In this episode of Make:cast, host Dale Dougherty speaks with Kirk Pearson, author of 'Electronic Music from Scratch,' and Kevin Toyama, the book's editor. Kirk is a musical experimenter and he encourages others to do the same. Kirk shares his journey from a traditional music background to creating electronic music and building custom instruments. He discusses his workshops, where participants learn to build synthesizers and other electronic instruments. Specific topics include circuit bending, synthesizer design, and the use of capacitors and potentiometers in creating electronic sounds. The conversation also touches on the challenges of translating workshop experiences into a book and the collaborative process with the book's illustrator, Maisie Byerly. Kirk also mentions his other projects, including a new album and a show called 'Radio Pacific.' The episode highlights the intersection of creativity, music, and DIY electronics.

To buy Kirk's book, visit Maker Shed https://www.makershed.com/products/make-electronic-music-print

Check out Dogbotic Labs. https://dogbotic.com

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This is the keynote talk I gave at the Trenton Computer Festival 2025 at the end of March. The theme of the festival was Fun with Technology and I talked about how Make and Maker Faire have been dedicated to people who have fun with technology. I slightly edited this talk to remove references to the slides I used in the talk.

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In this episode of Make:cast, Dale Dougherty is joined by Ken Kahn, author of 'The Learner's Apprentice: AI and the Amplification of Human Creativity,' and Sylvia Martinez, co-author of 'Invent to Learn.' Ken discusses his experience in AI from his high school days to MIT's AI Lab and his journey into integrating AI into children's programming tools. Sylvia sheds light on the importance of empowering children with modern tools and technology. The discussion centers on creative uses of AI in education, including creating web apps and historical dialogues using chatbots, personalized learning, and the impact of AI in the classroom. This insightful conversation aims to inspire educators, parents, and students to adopt AI creatively and constructively.

00:39 Ken Kahn's Journey into AI
02:15 Sylvia Martinez's Background and Publishing Journey
03:17 AI's Role in Education
03:49 Ken's Book and Its Audience
06:44 Practical Applications of AI in the Classroom
08:08 Interactive Learning with AI
19:54 Personalized Learning with AI
22:30 Creative Uses of AI in Education
28:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

To learn more about the book, visit https://cmkpress.com/product/learners-apprentice/

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