Category: Q&A

New tech at Manchester Community College

Peter La Monica, Department Chair and Associate Professor of Computer Science at Manchester Community College, discussed some of the innovative new programs and courses being offered at the college, as well as the cutting-edge technology shaping the future of education.

Tell us about the new programs and courses being offered.

There are two new programs. One is the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Program. We’ve taken out some of the database stuff and focused more on artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language programming and computer vision. … We aim to help students make sense of vast amounts of data generated during cyber investigations and use artificial intelligence to analyze and interpret it effectively. … Students can also complete work and get certifications from Amazon Web Services. The other program is Computer Science and Extended Reality. This is an exciting new program where students can join virtual reality classrooms using VR headsets or flat screens. We’re teaching them about platforms to create virtual and augmented reality meetings, making interactions more immersive than traditional Zoom meetings.

What are some real-world applications or careers that students with these skills can pursue?

The Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence program is mainly designed for programmers and focuses on using AI in various fields like advanced manufacturing, healthcare and the cyber world. … Many products and applications today use artificial intelligence, making programming skills highly valuable. … The Computer Science and Extended Reality program is geared towards students who want to work in an office or contract for an office to design meeting spaces or even create virtual avatars for websites. … It can be applied in onboarding, training, meetings and classes, to provide a more engaging and immersive experience.

How do you keep up with the rapid advancements in this field while developing the curriculum?

Staying up-to-date with technology is essential. We closely monitor new products and trends, especially in emerging technologies like 5G and virtual reality. We ensure our students have access to the latest technology, like 5G antennas and virtual reality headsets, to learn and explore these cutting-edge fields.

How have students responded to these new programs?

Students in the Extended Reality class loved it and said it was more engaging than anything they had ever done before. They had the option of coming to class [in person] or [attending via] the metaverse, and most of them did the metaverse. They think it’s great, because this is the type of world they live in now.

Did offering these programs require any additional resources or facilities?

For the Artificial Intelligence program, we had to enhance some computing platforms. However, we had planned ahead and managed most of it progressively. As for Extended Reality, we invested in virtual reality headsets and have been preparing for this program since 2017, waiting for the technology and infrastructure to catch up.

Why did the college decide to invest in these programs for students?

We believe in providing students with opportunities to create successful careers. Technology is the future … and extended reality and augmented reality are becoming a major transition in technology. Everything is going to start to go into this virtual world, in various industries. It’s not really in the mainstream yet, but we want our students to know about it and to start using it so that they can be at the forefront of these advancements. We want to equip them with cutting-edge skills and give them an edge in the job market.

Local author talks about big flavors in small spaces

Delve into the world of practical cooking with M. Allyson Szabo, New Hampshire author of Cook Small, Live Large!. Szabo talked about how she crafted unique recipes catered to those embracing van life and small living spaces, and how her cookbook offers a diverse range of ideas for cooking in limited kitchen setups. Visit mallysonszabo.com and find the book on Amazon.

What is the idea behind Cook Small, Live Large!, and who are these recipes for?

Cook Small, Live Large! is a compendium of recipes for one or two people. It was originally designed for people who are doing van life, living in their vans or tiny homes, traveling or living on land, that sort of thing. People who are doing van life run into problems that the rest of us don’t. They can be driving through what they call a “food desert,” where there aren’t any big box stores to buy things. So there are a lot of recipes in the book for people who are either new to cooking or stuck in a place like that for a few days, which show how to make relatively healthy food using canned goods from Dollar General and what you can get from the frozen food section at Aldi. … It also works well for people who are backpacking and doing small cooking. … I have a friend whose twins are going to college this year and are living in dorms with small kitchenettes. The recipes in the book are great for them since they’re made for small portions and don’t leave a lot of leftovers.

What inspired you to write this type of cookbook?

I have a friend, Justin Hughes, who is also known as Smokey Da Van, who started doing van life. I had never even heard of it. … He works remotely, and he was living in his van with his cat purposefully, not because they were homeless, but just because that’s what they decided they wanted to do. He’s had so many adventures, but he had no idea how to cook. So I started teaching him through email. After a couple of months, he said, ‘You need to make a book out of this.’

How did you develop these recipes?

I took recipes that I use on a regular basis or that I like, and I miniaturized them. … It was a learning curve for me since I’m used to cooking for a lot of people, so learning to cook small was a challenge at first. Miniaturizing a recipe is not as simple as dividing it into portions. You have to work with ratios and find the right balance for small portions. It involved some trial and error and making the recipes over and over to get it right. The initial learning curve was tough, but once I got there, it became easier.

What cooking utensils and equipment are needed for preparing these recipes?

I recommend a cooking surface like a butane stove, especially for van life, as butane can be used indoors with proper ventilation. There are also setups in vans that allow the use of a [slow cooker]. A Dutch oven is also recommended since it can be used on a camp stove or in a fire. Having a few essential pots and pans allows you to cook anything from the book.

Do you have a favorite recipe?

One of my favorites is the one-pot Thanksgiving dinner that I created for Justin. He was in Arizona, and it was Thanksgiving. I told him to preheat his big cast iron pot and put a turkey leg in one piece of tinfoil, pre-made stuffing in another, and some corn with a pat of butter in a third. We designed this one-pot Thanksgiving dinner that covered all the basics, made for one person, and it turned out beautifully. Working with tin foil is something that you can do a lot, and it makes cooking and cleaning easier in a small space, whether that’s a dorm or a tiny home or when you’re camping.

What do you want readers to take away from the recipes and ideas in Cook Small, Live Large!?

First and foremost, I want people to know that they can eat healthy while cooking small. You don’t have to buy large quantities of ingredients to eat healthily. I encourage people to utilize farmers markets and farm stalls for fresh and inexpensive food. The book is for anybody who wants to cook small, whether they’re doing van life, backpacking or just cooking for one or two people. It offers a variety of recipes and flavors to enjoy.