Week 8: The Grande Finale

 

This was our final week of CST300 marking the first class completed in our 100-week program!

We worked mainly on our final video presentations and now we get to watch and evaluate our classmates'. I ended up watching 4 groups' videos, my thoughts and comments are below:

Group 2: OtterPups

Organoid Intelligence

    I think this topic is very interesting, which makes it super engaging. I love that Organoid Intelligence is still being researched, it feels like I'm being introduced to something new and exciting. The group did a great job covering the topic, the content was thorough and well researched. The language use and amount of information provided was appropriate for the professional audience. I consider myself part of the general public so I can confidently say that this video got its message across well. The tone and use of language was good and easy to understand. The slides were clean and effective, with helpful images that added context. One thing that I might change in the presentation is the volume levels between speakers. Also, while it's clear you're well-prepared, I would try incorporating more natural inflection and cadence to really bring the material to life. All in all, super cool topic! Great work!

Group 1:

Nomophobia

    I totally relate to the anxiety of being without a phone. The animations in the general public video were really cute. The topic was well-covered and got me thinking about my own phone habits. The presentations were clear, and the animations helped keep track of what was happening. For the professional video, I think the background music might have been a bit too playful for the topic. I feel like it took away from the seriousness of the issue. It would have been cool to see a study on algorithms used to keep people one their phones. Nice job in exploring this topic, it's definitely something I will be thinking about more often!

Group 10: TechHeads

The Deepfake Dilemma

     I thought the video was solid, and the topic is super interesting and a bit unsettling. The slides were straightforward and effectively used images to provide context. The content was well researched and informative. One potential area for improvement could be to add more visual interest to the slides, especially for the general public video. Constant movement on the screen can help keep viewers engaged. That being said, the videos were tailored well to their respective audiences. The language and amount of information provided was appropriate for each. The real-life examples, like the deepfakes of world leaders, were very effective in highlighting the dilemma. I loved that both videos included practical tips on spotting deepfakes and what to do if you encounter one. This information is super useful for everyone!

Group 5: Fantastic Four

Can We Live Forever Through Digital Technology

    These videos were incredibly engaging. I loved how the images changed in sync with the discussion; it really kept me hooked. The cadence and delivery of the speakers were great. I like how the slides with only texts still had movement in the background for further engagement. Their videos are appropriate for both professional and general audiences, especially in the use of language in the ethical dilemma. The topic itself is fascinating! The research was thorough despite the concept being very new. It's crazy to think about how some of these concepts are becoming reality. I've been interested in this topic since watching a Black Mirror episode about it and it's wild to see how it's evolving. Honestly, the production quality is top-notch. These are really strong videos!

My Group: Otterly Intelligent

    CST300 was a great way to get back into the swing of things academically. It was a fantastic exercise in improving my writing and language skills. Before this class, I had mixed feelings about AI due to public debate around its ethics. But through this course, I gained more of an understanding of AI as a useful tool. It really made me think critically about the ethics and how I want to approach tech in my future career.
I also enjoyed collaborating with my group. We talked primarily through discord which was successful. To make collaboration more effective, I will try to take more initiative and taking a more active role. My teammates were awesome to work with and I'm proud of what we accomplished. Our presentation videos on "How Search Engines Work" are linked below.

How Search Engines Work:

General: CST300 Major ProSeminar Final: How Search Engines Work (for the General Public)

Professional: CST300 Major ProSeminar Final: How Search Engines Work (Professional)