Part 1 – Warm-up Discussion
10–12 minutes
Do you follow tech research or academic papers? Where do you find them?
What recent innovation or research in tech has caught your attention?
How do you decide which new technologies are worth exploring?
Do you think innovation always leads to progress, or can it sometimes cause problems?
What role does research play in the day-to-day work of a developer?
Part 2 – Target Language & Vocabulary
15–20 minutes
📖 Key Vocabulary
Learn these important words before using them in phrases:
| Word/Phrase | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| cutting-edge | most advanced or innovative | We're working on cutting-edge AI research. |
| pioneer | to be first to develop something new | They pioneered a new approach to machine learning. |
| proof of concept | a demonstration that an idea is feasible | We built a proof of concept before full development. |
| iterate | to repeat a process to improve | We iterate on the design based on user feedback. |
| groundbreaking | very innovative and important | This is groundbreaking research in quantum computing. |
| push the boundaries | to go beyond current limits | We're pushing the boundaries of what's possible with AI. |
🎯 Practice Exercise: Drag & Drop Vocabulary
Complete the text below by dragging the vocabulary words to fill in the blanks. The text uses the context from this lesson's topic.
cutting-edge
pioneer
proof of concept
iterate
groundbreaking
push the boundaries
Our research team is working with machine learning algorithms. Google was one of the companies to transformer architecture for NLP. We built a to demonstrate the feasibility of our new caching strategy. The key to innovation is to quickly based on feedback. The paper presented results in quantum error correction. Great researchers constantly of what's currently possible in technology.
🔤 Key Phrases & Expressions
| Phrase | Example |
|---|---|
| Recent research suggests... | Recent research suggests that transformers are revolutionizing natural language processing. |
| According to this study... | According to this study, microservices can improve scalability but add complexity. |
| The findings indicate... | The findings indicate that code review practices significantly reduce bugs in production. |
| This innovation could... | This innovation could change how we approach distributed computing in the next decade. |
| I came across an interesting paper about... | I came across an interesting paper about improving neural network efficiency. |
| The implications are... | The implications are that we'll need to rethink our current approach to security. |
| This challenges the conventional wisdom that... | This challenges the conventional wisdom that NoSQL is always faster than SQL. |
| Innovation is driven by... | Innovation is driven by curiosity, problem-solving, and a willingness to experiment. |
Homework Assignment
Complete after class
📝 Writing Task
Find a recent tech article or research paper that interests you. Write a 250-word summary explaining what it's about, why it matters, and what questions or ideas it raises for you.