Summary
In this Tech Explorations podcast, Dr. Peter Dalmaris interviews Philip Mallon, a retired engineer and educator with extensive experience in technology. Philip discusses his work with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organization (CSIRO) as an industry representative in their industry STEM program for schools. He manages STEM clubs in collaboration with local councils and emphasizes the importance of teamwork and networking with other educators, environmental engineers, and universities to broaden the scope of their work.
Philip Mallon shares his experiences working in education and technology, highlighting his work with edge AI and BirdNET, an AI tool used to identify bird species using microphones and security cameras. He also discusses his work with ChatGPT, an AI language model, to help with programming tasks. Philip emphasizes the importance of involving students in technology design and implementation, citing an example of a game called “Pick up the Plastic.”
Philip’s work offers valuable insights into the intersection of education and technology, showing how involving students in the design and implementation of technology and leveraging AI tools can create a more sustainable and equitable future.
Watch
- [00:00] Introduction
- [01:36] Philip’s background and retirement
- [03:51] Philip’s work in education
- [05:15] Working with CSIRO
- [06:53] STEM clubs and their relationship to schools
- [12:12] Philip’s work with edge AI
- [13:34] Teaching humans to teach machines
- [14:47] Applying edge AI to recycling
- [15:32] Using cameras for visual object recognition and communicating inferences made by edge AI about garbage disposal
- [16:02] Exploring potential for cameras to make decisions and feed back to a logging center
- [17:34] Using BirdNET to identify bird species using microphones and security cameras
- [19:50] Using AI to create theme song and logo for local football club
- [23:28] Using ChatGPT to come up with code for controlling cameras on a security system, to help write Ruby code, to analyze, explain, and rewrite code, and to explain code from GitHub repository
- [28:16] Creating arcade games and projects using micro:bit and MakeCode Arcade, and an example of a game to pick up plastic in the sea
- [29:47] Philip explains the “Pick up the Plastic” game and how it was built, the objective of the game and how it works – The game was completed by a student from Chatswood High School
- [31:20] The boat in the game uses direction controls to pick up plastic bottles
- [33:03] Philip explains the Rubbish Classifier, how cameras were used to identify trash, and how NetLogo was used to simulate the life cycle of recycled objects
- [36:10] NetLogo, a simulation environment that allows you to create code and visualize outcomes, and the Rubbish Classifier that was used to improve student involvement in recycling
- [41:18] STEM club sessions end with student feedback and reflection, and Lego is used to build robot models and make analogies for modular programming using MakeCode
- [46:37] Philip’s advice for educators and his work with Blacktown Council and libraries
Transcription
[spp-transcript]
This is Tech Explorations Podcast episode 16.
The Tech Explorations Podcast is a podcast produced by Tech Explorations, a leading provider of educational resources for Makers, STEM students, and teachers. Go to techexplorations.com to see a complete list of our books and courses covering the Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and electronics.