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DeepSeek’s AI Coding Assistant: Install DeepSeek-R1-32B-Cline Locally with Ollama and VSCode

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Prerequisites

The minimum system requirements for this use case are:

  • Note: The prerequisites for this are highly variable across use cases. A high-end configuration could be used for a large-scale deployment.

Step-by-Step Process to Set up DeepSeek-R1-32B-Cline Locally

Step 1: Setting up a NodeShift Account

Visit app.nodeshift.com and create an account by filling in basic details, or continue signing up with your Google/GitHub account.

Step 2: Create a GPU Node

After accessing your account, you should see a dashboard (see image), now:

  1. Navigate to the menu on the left side.
  2. Click on the GPU Nodes option.
  3. Click on Start to start creating your very first GPU node.

Step 3: Selecting configuration for GPU (model, region, storage)

  1. For this tutorial, we’ll be using the RTX 4090 GPU; however, you can choose any GPU of your choice based on your needs.
  2. Similarly, we’ll opt for 500GB storage by sliding the bar. You can also select the region where you want your GPU to reside from the available ones.

Step 4: Choose GPU Configuration and Authentication method

  1. After selecting your required configuration options, you’ll see the available VMs in your region and according to (or very close to) your configuration. In our case, we’ll choose a 1x RTX 4090 GPU node with 12 vCPUs/96GB RAM/500 GB SSD.
  2. Next, you’ll need to select an authentication method. Two methods are available: Password and SSH Key. We recommend using SSH keys, as…

Step 5: Configure Ollama

  1. For this, you’ll first need to install the “Remote-SSH” Extension by Microsoft on VS Code.
  2. Type “Remote-SSH: Connect to Host” on the Command Palette.
  3. Enter the host details, such as username and SSH password, and you should be connected.

Step 6: Install Cline Extension

  1. For this, you’ll need to install the Cline extension on Visual Studio Code.
  2. Click on the icon to Configure the model settings.
  3. Select Ollama as the API Provider and nvjob/DeepSeek-R1-32B-Cline in the Model ID.

Step 7: Use the Coding Assistant in your code

  1. To demonstrate how you can use this AI coding assistant with your code, we have created a sample code file named test_app.py with the following example code.
  2. Next, with the code file opened, click on the Cline icon and Start a new task.
  3. Type the task you want the assistant to perform. For example: “Describe the code in @/test_app.py in detail.”
  4. Here’s the response generated by the Coding assistant for the prompt above:

Conclusion

In this guide, we’ve covered how to install and configure DeepSeek-R1-32B-Cline locally using Ollama and integrate it with VSCode for a seamless AI-powered coding experience. This setup not only boosts development efficiency but also ensures data privacy by keeping operations local. We deployed our model through NodeShift’s cloud dashboard, which complements this model by providing scalable infrastructure and optimized deployment capabilities, making it easier for developers to manage their AI-driven development environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is NodeShift?
A: NodeShift is a cloud platform that provides scalable infrastructure and optimized deployment capabilities for AI-driven development environments.

Q: How do I set up my NodeShift account?
A: Visit app.nodeshift.com and create an account by filling in basic details, or continue signing up with your Google/GitHub account.

Q: What is Ollama?
A: Ollama is a cloud-based AI model that provides intelligent code suggestions, error detection, and productivity enhancements for developers.

Q: How do I integrate Ollama with VSCode?
A: You can integrate Ollama with VSCode by installing the Cline extension and configuring the model settings.

A Detailed Guide on Data Automation: How to Automate Processes

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Data. From the barcodes on products to our digital footprint, data is a fundamental part of how we live our lives. For organisations, data helps them to develop – not only to survive but thrive in a world where understanding customer behaviour can not only drive sales. It also helps create a long-lasting relationship between businesses and their customers.

Data is often a challenge to handle, though. From a suite of corporate systems to the increasing variety and variability of data, data engineers have long had to wrestle with the challenges of a constantly growing data environment. It doesn’t take a Master of Data Science to understand just how challenging data can be.

Data engineers often turn to automation to solve complex data challenges. An important process in the data lifecycle, data automation can have many benefits, from streamlining complex data systems to automatically creating curated data warehouses for business use and making data more meaningful for end users. Let’s explore data automation and understand how this seemingly benign process greatly benefits organisations.

What is Data Automation?

Data can be handled in two main ways: manual, which typically involves physically manipulating data in platforms, and automated, which uses data processing systems to enable automatic data processing.

Historically, manual data manipulation has presented challenges for businesses. Even a tiny error can have drastic consequences when critical processes depend on manual handling. For example, contact tracers in England experienced this firsthand when the collation of Excel datasets led to the missed detection of tens of thousands of potential Covid-19 infections.

Data automation uses a three-stage process: Extract, Transform and Load (ETL). Automated processes work across various organisational platforms to extract data, transform it into a meaningful format, and then load it into different data warehouses for analysts and other employees to consume.

Why is Data Automation Critical?

Data automation is a critical part of any data user’s toolkit. Without it, any form of analytics would first require data extraction from various systems. Automation is more than just getting data into one place – it’s about providing standardised structure and meaning so that analysts and other users can be confident in the quality and veracity of the data when they access it.

By leveraging automation, data engineers help eliminate repeated manual tasks and structure data to enable further analysis and investigation by data and business analysts. In a world where data is vital for business operations and expensive to store, finding ways to streamline and optimise data flows can benefit both by creating accessible data for everyone and managing costs so that such access is efficient.

The Role of Data Transformation

In Australia, Flybuys is a household name. As one of the largest loyalty programs nationwide, it processes large amounts of customer data daily. This data can take various forms, such as transactions at retailers, redemption data from partners, and even the way users use the Flybuys app – the list is extensive.

With more than 7 million transactions tracked by Flybuys each week, data transformation and automation can help paint a picture of a customer’s unique preferences and interests. This level of automation can then be fed into other processes to provide personalised marketing that addresses organisational needs while also being highly relevant to customers.

For example, data transformation can help Flybuys create segments of customer information. For example, some customers may make regular purchases of pet food or frequent pet care rewards. A data engineer may set up a process to automate a flag for customers interested in pet products, which marketers could use to send appropriate offers.

While there may be dozens or even hundreds of underlying source systems that help to depict a customer’s behaviour and interests, automation makes the work of end users (in this case, marketers) much more straightforward – instead of orchestrating many datasets, instead, they have a single, automated point to use.

Benefits of Data Automation

While data automation may seem benign, the benefits can really stack up. Consider, for example, analysts across multiple teams who conduct analysis on a number of datasets. By having data engineers develop an automated process to create a curated dataset, analysts can spend less time compiling data and more time understanding the insights that are available from it.

By providing automated datasets, analysts spend less time transforming data, giving them more time to generate insights. This can be useful for businesses using data to make rapid decisions. Rather than acting on a whim, they’re supported by business processes that give them the best possible information to make an informed decision.

There are scalability benefits, too. Take, for example, the analyst who has to build their datasets. As data becomes increasingly complex and extra data sources are added, using manual processes to undertake a task can become increasingly challenging.

On the other hand, a data automation process can help make this process work efficiently and effectively, saving the company time and reducing the risk of potential manual handling errors.

Limitations of Data Automation

It’s important to note that while data automation can significantly benefit organisations, it’s not a silver bullet for all data challenges in a business. If automation fails or something goes wrong, a data engineer may need to manually intervene to remediate or repair the problem.

Data quality, by design, is often only as good as the data ingested. As the idiom goes – if you put bad data into a dataset, don’t expect great results from it – after all, garbage in, garbage out.

While data automation can scale, it’s also key to recognise that if not properly managed, the cost of automation can sometimes outweigh the benefits it can bring to a business. In some cases, data automation is more than building out a dataset, particularly when huge datasets are involved. Nuance is often required – building what is necessary rather than what is on a company wishlist.

Ultimately, data automation can present enormous benefits for companies that look to take it on. While the letters ETL can seem like a particularly simple process, the benefit that it can bring to an organization often goes beyond the processes themselves.

As data continues to become increasingly complicated, the relevance of automation will only continue to grow. It’s fascinating to imagine how it could shape how analysts and end users use data – if effectively managed.

Could data automation signify a new industrial era – that of digital automation? Only time will tell.

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Bank Analysts Become Self-Aware

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Oh, Deutsche . . .

The Future of Financial Analysis

By “you” they mean “us”.

Deep Research Widget

OpenAI’s launch on February 2 of a so-called “deep research” widget (currently available only to subscribers on the $200 per month plan) provides the report’s hook.

The Power of Iterative Reasoning

In an attempt to mimick logical reasoning, “deep research” responds to prompts in iterative steps. It’s part of a coming generation of AI bots with long-term memory, internet access, and the power to keep improving autonomously, says analyst Adrian Cox, who calls it a step towards artificial superintelligence.

The Future of Human Involvement

“To paraphrase an old expression: give a model a prompt and you feed it for a day; teach it to prompt and you enable it to come to life,” he tells clients.

The Impact on Financial Analysis

And in a world of self-improving, autodidactic logic engines, the role of the Deutsche Bank analyst human will be reduced to prompt engineering and proof-reading:

Much of the rest of the cognitive process will be offloaded. This will favor those with the least experience, whose performance will be instantly lifted to a new minimum level, and those with the most, who will know where to focus, identify the value (and errors), and make the most of the output. Those in the middle will struggle to add value.

Example:

In our own tests [ . . .] deep research took eight minutes to produce a 9,000-word report, citing 22 sources (with links), assessing the impact of new US steel and aluminium tariffs. It’s not perfect, but would improve with iteration and is a step-change above a standard ChatGPT response in analysis, relevance, and clarity.

Limitations and Future Developments

Its choice of largely credible sources and focus on attribution seems to reduce hallucinations. Even so, it is not entirely able to shake off the inherent weaknesses of generative AI, such as a lack of context. In our tariff example, we needed a second attempt to get it to address the most recent round of tariffs (but it then did so successfully).

Conclusion

These are obviously still early days for deep research tools. Both they and the underlying LLMs that power them will continue to improve. And only time will tell how far they will eventually move beyond rehashing other people’s ideas to generating entirely new concepts altogether.

FAQs

Q: What is Deep Research?
A: Deep Research is a new widget launched by OpenAI, which responds to prompts in iterative steps, mimicking logical reasoning.

Q: How does it work?
A: It’s part of a coming generation of AI bots with long-term memory, internet access, and the power to keep improving autonomously.

Q: What are the limitations of Deep Research?
A: Its choice of sources and focus on attribution reduces hallucinations, but it is not entirely able to shake off the inherent weaknesses of generative AI, such as a lack of context.

Unreal Engine Dominates as Most Successful Game Engine

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Game Engine Use and Sales Statistics

Unreal Engine Cements Its Place in the Gaming Industry

New statistics from Video Game Insights have revealed the significant presence of Unreal Engine in the game development industry. The report analyzed over 13,000 games that sold at least 1,000 units on Steam in 2024 and found that Unreal Engine-powered games accounted for a larger share of sales than Unity games.

Engine Usage Statistics

The report revealed that:

  • Unity was the most widely used game engine, used for 51% of the analyzed games.
  • Unreal Engine was the second most widely used game engine, used for 28% of the analyzed games.
  • Godot Engine, GameMaker, and Ren’Py accounted for 5%, 4%, and 2% of the analyzed games, respectively.
  • Proprietary engines, including Bethesda’s Creation Engine, Rockstar’s RAGE, and EA’s Frostbite, accounted for only 10% of the analyzed games.

Sales Statistics

When it comes to sales, the report found that:

  • Unreal Engine games represented 31% of units sold, making it the biggest single game engine for sales.
  • Unity games accounted for 26% of units sold.
  • Proprietary engines combined for 42% of sales, a decline from 50% in previous years.

Industry Trends and Predictions

The report also highlighted trends and predictions in the game engine market. For example, Epic Games expects Unreal Engine to account for 40% of annual sales by 2030. Godot and GameMaker will continue to attract indie developers, while Unity will maintain its level of sales by capturing market share from custom engines.

Genre-Specific Trends

The report also analyzed the use of game engines by genre. For example:

  • Unreal Engine is more popular for action RPGs, soulslikes, and FPS games.
  • Unity is used more for roguelikes and turn-based strategies.
  • Custom engines are used more for JRPGs.

Conclusion

The statistics from Video Game Insights demonstrate the growing presence of Unreal Engine in the game development industry. As the market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how game engines adapt and change to meet the needs of developers and players.

FAQs

Q: What is the most widely used game engine?
A: Unity is the most widely used game engine, used for 51% of the analyzed games.

Q: What is the second most widely used game engine?
A: Unreal Engine is the second most widely used game engine, used for 28% of the analyzed games.

Q: What is the biggest single game engine for sales?
A: Unreal Engine is the biggest single game engine for sales, representing 31% of units sold.

Q: What is the future of game engine use?
A: The report predicts that Unreal Engine will account for 40% of annual sales by 2030, while Godot and GameMaker will continue to attract indie developers, and Unity will maintain its level of sales by capturing market share from custom engines.

Financially Motivated Hackers Collaborate with Spies

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Ransomware Group Uses Toolset Normally Seen in Espionage Operations

Researchers with Symantec security firm have discovered a collaboration between a ransomware group and a group typically associated with espionage operations.

Distinct Toolset Used by Ransomware Group

The toolset, first spotted in July, is a variant of PlugX, a custom backdoor. The timestamps in the toolset are identical to those found in the Thor PlugX variant, which was linked to a Chinese espionage group tracked under the names Fireant, Mustang Panda, and Earth Preta. The variant also has similarities to the PlugX type 2 variant found by Trend Micro.

Recent Espionage Attacks

Further espionage attacks involving the same PlugX variant occurred in August, when the attacker compromised the government of a southeastern European country. In August, the attacker also compromised a government ministry in a Southeast Asian country. In September 2024, the attacker compromised a telecoms operator in that region, and in January, the attacker targeted a government ministry in another Southeast Asian country.

Theories Behind the Collaboration

Symantec researchers have competing theories about the reason for this collaboration. One theory is that the attacker may have been involved in ransomware for some time. In a report on RA World attacks, Palo Alto said that it had found some links to Bronze Starlight (aka Emperor Dragonfly), a China-based actor that deploys different ransomware payloads. One of the tools used in this ransomware attack was a proxy tool called NPS, which was created by a China-based developer. This has previously been used by Bronze Starlight. SentinelOne, meanwhile, reported that Bronze Starlight had been involved in attacks involving the LockFile, AtomSilo, NightSky, and LockBit ransomware families.

Alternative Theories

Another possibility is that the ransomware was used to cover up evidence of the intrusion or act as a decoy to draw attention away from the true nature of the espionage attacks. However, the ransomware deployment was not very effective at covering up the tools used in the intrusion, particularly those linking it back to prior espionage attacks. Additionally, the ransomware target was not a strategically significant organization and was something of an outlier compared to the espionage targets. It seems unusual that the attacker would go to such lengths to cover up the nature of their campaign. Finally, the attacker seemed to be serious about collecting a ransom from the victim and appeared to have spent time corresponding with them. This is not typically the case if the ransomware attack was simply a diversion.

Most Likely Scenario

The most likely scenario is that an actor, possibly one individual, was attempting to make some money on the side using their employer’s toolkit.

Conclusion

This unusual collaboration between a ransomware group and an espionage group highlights the complex and evolving nature of cyber threats. It also underscores the need for continued vigilance and cooperation between security researchers, law enforcement, and the private sector to combat these threats.

FAQs

  • Q: What is PlugX?
    A: PlugX is a custom backdoor used by an espionage group.
  • Q: What is the connection between the ransomware and espionage groups?
    A: The ransomware group used a toolset typically seen in espionage operations, suggesting a possible collaboration or use by the same actor.
  • Q: Why did the attacker use ransomware?
    A: Theories include making money on the side, covering up evidence of the intrusion, or drawing attention away from the true nature of the espionage attacks.
  • Q: What is the most likely scenario?
    A: The most likely scenario is that an individual was attempting to make money on the side using their employer’s toolkit.

Apple has started advertising on X

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Apple Resumes Advertising on X After a Year-Long Hiatus

Background on the Advertiser Pause

In November 2023, Apple was among several major brands to pull out of advertising on X, a social media platform owned by Elon Musk. The decision was made in response to concerns over Musk’s controversial remarks about antisemitic conspiracy theories and white pride. This was not the first time the platform had faced criticism, as it had previously been under fire for its handling of hate speech and misinformation.

Changes to X’s Approach to Content Moderation

While X’s approach to content moderation has not changed significantly since Musk’s purchase of the platform, the relationship between Big Tech and Musk has shifted since President Donald Trump took office. As a result, concerns over brand safety have led to a number of major advertisers, including Apple, to reevaluate their advertising strategies on the platform.

Apple’s Decision to Resume Advertising

After a year-long hiatus, Apple has announced that it will resume advertising on X. This decision comes as a surprise, given the platform’s ongoing struggles with content moderation and the concerns over brand safety. However, it remains to be seen whether Apple’s return to the platform will be a one-time occurrence or a sign of a larger trend.

Conclusion

Apple’s decision to resume advertising on X is a significant development in the ongoing saga surrounding the platform’s brand safety concerns. As the tech giant continues to navigate the complexities of online advertising, it will be interesting to see how other major brands follow in its footsteps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Apple pause advertising on X in the first place?
A: Apple paused advertising on X in response to concerns over Elon Musk’s controversial remarks about antisemitic conspiracy theories and white pride.

Q: Has X’s approach to content moderation changed since Musk’s purchase of the platform?
A: While X’s approach to content moderation has not changed significantly, the relationship between Big Tech and Musk has shifted since President Donald Trump took office.

Q: Will other major brands follow Apple’s lead in resuming advertising on X?
A: Only time will tell, but Apple’s decision to resume advertising on X could mark a turning point in the ongoing saga surrounding the platform’s brand safety concerns.

AI Misuse Poses an ‘Extreme Risk’

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AI Misuse Poses "Extreme Risk", Warns Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt

Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, has warned that AI misuse poses an "extreme risk" and could do catastrophic harm. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Schmidt cautioned that AI could be weaponized by extremists and "rogue states" such as North Korea, Iran, and Russia to "harm innocent people."

Oversight without stifling innovation

Schmidt urged governments to closely monitor private tech companies pioneering AI research, as they may make decisions based on different values from those of public officials. "My experience with the tech leaders is that they do have an understanding of the impact they’re having, but they might make a different values judgement than the government would make," he stated.

Global divisions around preventing AI misuse

Schmidt also endorsed the export controls introduced under former US President Joe Biden last year to restrict the sale of advanced microchips, aimed at slowing the progress of geopolitical adversaries in AI research.

AI Action Summit and global divisions

The tech veteran made his remarks in Paris, attending the AI Action Summit, a two-day event attended by 57 countries. The summit saw the announcement of an agreement on "inclusive" AI development, signed by major players like China, India, the EU, and the African Union. However, the UK and the US declined to sign the communique, citing a lack of "practical clarity" and failure to address critical "harder questions" surrounding national security.

Prioritizing national and global safety

Schmidt cautioned against excessive regulation that might hinder progress in this transformative field, echoing US Vice-President JD Vance’s warning that heavy-handed regulation "would kill a transformative industry just as it’s taking off." The tech leader pointed to the consequences of Europe’s tight regulatory stance, predicting that the region would miss out on pioneering roles in AI.

Conclusion

The AI revolution, which is the most important revolution in my opinion since electricity, is not going to be invented in Europe. In conclusion, without safeguards, AI’s evolution could have unintended – and potentially catastrophic – consequences.

FAQs

Q: What did Eric Schmidt warn about AI misuse?
A: Schmidt warned that AI misuse poses an "extreme risk" and could do catastrophic harm.

Q: Who are the "rogue states" that could misuse AI?
A: Schmidt mentioned North Korea, Iran, and Russia as potential "rogue states" that could misuse AI.

Q: What did Eric Schmidt endorse?
A: Schmidt endorsed the export controls introduced under former US President Joe Biden to restrict the sale of advanced microchips.

Q: What was the outcome of the AI Action Summit?
A: The summit saw the announcement of an agreement on "inclusive" AI development, signed by 57 countries, but the UK and the US declined to sign the communique.

Waltz of the Wizard: Intuitive and Magical VR Hand Tracking

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VR Games on PSVR 2 Get a Boost with Hand-Tracking Support

New Update for Waltz of the Wizard

Until now, VR games on the Sony PSVR 2 have required the use of the device’s Sense controllers. However, it’s now catching up with Meta’s Quest, as we have the first game to make use of the hand-tracking support that Sony added in December. The popular 2019 wizard simulation game, Waltz of the Wizard, has been updated to allow players to use the new gesture control.

How Hand Tracking Works

The new hand tracking in Waltz of the Wizard is made possible by the PSVR 2’s tracking cameras. Players can put their controllers aside, and the game will automatically switch to provide a visual representation of hands on the display.

Designing for Hand Interaction

In a blog, the developer Aldin Dynamic says the game was designed with natural hand interaction in mind from the beginning. "Ensuring that every gesture and interaction feels intuitive and magical." Skully was designed to respond to hand gestures and interactions in a way that’s "lifelike and immersive, creating a sense of connection that truly brings the virtual world to life."

Getting Started with Hand Tracking

There’s an in-game guide book that provides an overview of the many hand-tracking features to help players get up to speed. The studio says new hand-tracking features for the PSVR 2 are also now available in the Quest version of the game, which was updated for hand-tracking in 2020, and the book will follow later.

Availability and Pricing

Waltz of the Wizard was released in 2019 and was updated with the Natural Magic expansion in 2021. The hand-tracking update is free for anyone who already owns the game. New players can buy the game from the PlayStation Store for $20.

Conclusion

The addition of hand-tracking support in Waltz of the Wizard is a significant step forward for VR gaming on the PSVR 2. With the ability to use natural hand gestures, players can experience a more immersive and magical world. This update is a great example of how VR technology is continuing to evolve and improve.

FAQs

Q: What is hand-tracking support in Waltz of the Wizard?
A: Hand-tracking support in Waltz of the Wizard allows players to use natural hand gestures to interact with the game world.

Q: How does hand-tracking work in Waltz of the Wizard?
A: The game uses the PSVR 2’s tracking cameras to track the player’s hands and provide a visual representation of them on the display.

Q: Is the hand-tracking update free for existing players?
A: Yes, the hand-tracking update is free for anyone who already owns the game.

Q: How much does the game cost for new players?
A: The game costs $20 for new players who buy it from the PlayStation Store.

Enhancing AI-Human Collaboration in IEP Development

Key Points:

  • The University of Wyoming is utilizing a new CoIEP initiative to enhance AI and human collaboration in addressing challenges in special education.
  • The first complex challenge CoIEP will tackle is co-creating and co-evaluating Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities in Wyoming and beyond.

CoIEP: A Multi-Agent System for IEP Development

The University of Wyoming College of Education has developed a mid-fidelity prototype of CoIEP, a multi-agent system powered by large language models (LLMs). This system is designed to streamline the complex process of IEP development by breaking down the step-by-step process of creating core components of IEPs.

How CoIEP Works

CoIEP leverages a team of LLM-powered agents to support educators in creating three required interconnected components of an IEP: the Present Level of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance statement, IEP goals, and individualized services and supports. These agents are designed and prompt-engineered to demonstrate the step-by-step creation process and specific elements of each component of an IEP.

Benefits of CoIEP

  • Reduces the time and expertise required to analyze student data from various sources, identify student strengths and needs, and design evidence-based instructional practices.
  • Supports educators in creating and evaluating core IEP components, providing individualized instruction for students with disabilities.
  • Enhances the quality of IEPs and reduces the risk of IEP requirement violations.
  • Provides a cost-efficient professional learning tool compared to traditional professional development or on-site coaching.

Pilot Studies and Future Development

The research team plans to conduct a series of pilot studies in Wyoming schools this year to test the effectiveness, usability, and user experience of the mid-fidelity prototype of CoIEP. Pre- and in-service special education teachers and directors across Wyoming and other states will be recruited to participate in these studies.

Conclusion

CoIEP has the potential to make a significant contribution to the research on AI in special education, particularly by providing a promising tool to reduce the excessive workloads of special education teachers and enhance the quality of IEPs for students with disabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is CoIEP?
A: CoIEP is a multi-agent system powered by large language models (LLMs) designed to support educators in creating and evaluating core components of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities.

Q: What are the benefits of CoIEP?
A: CoIEP reduces the time and expertise required to analyze student data, supports educators in creating and evaluating core IEP components, enhances the quality of IEPs, and provides a cost-efficient professional learning tool.

Q: How will CoIEP be tested?
A: The research team will conduct a series of pilot studies in Wyoming schools to test the effectiveness, usability, and user experience of the mid-fidelity prototype of CoIEP.

8 Expert Tips for a Killer Design Portfolio

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Quality Over Quantity

When it comes to creating a portfolio, it’s easy to get caught up in showcasing as much work as possible. However, this approach can be detrimental to your chances of standing out in a crowded job market. Instead, focus on quality over quantity. As Jessica Walsh, founder of &Walsh, notes, "I prefer quality over quantity with portfolios. I would much rather see a few strong pieces than a few good pieces amongst numerous mediocre pieces. Generally, I’d start and end with your best projects to capture someone’s interest and end on a good note."

What to Include

So, what should you include in your portfolio? The answer is not necessarily a diverse range of work or a niche focus, but rather a clear and concise presentation of your best projects. As Renata Amaral Morris, founder of EAT Studio, suggests, "Less is more. A portfolio with five to eight great projects will make a stronger impression than one that includes a mix of great and average work, which can bring down the overall perception of quality."

Let the Work Breathe

Once you’ve decided which pieces to include in your portfolio, it’s time to present them in the best possible way. This means using creative space and letting the work breathe. As Abi Sargant, a midweight designer at Taxi Studio, recommends, "Don’t cram five to six images on a page. Instead, blow up key imagery to make a bold impact. Remember, portfolios are often reviewed on screens – whether it’s a phone or a laptop – so celebrate your work and present it in the best way possible. Show confidence in your visuals."

Focus on Storytelling

While the work in your portfolio should be aesthetically pleasing, it’s not enough to simply present nice-looking designs. As Craig Black, a visual artist, notes, "Storytelling is absolutely essential. It’s what transforms a portfolio from simply a showcase of work into a memorable, engaging narrative. For me, a portfolio isn’t just about presenting the final pieces; it’s about sharing the journey that brought them to life."

Explain Your Process

Central to the narrative of your portfolio should be not just what you did, but why you did it. As Frédéric Marchand, president of Locomotive, explains, "A strong portfolio goes beyond showcasing work – it reveals the thinking behind it. What problem did you solve? Why did it matter? Whether through case studies, design iterations, or technical breakthroughs, sharing the journey adds depth to your expertise."

Consider Video Content

Video content isn’t essential, but it can be a powerful tool to showcase your personality, process, and creative style. As Frédéric suggests, "A well-crafted video reel is a powerful way to showcase your personality, process, and creative style in seconds. Use it as a highlight feature on your homepage or as an additional layer within project pages."

Make it Personal

When compiling your portfolio, it’s tempting to present a version of yourself you think others want to see, rather than your true self. However, this can backfire, as most design leaders don’t want to see perfection (they know that’s not possible). Instead, they want to see authentic candidates with the potential to grow creatively over time. As Renata notes, "We appreciate having some personal information about the artist, such as a photo, location, interests, or industries they specialize in. This helps us match designers to projects."

How to Share Your Portfolio

When sharing your portfolio, it’s essential to keep the email concise, friendly, and personal. As Renata suggests, "Send the portfolio ahead of the interview in a simple, clean, kind, and fun email that lets the work shine. The portfolio should be the star – if the work is great, it will speak for itself, and we’ll be excited to add the designer to our talent database."

FAQs

Q: How many projects should I include in my portfolio?
A: Focus on quality over quantity. Aim for 5-8 great projects that showcase your skills and expertise.

Q: Should I include a diverse range of work or a niche focus?
A: It doesn’t matter as long as the portfolio highlights your best work.

Q: How should I present my work in the portfolio?
A: Use creative space and let the work breathe. Avoid cramming too many images on a page and focus on showcasing key imagery.

Q: What’s the most important thing to include in my portfolio?
A: Your story. Share the journey behind your work and the thinking that went into it.

Q: How should I share my portfolio?
A: Keep the email concise, friendly, and personal. Let the work shine and present it in the best way possible.