It’s been an honor to join the SWTC- PATHS- Up research program with Rice university For the first time, the SWITCH program will be completely virtual. Week one has been a whirlwind. To get myself ready I started Python essential on Coursera week by week. I think this crash course is really loaded. I was introduced to Kaggle which is a “virtual Python notebook” providing mini lessons; using Kaggle was really helpful as I have never used Python before. During the first week in Switch learning about machine learning and how to enforce machine learning in the medical field.
We came across so many resources and articles explaining the definition of Machine learning.
On the 2nd day I attended a presentation by Dr. Zach Ballard, UCLA Graduate, about the types of COVID tests and how the types of tests are related to machine learning; he explained the 3 types of Biosensing strategies for COVID19 and how machine learning algorithm makes the prediction that’s pretty close to the target as close as you can get and then you validate this by taking data where you’re actually holding the target out of your preview so for example the process I outlined here is called the training process, and how everybody comes together to take an idea for a low cost test and applying machine learning to you know improve the accuracy of these tests like how many different types of people and backgrounds.
On the 3rd day there was a very important presentation where the research team from Rice and Texas A&M met and discussed the PATHS- up vision which is the change the paradigm for the health for the underserved populations by revolutionary and cost effective technologies and systems at the point- of- care, it is really important to add the knowledge of machine learning in building affordable healthcare for diabetes and cardiovascular patients and how teachers could Guide their students to see the many uses of machine learning or the major different careers of Computer Science.
On the 4th day we finally had the opportunity to meet Tianye. She walked us through the two projects that we have to choose from. The first topic is about breast cancer and how to detect it using classifications and the second topic is about the Malaria detections using images. I will use Google colab to work on the Breast cancer.
As a Computer Science teacher for 7 years I have taught so many different programming languages witnessing many students majoring in Computer Science . I have not ever used or taught Python so I had to start educating myself by taking some of the online courses with Coursera and Kaggle. I found Kaggle very interesting and very useful as a virtual programming platform. They provided lessons and guided examples.
One of the articles I came across was written by Karen Hao. In her article she pointed out that machine learning algorithms are responsible for the vast majority of Artificial intelligence and also Machine learning basically is a deep learning on steroids it uses a technique that gives machines an enhanced ability to find the smallest patterns. This technique is called deep neural networks.
This is just one of the articles I found useful once again. I am excited to be part of the switch program. I think it will be a great experience to add to my educational journey.
