio with the presenters' natural voice.

 

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Reflection

This week challenged us to meet multiple deadlines throughout the project and I was fortunate to be introduces to productivity tools that my teammates have used to support the development of our project. Everyone pulled through temendously and the entire final piece came together smoothly. I don't think I'll be using Canva for power point editing, however. We did utilize this platform and were pleasantly surprised by a lot of its features. Some areas in Canva could benefit from some additional features that other editors offer, however, the real issue lies in its bugginess. The interactions are inconsistent between the members working on that particular piece, more so within the editing features. This was a learning experience for all of us, but even with this set back, we were able to pull together to resolve the matter. 

Week 7

Team Discussion

    Established meeting times through Google Meet where my team and I discuss approaches, methods, and collaborative tools most suitable for the current task. The combination of my team's individual experiences and resourceful contributions has been most rewarding. Participation is consistent, and creative expansion is driven by introducing productivity tools such as Trello, a productivity resource used for project management, and Canva to create our video presentation. Shared responsibility is evenly distributed, rotated, and each member has effectively met their duties by the agreed-upon deadlines.

How Do Hard Drives Work?

    I aspire to be this knowledgeable, but without having to reach beyond the resources stored within my mind. This video was short - under five minutes - and it covered enough information about the process of storing data within hard drives that my notes span about two full pages. The content included previously introduced. I’m familiar with the general process of data storage - including how electromagnetic fields manipulate bit states and how that ties into concepts like Moore’s Law - but I’d definitely benefit from refreshing my understanding to make sure I’m up to date on the specifics.

Interest-related:




Harvard Podcast on AI's Perils and Promises Reflection

There's relief in discovering all the consideration and active thought that goes into the ethical issues that many people, unfamiliar with AI, have concerns about. In the podcast, there is a discussion about the fears of AI, the Nuances of AI, and inequalities in AI, some fear people have regarding AI comes from the idea it could somehow release nuclear weapon




Presentation skills reading/video

Week 6

CapStone Reflection

     My team and I went over a few of our ideas for some CapStone projects, and hearing from others allowed me an opportunity to think more critically about mine. While my ideas are fine and provide insight into my values and technical abilities, I want to try my hand at something more complex. For instance, one idea was to create a code translator program that would take code in as input and return the output in the user's desired language. I love this idea and strive to think a little more complex or deeper about the kind of projects I want to spend my time on. Another was rooted in helping educators by creating a system that would take on some of the workload from checking attendance to grading paperwork. These are so impactful, helpful, and seem to have. While I love my ideas and will still very much aspire to achieve one or all of them, my sole purpose is to push myself past my comfort level and master the core fundamentals of software engineering. 

Mock Interview

    This week, I got to witness what a technical interview would look like. Admittedly, this has terrified me, and I know that has to do with a lack of confidence in my abilities. Though, since starting the program, I've learned to identify how to recognize when I have gained the skills and knowledge I once thought I lacked. The interview was much longer than I would have imagined. I thought the process would be much smaller and quicker, and perhaps from my still limited experience, it may very well be. As of now, and because of my lack of technical interview experience, it seems overwhelming. Still, I intend to visualize myself in that situation following a successful outcome as I progress into the program, by applying newly obtained knowledge each time. 

CST 338

    The Syllabus for CST 338 is how I expected University would be - strict. I imagine that instructors are always buried in the work we submit and the lectures that need constant planning and revisions, so accommodating missteps or life disruptions is not always an option. The tone, in comparison to other syllabi, is heavier and emphasizes the workload and expectations that will be required of us going forward. It does beckon a curiosity about what the instructor will be like when we meet, and whether this criterion was designed solely for in-person learning or if it applies to the online program as well. For instance, the courses in the program are said to be asynchronous, though the Syllabus discusses the outcome that results from missing a class.

Summary

I have much I still need to learn, from resume building to advancing my engineering abilities in preparation for the technical interviews. I'm grateful to have some Java under my belt and recently spent some additional time reviewing the language through Codecademy. I intend to continue this until the course begins, where I will then redirect an hour of my time to refamiliarize myself with Python. I took Python a few years ago at the start of my educational journey, though, never kept up with it in practice, so revisiting concepts will be beneficial. 

Week 5

Support and Comment on Teammate's Goals:

• Cristian: https://crispylearningjournal.blogspot.com/2025/09/learning-journal-week-4.html q4

• Emmanuel: https://swestudentdiary.blogspot.com/2025/09/4-educational-goals-my-primary.html 

Possible CapStone Ideas:

1. Build a Social Media Site that is safe for all ages, is rated high in ethical and moral standard policies, promotes safety through high security monitoring, including scammer detection, and only allows access to sign up if conditions are agreed upon to ensure the validity of each user. The platform is intended to be as transparent as possible, ensuring users are fully aware of any changes being made; this will all be accessible resources of information should there be any concerns for their data activity privacy. 
2. Create an application that structures your life using the S.M.A.R.T. and PURE perspectives for improved quality of life, as I'm sure not many people know the kind of questions to ask themselves or how to break things down into smaller goals, so maybe having a guide will help people discover how to take advantage of life and encourage feelings of having some control over their life. I think some people struggle making connections, whether academically or in their personal lives and/or relationships, and this may encourage thinking internally with the intention of producing improved wellness for every individual. If I go this route, this would be a premium or subscription benefit at a cost affordable to anyone. I'd go as low as $0.99/month, which can be paused and renewed as needed, archived in case of a user's return or to permanently delete data,  and is for the user's discretionary use. This is deeply inspired by someone I love.
3.  AI filtering for those concerned with privacy and individual rights, which would be able to take in a particular photo or photos, where it can identify the facial structure and details of the provided image to "remove" the individual as a potential resource in unethical AI-generated material, such as porn.

Summary of the week

    I did get to really enjoy the capstone presentations and was inspired by some of the projects that reinforced and expanded upon some of my older ideas of long-term projects I hoped to get started on, and it's incredible to see what this program is going to prepare me to do. It's almost unimaginable to see myself doing this, and I want to see about getting started really soon, at least, by introducing myself to React and practicing JavaScript again. This was incredibly inspirational. 

    I wish I could do both an internship and graduate school at the same time, though I've already been so blessed having this time to dedicate myself fully to my education and can clearly see myself jumping at the opportunity for an internship. There's no better education that hands-on, and I will always be enhancing my education whether I land my dream job or not. I'm curious to see how my opinion on this will change by the end of this program.

Industry Expert Interview

Introduction

    In my pursuit of an expert, I found myself struggling to connect, which was one roadblock I expected to encounter during my search. Oddly, I had an interview lined up, but he never showed, and other candidates didn't seem to share an interest, or perhaps simply did not have the time, to indulge an interview. However, while my brother isn't quite in the exact industry I hope to pursue, he is in STEM and can provide extremely valuable input for someone like me, who still has nearly no idea how to be considered. 

Name: Enrique Sandoval 

Position: System Engineer

Organization: NSS (Neeme Systems Solutions)

Summary

    After graduation, Mr. Sandoval participated in an internship, where he gained valuable knowledge and hands-on experience that led to his pursuit of what would become his current role as a System Engineer. To get here, he began researching local job listings, and he continued to apply with his professional resume readily available. Some of the challenges he faces in the industry involve the rapid and constant changes that often shift goals from their original vision. AI is the biggest and newest technology, though despite its influence, it is still in its infancy, and the required revisions, supervisions, and maintenance it requires secures Mr. Sandoval's current position for the foreseeable few years to come. In his current role, he is tasked with supporting the development of autonomous aircraft. For his field and keeping the current challenges he is encountering today, adaptability and the desire to learn are the most desirable abilities a person can bring into the industry. From his experience, he advises aspiring students to maintain a desire to take on new challenges, as the industry is always a learning curve that demands flexibility and curiosity. During his education, he didn't have a plan structured out to direct his way through his academic experience and relied heavily on his assertiveness and personal drive. For students interested in this particular field, he advises students not to settle for the first opportunity in fear that they may never receive another, and that, if he had the opportunity to speak with his younger self, he would advise himself to continue to pursue a position he can feel most aligned with to prevent burnout. 

Reflection and Future Steps

    After the interview, I realized that a lot of the restraints within my occupational and perhaps even personal pursuits lie in my own internal restrictions. I often feel I'm inadequate for the position and often struggle to identify what exactly would qualify me for a role. However, with continued growth and introspection driven by this program and personal perseverance, part of the initial challenge lies in one's own ability to assert oneself in areas where they wish to be seen.  This encourages me to continue making changes to my educational and occupational plans, including the recognition of successes throughout my journey that will apply as proven experience of the abilities I once thought I lacked. For instance, in participating in the NASA Space program, I discovered that I became more familiar on research techniques, how to work with Arduinos, established a connection between programming and engineering, experienced a leadership responsibility, and took on unexpected challenges; all of which would have been difficult to identify beforehand. With this knowledge, I intend to continue to apply myself in areas that encourage learning and the strengthening of present skills.