Tag: AI training

Popular Practicum AI Series Now Available to Everyone

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UF Information Technology (UFIT) is making its popular Practicum AI beginner series of courses available online through UF Professional and Workforce Development. The series is available to anyone interested in learning the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, including UF alumni and members of the public that want to understand and apply AI tools. Developed to introduce a broad audience to hands-on applied artificial intelligence applications, the Practicum AI series assumes no prior knowledge of coding or AI, and is a great introduction for professionals in any field where AI can be applied. The beginner series has four courses:

1. Getting Started with AI: An introduction to AI, AI models and their development, and AI ethics. 

2. Computing For AI: An introduction to the computational tools used in AI: Git and GitHub.com and Jupyter Notebooks. Participants will use these tools on either a high-performance computer system or in Google Colab. 

3. Python for AI: An introduction to Python programming and data science tools used in AI. This class focuses on the core aspects needed for applied AI. The course also introduces strategies for working with AI coding assistants to accelerate your skills. 

4. Deep Learning Foundations: An introduction to neural networks, deep learning, and how to train AI models using the skills you’ve gained in the previous three courses.

Each course earns a completion badge, and participants who complete all four courses will earn the Practicum AI Beginner Series digital certificate, issued from Credly. The courses are available to anyone at a modest cost — only $20 per class or $50 if purchasing all four at the bundle price. Practicum AI is free for UF faculty and staff (use discount code “ufstaff”) and for students (use discount code “ufstudent”).

With the beginner series of courses now live, UFIT’s Practicum AI team has begun work creating the Intermediate series. The first of these — Computer Vision — will be offered in-person in Summer 2024. Natural Language Processing and Generative AI courses are also in development. For additional information or questions, please contact UFIT’s Research Computing Training Team leader Matt Gitzendanner (magitz@ufl.edu).

Practicum AI Offered This Summer

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The Practicum AI program will be offered this summer, from June 7–July 12. Practicum AI is led by Training and Biocomputing Specialist Dr. Matt Gitzendanner.

Practicum AI is a hands-on, applied AI curriculum developed for participants with a limited coding and math background. Using hands-on exercises and graphically-based, conceptual content, learners without extensive computational skills can begin exploring applied AI. While all sessions will be available via Zoom, registrants are encouraged to attend in person for the best opportunity to learn, interact with instructors and fellow students, and to ask questions. Practicum AI will be held in the UF Informatics Institute. Registration closes May 31. Visit this link to register.

Getting Started with AI │ June 7, 1-5pm
Introduction to artificial intelligence, how it can be applied in diverse disciplines, and some key ethical considerations.
Computing for AI │ June 14, 12:30-5pm
Getting started with the foundational tools used in AI research, including Jupyter Notebooks, Git and GitHub.com, and computer clusters, like HiPerGator.
Python for AI │ July 6 and July 7, 1-5pm
Introduction to the basics of Python programming, which is the predominant language used in AI. The course assumes no prior programming experience. Participants will learn the basics of Python to begin using AI frameworks for AI research.
Deep Learning Foundations (DLF) │ July 10, July 12, and July 13, 2-3:30pm
Introduction to neural networks–how they work and how to train them. Students must attend the July 6-7 Python course to participate in the three-day DLF course.

UFIT Awarded Contract with USDA

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UFIT was recently awarded a multi-year contract to collaborate with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to deliver AI training. UFIT Research Computing staff will offer sessions using established AI Practicum training modules as as develop new modules in consult with ARS staff. This contract will enhance existing Practicum AI content and allow UFIT to more rapidly build online content for the UF community and beyond. The new modules developed with the USDA will also be available to UF faculty, staff and students, with particular benefit to the IFAS community.

Part of the contract’s funding will be used to hire a new AI training staff member, who will develop the new training modules, deliver in-person sessions, and produce online content for UF’s Professional Workforce Development site.

Eight new, four-hour, beginner and intermediate courses are planned. As well, and in consult with ARS and IFAS, some advanced AI topics are under consideration including areal image analysis, agriculture-specific computer vision, genomics, and agriculture-specific reinforcement learning for robotics.

Production of online content is underway. The in-person content already available to the UF community will be offered to ARS staff starting in Spring 2023. Anyone with questions about UFIT’s contract with the USDA is welcome to email Training and Biocomputing Specialist Dr. Matt Gitzendanner.