STEP IT Academy | We have been teaching since 1999. High-quality IT-education for adults and children. We prepare programmers, designers and system engineers who cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence. In order to achieve this, we teach how to understand tasks, run projects and work in a team, in addition to core knowledge.

Phnom Penh
ШАГ логотип

Building Your Own Drink Classifier with AI! (Deep Learning Workshop Recap)

IT Academy STEP Cambodia

news

education

events

16.05.2024

1777 views

On May 11th, IT Academy STEP Cambodia hosted a fascinating workshop led by AI expert Sam Seng. Seng, who works in research, development, and engineering from New York City, introduced participants to the exciting world of artificial intelligence (AI). This workshop specifically focused on how to use AI to recognize images, with a fun and practical project: building your own drink classifier!

Coffee vs. Boba Tea: Unveiling the Power of AI

Forget picking sides – this workshop was about using AI to tell your coffee from your boba tea in a photo! Participants learned the basics of AI and image recognition, and then put those skills to work by creating a program that can automatically identify these two popular drinks.

Learning by Doing: A Hands-on Introduction to AI

The workshop used a "learn by doing" approach, guiding students step-by-step through the creation of their drink classifier. Here's what they covered:

  • Understanding AI and Image Recognition: The session started with a clear introduction to AI and image recognition, ensuring everyone had a solid foundation before diving into the project.

  • Setting Up Your AI Toolkit: Participants learned how to set up their coding environment using Jupyter Notebooks and essential libraries. This is like building a workbench with all the tools you need for your AI project.

  • Data: The Fuel for AI: The workshop used existing sets of coffee and boba tea images, providing the "data" that the AI model needs to learn.

  • Training the AI to Recognize Drinks: Students learned how to fine-tune pre-trained AI models, specifically teaching them to distinguish between coffee and boba tea in photographs. Think of it like training a dog to recognize toys!

  • Testing Your AI Creation: After building their models, participants tested them on new images to see how well they could identify drinks.

  • Seeing Inside the AI Machine: The workshop went beyond just building the model. Students also learned how to visualize how the AI actually works to differentiate between coffee and boba tea images.

  • Q&A and Exploring the Future: The session concluded with a question and answer segment where participants could discuss potential applications of their new skills and explore resources for further learning in AI.

More Than Just Coffee vs. Boba Tea

This workshop wasn't just about creating a fun drink classifier. It aimed to spark curiosity and open doors to the exciting world of AI. By giving students the tools and knowledge to build their own AI creation, the workshop empowered them to explore the vast possibilities of this rapidly growing field.

Ready to Join the AI Revolution?

IT Academy STEP Cambodia offers a variety of workshops and programs designed to equip students with the latest technology skills. Stay tuned for upcoming events and take the first step towards your future in AI!



AUTHOR:

IT STEP Academy

news

Can You Study IT If You're Bad at Math or New to Computers?

Bad at math or new to computers? You can still study IT in Cambodia. Here is what you actually need to start an IT diploma in Phnom Penh, even from zero.

Most IT jobs never touch calculus. What they use every day is logic: breaking a big problem into small steps and checking that each step works. If you can follow a recipe, plan a trip with friends, or figure out why your phone won't connect to Wi-Fi, you already use this kind of thinking. Developers mostly use basic math like percentages and simple formulas, and the computer does the heavy calculating. Designers think in layout, color and space. Marketers read numbers like reach, clicks and sales, which is closer to reading a scoreboard than solving an equation. Advanced math matters in a few specialist fields, but those are paths you can choose later, not the ticket to get in. Starting From Zero Is Normal Every professional diploma programs at IT Academy STEP Institute is built for beginners. You don't need any coding or design experience to apply. You just need to have basic English, and take a short online digital literacy test. Students can join from age 15. Ter

ШАГ логотип

news

Graduation Projects 2026: 22 Apps Built by STEP Software Development Students

From first line of code to first product: see the 22 graduation projects STEP Cambodia students will build by December, with real tools and mentors.

From first line of code to first product: 22 graduation projects begin at STEP This term, 28 students from our Software Development Major started their graduation projects. Between now and December they will build 22 working products. Most of the students in her group had never written code before they joined STEP.   What they are building The projects split evenly: 11 mobile apps and 11 web platforms. Nearly all of them start from a problem the students have seen around them in Cambodia. Eight are online stores and marketplaces. One student noticed that computer shops in Phnom Penh still sell mostly through Telegram channels and Facebook pages, so he is building a proper store with product comparison, order tracking, live ABA KHQR payment and a back-office for staff. Others are building clothing marketplaces, a tyre shop with service booking, and a mobile app where anyone can buy and sell. Five are fintech apps, from peer-to-peer transfers to a budget and savings tracke

ШАГ логотип

events

Inside STEP Cambodia's 2026 Associate Degree Exit Exam

IT Academy STEP Cambodia held its Associate Degree Exit Exam with MoEYS officials on site to check quality. See what it means for your future studies.

On Wednesday, 30 September 2026, our Associate Degree students at IT Academy STEP Cambodia sat their Exit Exam, the final assessment before they graduate. It was a big day for them, and it came with an important guest. Officials from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) visited our campus to monitor the exam and check its quality in person. For students, this was the moment all those late nights of coding, designing and fixing projects were building toward. For us, it was a chance to show that the Associate Degree Exit Exam at STEP Cambodia is run to the same standard the Ministry expects from every accredited institution in the country.   What Is the Associate Degree Exit Exam? The Exit Exam is the last big test of the Associate Degree program. It checks whether students have truly mastered what they learned across their studies, not just memorized it for one class. At STEP Cambodia, students can choose to earn a MoEYS-recognized Associate Degree alongsid

ШАГ логотип

news

IT Academy STEP Meets Cambodia's Education Minister

IT Academy STEP met H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron to discuss IT higher education, digital skills, graduate employment and future cooperation in Cambodia.

IT Academy STEP Institute delegation held a successful meeting with H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, on 14 September 2026 in Phnom Penh. The discussion focused on STEP's contribution to IT higher education, the development of job-ready digital talent and opportunities to expand cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. The STEP delegation was led by Mrs. Rodionova Natalja, Managing Partner of IT Academy STEP Institute and director of Sisters of Code, STEP's non-profit initiative for girls and young women. H.E. the Deputy Prime Minister recognised IT Academy STEP's and Sisters of Code active contribution to digital education in Cambodia and expressed interest in strengthening and expanding cooperation. The discussion connected STEP's work with the Ministry's priorities for STEM education, digital transformation, teacher development, critical thinking, innovation and stronger cooperat

ШАГ логотип

Telegram

Follow the news, get access to the useful content and learn about special offers on our Telegram channel!

Read

This site uses cookies

Privacy policy