Oracle Academy Tech Chat

Oracle Corporation

Oracle Academy, Oracle's global philanthropic education program brings you Oracle Academy Tech Chat where we discuss how Oracle Academy helps prepare the next generation's work force. In this podcast Tyra Crockett, Senior Manager Oracle Academy North America, interviews experts across the Oracle ecosystem about their experience and advice for educators and their students.

  1. 5D AGO

    Stack Your Career Sandwich: Building Your Career Portfolio as a College Student- Part 2

    In this second episode of Stack Your Career Sandwich: Building Your Career Portfolio as a College Student, host Tyra Peirce continues the conversation with Lino Persi, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Java Customer Success at Oracle, focusing on how students can turn their experiences into real career opportunities. They explore how to stand out—even without traditional internships—by leveraging projects, volunteer work, and leadership roles, and discuss how experiences like study abroad and campus involvement translate into workplace value. Lino also shares practical advice on presenting your skills effectively on resumes and in interviews, the importance of mentorship and networking, and how to confidently position yourself for success in a competitive job market.

    32 min

  2. 5D AGO

    Stack Your Career Sandwich: Building Your Career Portfolio as a College Student: Part I

    In this first episode of Stack Your Career Sandwich: Building Your Career Portfolio as a College Student, host Tyra Peirce sits down with Lino Persi, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Java Customer Success at Oracle, to explore how students can go beyond academics to build a strong, well-rounded career foundation. Together, they discuss the importance of intentionally "stacking" experiences—such as internships, projects, research, and campus involvement—to develop both technical and soft skills that employers value. Lino shares practical insights on how educators can better support students, why hands-on experience is critical in shaping career direction, and how mentorship and diverse opportunities help students discover their interests and stand out in a competitive job market.

    18 min

  3. APR 7

    IT Career Lessons

    In this episode, we talk with a veteran IT leader about the career path that shaped their success and what inspired them to enter tech. We cover how they've stayed relevant through constant change—career planning, lifelong learning, and building skills that last. They share lessons from setbacks, what they'd do differently, and advice for students starting out in today's fast-moving IT world.   --------------------------------------------------   Episode Transcript: Unknown Welcome to the Oracle Academy Tech Chat. This podcast provides educators and students in-depth discussions with thought leaders around computer science, cloud technologies, and software design to help students on their journey to becoming industry ready technology leaders of the future. Let's get started.   Ljiljana Welcome to Oracle Academy Tech Chat, where we discuss how to stay ahead of the game in this constantly changing industry.   Oracle Academy helps prepare the next generation's workforce. I'm your host, Ljiljana Krkic, Oracle Academy program manager, and in this episode, Rob Lockard, recently retired Oracle ACE director, professional Oracle DBA, Designer, Developer, Product Manager, but also a pilot, sailor, photographer, and a very good friend of mine will share secrets from his more than 40 years long successful career in IT.   He will speak about how AI is changing our jobs and how to befriend it, and let it help you move forward in your career as well as about three protocols that can help you have the power to make your career and life a success. Rob, my friend, welcome!     Rob Hey! Thank you for having me!     Ljiljana Thanks. You've had a long and distinguished career in IT. Can you briefly share your path and what inspired you to enter this industry?     Rob We'll start with what inspired me. When I was a child, my father was in the Marine Corps, and he went to school on programing the IBM 360, and he would bring home his textbook and study it. And whenever I had a chance, I would pick it up and start reading it. Now, mind you, I was like 8 years old at the time, and I didn't really gather it because, you know, we're talking about mainframes and all. But it gave me an early interest in it. And then when I went into the military myself, I got into computer science and then got out and went to the community college and then one university and then another university and then another university. And I kept going till I got my master's degree. Largely, actually, my employers paid for my education. So when I was working for Cannon, the camera manufacturer, I would take night classes at the university and they would pay for my night classes. So, you know, I always leveraged somebody else paying.     Ljiljana Yes. Oh. All right.     Rob Kind of how I got into it. And then, from there, it's just, you know, one pivot after another pivot after another pivot, something would go wrong, something would go right, and I would just make little adjustments along the way.     Ljiljana Yeah. Great. Technology evolves quickly. What approaches have helped you consistently stay ahead of industry changes and remain relevant throughout your career?     Rob Okay. Well, number one, I have always read the professional journals. Way back when I was a C programmer, I would read the C journals. Then, as I got into databases, I would read the database journals. And now with the world of the internet, as you know, the internet became more and more popular because when I started this, everything was printed on paper. You know, we didn't have this information right at our fingertips. But what I would constantly do is reading what is currently happening in the industry. And then I would actually sit down a couple times a year and write out a story, what will the industry look like in five years, ten years, 20 years?     Ljiljana All right.     Rob And you use the information you have to try to figure out where things are going. All right? And you are going to be wrong. I was wrong more often than not, but it always gave me a direction to shoot for, and as I got more information, I would adjust where I would focus my energies. And that's the easy explanation for it. But I'm constantly, even to this day, following what's happening in the industry and trying to figure out what is the world going to look like five years from now on in our industry? What's world going to look like ten years from now? And, you know, it's like, where do I want to put my efforts so I stay relevant?     Ljiljana Yes.     Rob And now, with this world of AI, it's making it more interesting. Where do you want to study? Do you want to get into AI agents? Do you want to get into AGI? What purpose? How are you going to use this AI to solve a problem? I mean, at our business, what we do is we solve problems. Okay. That is the simplest way to explain it. And when you see a problem, how do you solve it? So we can use AI. We can use AI agents. I was just recently, making an appointment, with my doctor and I didn't realize it, but I was on the phone with an AI agent who walked me through the whole process, including setting up labs.     Ljiljana Right.     Rob And then I'm, like, oh, well, it's come a long way. So do you want to go in to, I'm going to say the academic field, you know? Yeah. Become a university professor. Do you want to get into the industry? Where in the industry do you think you will fit? What? Where are you curious? I always have an insatiable curiosity. Okay. I do other things. Like I said, I'm a pilot. I'm a sailor. I'm a photographer. I take all of these things that also interest me. And it helps. It also helps me in my business because it helps me solve problems.     Ljiljana Yeah. Great. Yes, I know what you are talking about.     Rob Yeah. And, you know, you're a pilot, and when you're landing a plane, you don't just fly the plane into the ground. That's a good way to crash. That's how I've always stayed ahead. I just try to figure out where things are going to be. Go in that direction, and I'm going to be wrong. And I will just constantly make adjustments along the way.     Ljiljana Yeah, that's a very important point. Thanks. And you highlighted career planning and lifelong learning. So what concrete methods do you use to set your goals and keep your skills up to date?     Rob Okay. Well concrete method, what I mentioned I would write out a story five years, ten years to figure out where my life is going to be. What outcomes do I want? But then one of my concrete messages is I spend one hour every morning studying something that interests me. And it could be anything from navigation for ships, because I recently became a Coast Guard license captain, I had to go through a whole lot of learning.     Ljiljana Yeah, I know     Rob I just pick something I'm curious about, and I spend an hour studying it, every single morning. And it may not be intense study, where I'm cramming for an exam. It's more like I'm curious, I need to learn more.     Ljiljana You feed your curiosity actually.     Rob My curiosity has always driven me. Yes.     Ljiljana Yeah.     Rob So that is one thing that I've always done. And then after studying it, I try it. And that always works great for me. So, okay. That's how it explains it.     Ljiljana Okay. Great. And can you discuss a time when you faced setbacks or challenges in your career? How did you overcome these obstacles and maintain your motivation?     Rob Oh gosh. Let's see. I'm gonna go into one of my biggest setbacks in my career, that was in the mid 2000. I set up a system for the Department of Treasury and I finished. It was beautiful. It didn't require a lot of maintenance and I became extremely org. I am going to work and I'd sit there and twiddling my thumbs all day because everything was working great. And then one day, one of my colleagues came up to me saying, you know, you're pretty smart, why don't you start speaking at conferences? And I'm going, oh, yeah, right... Nobody wants to hear me speak at a conference. But I said okay, and I picked the subject that I was relatively good at, which is information security. I put together an abstract, and I go, you know something? I'm probably going to absolutely bomb this. I'm not going to do great. And I was like, but I put all my effort into it. So I'm going to go someplace where English is not their first language. So if I completely mess it up, you know... So what do I picked? Finland. And I'm thinking everyone speaks Finish and just a little bit of English. No, everyone's speaking fluent English, and I'm like, oh my God. But I did pretty good. And I was invited back to speak again. And basically what it was, was a friend gave me a mountain to climb. All right?     Ljiljana Aha     Rob Once I climbed that mountain and I got there going I wanted to do it again. So basically it gave me an objective, a place to focus my efforts. So you know, when I achieve one of those goals, I pick something else and I go, hey, I'm curious about this. I'm going to go and figure it out. And I go attack it and I learn it, and then I move on to the next objective. So my brain is constantly moving on to the next objective. So when I find myself getting stuck in the doldrums, just kind of languishing, I go, what's challenging? Let's do it. Yeah, no, that's a good explanation. I have a mountain to climb.     Ljiljana And tell me also, looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in your career, or a key lesson you wish you'd learned earlier?     Rob Oh, gosh. You know, people ask me this, and I think about this, and you want to know something? There's nothing I would have done differently. I could say, you know, I wish I came out of the military and just went full time to university and g

    22 min

  4. MAR 17

    Learn about the latest Oracle Academy workshops on embedding generative AI in Apex applications and using AI to create SQL in Apex

    Willie Mcrae, Oracle Academy Principal Instructor, joins us to discuss Oracle Academy AI resources for educators and their students, including two new workshops on embedding generative AI in Oracle APEX applications and using AI to create SQL in APEX.

    22 min

  5. MAR 3

    From the Classroom to the Lobby: Hospitality Skills for the Real World

    Oracle Hospitality's Deanne Wofford joins host Tyra Peirce to discuss how Oracle Academy is helping educators and students unlock new opportunities in hospitality management. Discover the essential role of technology in today's hotels, the benefits of digital learning resources, and practical tips for building career-ready skills. Perfect for faculty, students, and anyone passionate about the future of hospitality! ---------------------------------------------------- Episode Transcript: 00:00:00:00 - 00:00:34:09 Unknown Welcome to the Oracle Academy Tech Chat. This podcast provides educators and students in-depth discussions with thought leaders around computer science, cloud technologies, and software design to help students on their journey to becoming industry ready technology leaders of the future. Let's get started. Welcome to Oracle Academy Tech Chat, where we discuss how Oracle Academy is preparing the next generation's workforce. 00:00:34:10 - 00:00:57:13 Unknown I'm your host, Tyra Peirce. In this episode, I speak with Diane Wofford from the Oracle Hospitality Management Team about the vital role hospitality management systems play and why it's important for students to study them. Welcome, Diane. So to start off, can you give me a bit about your background and your role at Oracle? Hi, Tera, thanks for having me. 00:00:57:16 - 00:01:29:07 Unknown I joined Oracle through the acquisition of micros and have dedicated 19 years to training and empowering or hospitality customers. My journey began as an implementation consultant where I was quickly entrusted with onboarding and training of new consultants. Over the years, I advanced through the organization, shaping our role, focusing on delivering innovative training and education to our customers, partners and employees. 00:01:29:09 - 00:02:02:03 Unknown Currently, as the director of the Global Learning Initiatives Team and the Oracle Hospitality Organization, I lead a talented, multifaceted global team committed to developing comprehensive learning content and opportunities that drive success through the hospitality industry. Our team is passionate about creating impactful and effective learning experiences, and ensuring everyone we support is equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to drive within our hospitality solutions. 00:02:02:05 - 00:02:32:14 Unknown Your experience is so fascinating to me and you really, truly are the right person to talk about hospitality and why it's important for students to learn. Because you've come from an education space and developing training materials for our partners and our customers, as well as our employees. So with that said, what are the core components of a hospitality management system like opera, and why are they critical to the success of hotels and resorts today? 00:02:32:16 - 00:02:59:19 Unknown Well, that's an absolutely great questions. At the core of hospitality management systems like Offer Cloud, there are several key components that are truly essential for a smooth and successful operation of hotels and resorts today. First, you have the property management system or PMS. I like to think of this as the nerve center of the hotel. It handles everything from guest relations and check ins to room assignments and billing. 00:02:59:21 - 00:03:27:12 Unknown Our focus is really on streamlining those day to day tasks, so the staff can spend more time focusing on delivering a great guest experience. Now that experience actually begins right at the time of booking. As we know, most guests today are booking online, so it's crucial to connect seamless nicely with multiple channels like OTAs urged access as well as direct booking engines up a club. 00:03:27:13 - 00:04:06:03 Unknown It's right in that landscape by connecting with a variety of channel management systems. Plus, with Opera Cloud distribution, we make it even easier for our customers to manage this process all in one place, enabling a smooth flow of reservations directly into the PMS. This ensures that front desk agents always have accurate guest information and also helps hotels yield maximum occupancy, seize revenue opportunities, and and I was doing so good. 00:04:06:05 - 00:04:19:14 Unknown Yeah. Go ahead and just repeat wherever you want to start. So if you want to start that guest experience or you can start with plus and then just kind of repeat where you want to say with that piece right there. 00:04:19:16 - 00:04:51:15 Unknown With OPERA cloud distribution, we make it even easier for our customers to manage this process from one place and enabling a smooth flow of reservations directly into the PMS. This ensures that front desk agents always have accurate guest information, and it also helps hotels maximize occupancy, seize revenue opportunities, and maintain consistent yield and rate management. 00:04:51:17 - 00:05:07:12 Unknown You know, front desk operations are another crucial piece with real time tools. Front office staff can manage check ins, check outs and guest preferences effectively, efficiently. 00:05:07:13 - 00:05:34:13 Unknown Front desk operations are another critical piece with real time tools. Front office staff can manage check ins, checkouts and guest preferences efficiently, which really shifts the overall guests experience from the very start. Housekeeping management is just as important. Offer cloud automates rooms, status updates and task assignments, making sure rooms are ready when guests need them and when used with offer. 00:05:34:13 - 00:05:45:14 Unknown Cloud mobile hotels can drive great, even greater efficiency and guest satisfaction. We include that. 00:05:45:16 - 00:06:15:17 Unknown We include powerful sales and management capabilities, supporting everything from group bookings to large conferences. These help streamline coordination between departments and maximize revenue from events, which is so important for many properties. And of course, I could go on and on. The Upper Cloud Property Management suite covers it all, including integrated reporting and analytics with real time data and customizable reports. 00:06:15:19 - 00:06:51:12 Unknown Seamless connections to point of sale systems like Oracle Symphony, integrations with key entertainment and in-room interfaces, and much more. Our goal is to always provide our customers with a unified solution. All of these components are critical because they automate routine tasks, provide valuable insights, and help hotels respond quickly to evolving guests needs. Ultimately, it's all about driving operational efficiency and creating memorable guest experiences. 00:06:51:14 - 00:07:22:10 Unknown I actually never realized how much went into management of hospitality. My husband and I are extensive travelers and and next time I leave for a trip, I'll have to really think about like the backend and the systems and everything that is going into place to help create a, you know, an optimum guest experience. So with that being said, how do hospitality management systems integrate with other business functions such as guest services, reservations and finance? 00:07:22:12 - 00:07:57:19 Unknown And what benefits does this integration bring to the overall guest experience? Well, first, it's important to build a solid understanding of how property management systems work, since the PMS serves as the backbone of hotel operations. Students should get comfortable with the basics like managing reservations, handling check in and check out processes, and maintaining guest profiles. That foundational knowledge is essential because these tasks touch on almost every aspect of the daily hotel activities. 00:07:57:20 - 00:08:37:02 Unknown A strong grasp of reservation and management industry. A strong grasp of reservation management and distribution is also critical. Excuse me. So you can let us get this one right. Just a strong grasp of reservation management and distribution is also critical. Understanding how travel. I'm never going to get this frontier. I'm going to get it, though. 00:08:37:04 - 00:09:09:23 Unknown A strong grasp of reservation management and distribution is also critical. Understanding how online travel agencies, OTAs and global distribution systems, GDS and booking engines connect to the hotel systems will help students see the big picture of how today's properties maximize occupancy and revenue. Becoming familiar with channel management systems and how they integrate to a solution like offer cloud distribution can give students a real edge. 00:09:10:00 - 00:09:39:01 Unknown Learning how to navigate front office tools, from setting up guest preferences to processing payments is just as important. Proficiency in these tools help create a smooth and personalized guest experience, which is at the heart of hospitality. On the operational side, skills including housekeeping, event management modules are also valuable. These areas often incorporate automation and mobile technology such as offer cloud, mobile. 00:09:39:03 - 00:10:24:10 Unknown So having a comfort level with new tech and mobile apps is definitely a plus. Beyond the functional aspect, students should develop analytical skills by working with reporting to analytics tools. Hotels rely on the data from customizable reports and dashboards to make very strategic decisions. So being able to interpret and UN insights is highly prized in today's industry. Finally, having a general comfort with integrations such as how a PMS connects with the point of sale system or POS payment gateways that you use for your credit cards and in-room technologies, which are and removes your phone. 00:10:24:14 - 00:10:58:18 Unknown Electronic Minibars and other third party applications prepare students to minister for hospitality tech ecosystem. Overall, students that are comfortable with technology eager to learn new tools and able to connect operational proce

    16 min

  6. FEB 10

    Building a Tech Career Marketing

    In this episode of Oracle Academy Tech Chat, we welcome Janet Kamau, Marketing & Field Engagement Director for Oracle Africa to discuss her career journey and expertise in tech marketing. Janet shares her personal career path, outlining what led her into the dynamic world of tech marketing, and provides listeners with firsthand perspectives on the ever-evolving opportunities for tech professionals in the marketing industry. ----------------------------------------------------- 00;00;09;02 - 00;00;28;21  Speaker 1  Welcome to the Oracle Academy Tech Chat. This podcast provides educators and students in-depth discussions with thought leaders around computer science, cloud technologies, and software design to help students on their journey to becoming industry ready technology leaders of the future. Let's get started.     00;00;28;24 - 00;01;02;04  Speaker 2  Hello everyone! Welcome to Oracle Academy Tech Chat, where we discuss how often Academy prepares innext generation's world class. I'm your host for today may carry on my summer. In this episode we will be discussing building a tech career in marketing. Our guest is an Marketing and Field Engagement Director for Oracle Africa to discuss her journey and expertise at the intersection of technology and marketing.     00;01;02;06 - 00;01;50;11  Speaker 2  Janet is an accomplished marketing and business development executive with over two decades of leadership across Africa, specializing in technology research and digital transformation. Jeanette. Career includes senior roles at Ogilvy, Airtel, Hewlett-Packard, and Oracle, where she has driven innovation on high performance marketing in complex and diverse markets, and Oracle. She was instrumental in launching and expanding Oracle offices across Africa, have focused on customer centric innovation and digital transformation, has led to Oracle's accelerated market share growth and heightened brand relevance across the continent.     00;01;50;13 - 00;02;23;08  Speaker 2  How impact has been recognized through multiple channels, including Oracle's Best of Best Regional Winner, the Oracle Global Marketing Leadership Excellence Award, and HP Emir's High Achievers Club. She is known for drafting data driven, scalable marketing strategies that closely align with corporate transformation goals and long term business value. She is a passionate advocate for social impact and youth development.     00;02;23;10 - 00;03;08;11  Speaker 2  She leads as a Gems Global Mentor, co-leads the Oracle Women Leadership in Kenya, and oversees the Oracle Volunteer Program in Kenya. She is the founder of the Marketing Young Professionals Program and the Parent Cycle Circle, which supports personal growth, leadership development, and engagement. In 2022, Jeanette was named one of the top 25 Most Influential Women in Marketing in East Africa, and in 2024, she was honored as the Marketing Trailblazer of the year and the East Africa Women of Excellence Awards, hosted by UN women and Hope media.     00;03;08;14 - 00;03;41;17  Speaker 2  She holds a BSc in International Business Administration from US, IU Africa and is a certified Professional Coach. Jeanette is the Board Chair of Junior Achievement Africa, where she supports youth entrepreneurship and future ready skill development across the continent. Jeanette brings to the board a blend of strategic marketing, vision and digital transformation expertise with a deep passion for social impact, youth empowerment and inclusive leadership.     00;03;41;19 - 00;04;13;12  Speaker 2  One of her favorite quotes is no one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to bleed by hits. You look what comes in it, and that's such a rich profile you've got there. Thank you for being a guest on the Oracle Academic Tech Chat. How you tell us a bit about your journey into tech marketing and what inspired you to pursue this career path?     00;04;13;14 - 00;04;42;21  Speaker 3  Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for the opportunity to feature in this podcast, and thank you for all the work and the wonderful work that you do to inspire, you know, the students and educators across the continents, you know, basically preparing them for today and for the future. We we appreciate all the work that you do now, in regards to my journey in tech marketing and what has inspired me and what inspired me to take this career path.     00;04;42;23 - 00;05;08;03  Speaker 3  That question, you know, took me back to when I just finished my university. I still remember asking my dad if he could help me find a job, and he smiled at me and said that he. Then, inspired by making sure that, you know, I had gotten a good education and from there it was up to me. So honestly, at that time I felt a little bit down and there wasn't.     00;05;08;05 - 00;05;33;01  Speaker 3  It wasn't what I wanted to hear. But looking back, I realize it was one of the best gifts he could have given me. That gentle push made me stop and really think about what I wanted and what I dreamt of doing. So I took out a piece of paper and wrote down the names of all the global brands that I would want to work for, and three of them specifically, stood out.     00;05;33;03 - 00;05;55;19  Speaker 3  And somehow, step by step, I managed to work for all the three. HP was one of them. And so joining HP was my entry into the world of tech marketing. What's funny, though, is that, I wasn't drawn to HP because of the technology itself, but because I was passionate about big brands and learning about how they connected with consumers.     00;05;55;19 - 00;06;23;13  Speaker 3  Because consumer research has always been a really passionate, area for, for me. So the opportunity at HP opened up a whole new path for me, and it kept building from there. And that's how I found myself, at Oracle. And then looking back, I see the power of believing in yourself, writing down your dreams, and being truly intentional about what you want to do.     00;06;23;16 - 00;06;43;18  Speaker 3  And sometimes the best support is a little nudge to discover if you know your own strength. Like what my dad did. And it's amazing what you can achieve when you're clear about your goals and follow them with your, you know, with your whole hat. So what has truly inspired me to remain within tech marketing is it'sever changing or evolving.     00;06;43;22 - 00;07;12;26  Speaker 3  You know, nature every day. Each day brings new opportunities, and being at the forefront of technology with companies like Oracle, Oracle is a leading company, and seeing its positive impact on people's lives. And they continue having that continues. This has always been a continuous, continuous source of motivation,for me. And so that's what has been my journey in, in, you know, in tech marketing.     00;07;12;28 - 00;07;31;04  Speaker 2  That's the interesting thing that started them, I'm sure not the points where you're not, you know, give me that advice. You would have seemed difficult, but, I'm so glad he pushed you towards that direction in. Thank you. Thanks. All right.     00;07;31;04 - 00;07;32;29  Speaker 3  That's true. Yeah.     00;07;33;02 - 00;07;48;10  Speaker 2  Yeah. So the next one will have would be. How is technology transformed the field of marketing in recent years? And what skills are most valuable today for tech marketing professionals?     00;07;48;12 - 00;08;11;26  Speaker 3  Yeah, that's that's a good question. Now, technology has changed everything about the way we do marketing. I remember when I joined marketing a number of years ago, 20 to be precise, or 20 plus, it is to be a bit of a guessing game, like, you know, David, forgive me, once said, half the money spent on advertising is wasted.     00;08;11;28 - 00;08;38;09  Speaker 3  The trouble is, I don't know which half, but that really is not the case anymore. I don't know if things have changed now with the analytics tools out there. We actually get to see where every dollar goes and we can't figure out what's working right away. Instead of waiting weeks or months to to find out. So to put this into perspective, think about a typical product launch 20 years ago.     00;08;38;11 - 00;09;07;24  Speaker 3  Back then, marketing mostly meant to be ads, billboards, magazines, you know, all planned months and months ahead and targeted at broad audiences feedback for, you know, sales results would call internally. And if things weren't working, it was tough and even costly to, you know, to to to pivot from there. So you often had no idea what was resonating with customers until it was almost too late to change.     00;09;07;27 - 00;09;36;13  Speaker 3  Now it's a totally different story. Today, if we are launching a new product, say, a pair of shoes sneakers, we can coordinate a campaign across social media, email, influencer platforms worldwide, all, all at once. So advanced analytics helps us to, what I call micro target specific groups and personalize content for different markets. In real time will tell if an ad is performing.     00;09;36;13 - 00;10;03;22  Speaker 3  Say, for example, we at Facebook we spotted instantly and update the same ability the same day. We can even engage directly with customers through chat, tools like Oracle. Eloqua, which is a powerful CRM tool that that helps us to automate, you know, our processes and helps us to nurture every step of the customer journey from the first time that they click to their post-purchase, fol

    27 min

  7. FEB 3

    Empowering Connections: Exploring the New Oracle Academy Community

    In this episode Lorilyn Owens, director of Innovation Programs and Member Services, talks about the new Oracle Academy Community, a dedicated online space for Oracle Academy members and ambassadors. This vibrant community will empower participants to connect, share best practices, and access resources tailored to their academic and professional journeys. Tune in as we provide a comprehensive overview of the community's features, opportunities for engagement, and how you can make the most of this collaborative environment designed to support your success within the Oracle Academy network.     ------------------------------------------------------------ Episode Transcript: 00;00;09;02 - 00;00;28;18  Speaker 1  Welcome to the Oracle Academy Tech Chat. This podcast provides educators and students in-depth discussions with thought leaders around computer science, cloud technologies, and software design to help students on their journey to becoming industry ready technology leaders of the future. Let's get started.     00;00;28;21 - 00;00;57;26  Speaker 2  Welcome to Oracle Academy Textured, where we discuss how Oracle Academy prepares this next generation's workforce. I'm your host. Sajeel Shahzad In this episode, I'm joined by Lorilyn Owens, director, innovation Programs and Member Services. We speak about the new Oracle Academy community platform, what it is, and how Oracle Academy members, faculty and ambassadors can use it.     00;00;57;28 - 00;01;00;13  Speaker 2  Welcome, Lorilyn.     00;01;00;16 - 00;01;02;05  Speaker 3  It's nice to see you.     00;01;02;07 - 00;01;15;00  Speaker 2  It's fantastic to have you here as we kick off this exciting chapter of Oracle Academy. Can you give me a bit about your background and your role at Oracle?     00;01;15;02 - 00;01;45;23  Speaker 3  Sure. Thank you for having me, Sajeel. So in my role as director of Oracle Academy Innovation Programs and Member Services, I oversee many of the programs and services that help our faculty members innovate in their teaching and get the most out of their membership. Our team is responsible for curating Oracle Academy program benefits, promoting member success, deepening member engagement, and supporting members throughout their membership lifecycle.     00;01;45;25 - 00;02;18;10  Speaker 3  One of the favorite things that we get to do is to share our member success stories. I'm passionate about empowering educators and students to thrive in this ever evolving tech landscape. I love seeing how innovative teaching and collaboration can truly transform learning experiences and help students gain real world skills. Gosh, I spent over the last 25 years working at the intersection of technology and education.     00;02;18;12 - 00;02;54;08  Speaker 3  Whether that's developing and rolling out new learning initiatives or supporting faculty communities globally. But before joining Oracle Academy, I worked in human resources. I've worked in Oracle Consulting and also in Oracle support. All of that taught me the value of collaboration, connection, community building and helping the next generation of learners be ready. One of my treasured memories is from a few years ago, when we published a video celebrating the 25th anniversary of Oracle Academy.     00;02;54;10 - 00;03;31;09  Speaker 3  We've been around for almost 30 years now, but when we celebrated the 25th, I just loved seeing faculty members from different countries share their Oracle Academy stories in their own words. That was special. It really brought home the global impact we could have when we work together. I am just constantly inspired by the dedication and creativity I see in our Oracle Academy members, and I'm always eager to learn from their experiences and support their work in any way that I can.     00;03;31;11 - 00;03;41;25  Speaker 2  Starting to start? What is the Oracle Academy community and what makes it distinct from other forms of communications?     00;03;41;27 - 00;04;13;04  Speaker 3  The Oracle Academy community is really special because it's not just another online forum or email list. It's a dedicated space where Oracle Academy faculty and ambassadors can connect, collaborate, and share ideas. It's tailored specifically for those who teach with Oracle Technologies. So the conversations are relevant and everyone understands the unique challenges and opportunities our educators face in the classroom.     00;04;13;07 - 00;04;42;27  Speaker 3  So, unlike more general platforms, everything here is focused on helping educators grow and support each other with resources and advice they can use. It's a curated, secure environment where participants can discuss best practices, get support, and collaborate on projects with peers who share a passion for helping to advance student technology, education and skills.     00;04;43;00 - 00;04;56;09  Speaker 2  Interesting up. Could you describe the unique value of bringing together Oracle Academy Ambassadors and Oracle Academy faculty members in a dedicated online community?     00;04;56;12 - 00;05;31;03  Speaker 3  Sure. Bringing ambassadors and faculty together in one place is incredibly valuable. Faculty members who are out there teaching every day and tap directly into the expertise of ambassadors who are well versed in Oracle technologies. It creates this dynamic exchange. Ambassadors, along with the Oracle Academy team, can share the latest resources and opportunities and faculty can voice what they need or share what's working in their classroom.     00;05;31;06 - 00;05;50;16  Speaker 3  This kind of back and forth isn't something you get with traditional emails or newsletters, or just one way communications. It really accelerates learning and innovation for everyone involved and empowers us to enhance student outcomes.     00;05;50;18 - 00;05;57;09  Speaker 2  Tell us, how do community members engage and support each other?     00;05;57;11 - 00;06;30;22  Speaker 3  Community members engage and support each other in several meaningful ways. For starters, there's always an open dialog happening. People ask questions about everything from teaching best practices to specific Oracle technologies, and others are quick to jump in with answers, tips, or resources. Members can also share lesson plans, project ideas, and real life classroom experiences, which can be incredibly helpful if you're looking for inspiration or solutions to a challenge.     00;06;30;24 - 00;07;04;22  Speaker 3  There are regular opportunities to participate in group discussions, so it's easy to stay up to date and hear different perspectives from around the world. And when someone achieves something like completing a new certification or launching an innovative student project, the community is right there to celebrate and share the successes. So overall, it's just a very supportive environment where everyone is genuinely interested in helping each other grow and succeed.     00;07;04;25 - 00;07;14;19  Speaker 2  Interesting. How is the Oracle Academy community structured, and what are some of the key features for community members?     00;07;14;21 - 00;07;50;14  Speaker 3  In addition to just the dynamic features of the platform itself, like tagging, gamification, reputation rich content support and the mobile friendly design. We've also added knowledge base and FAQ use. We have categories in the Oracle Academy community to help organize discussions and resources into focused topics. That makes it easy for members to find relevant information, connect with peers, and participate in conversations that really just match their interests.     00;07;50;16 - 00;08;22;21  Speaker 3  Our topic based categories include AI, cloud, apex, and Next week, and also industries like construction, Nearing and Hospitality. We also have an events calendar where you can find information about upcoming webinars, workshops, conferences and community activities. You can explore this page to stay informed about important dates, register for events and connect with fellow members through shared learning and networking opportunities.     00;08;22;24 - 00;08;53;22  Speaker 3  We also have the Oracle Academy Community Learning Blog, and that's where members can share thought leadership ideas, classroom experiences, and real world applications of Oracle technologies for content. I'm really excited because we have Share Your Success Mondays where we will feature our member success stories. We have Test Your Students Wednesdays, where we'll provide short quizzes to share with students covering different technologies.     00;08;53;24 - 00;09;17;02  Speaker 3  And then I think maybe my favorite feedback Fridays. And that's when we'll ask for your feedback on the Oracle Academy program and popular trends. And it really does just enhance the opportunity for two way dialog. We have a lot going on in the community school, so we really want people to come back often and just set up your profile to receive updates.     00;09;17;03 - 00;09;30;15  Speaker 3  We're excited because the community is a place where Oracle Academy members and ambassadors can come together and collaborate and share knowledge.     00;09;30;18 - 00;09;44;21  Speaker 2  I'm curious that how can active participation in the Oracle Academy online community and harness professional growth and amplify the impact on the broader Oracle Academy community.     00;09;44;24 - 00;10;17;16  Speaker 3  While still getting involved in the community is a fantastic way to boost your own professional development? You can contribute to blogs, take part in discussions, and connect with other educators from around the world. It's a network that fosters personal growth and keeps you up to date on new trend

    14 min

  8. JAN 27

    Part II Transforming Database Operations: MCP Server + OCI Generative AI in Action

    In Part II of this episode we explore how Oracle's latest AI-driven database tools are revolutionizing teaching and learning in higher education. Tailored for global faculty and students, the episode demonstrates how artificial intelligence makes database operations more accessible, intuitive, and relevant to real-world applications. Faculty will discover strategies to integrate AI-powered tools into their curriculum, using features like natural language processing database queries, schema analysis, and automated health checks—all in simple language, not complex SQL. Students will see live demonstrations where database tasks are executed through everyday commands, bridging the gap between AI and hands-on expertise needed for today's tech landscape. Key highlights include an introduction to the MCP server, insights into OCI Generative AI integration with databases, and step-by-step interactive demos ideal for classroom and research settings. This podcast is a must-listen for educators seeking innovative approaches, students aiming to build in-demand skills, and academic leaders looking to advance curriculum and research with the latest in AI technology.   ------------------------------------------------------------ Episode Transcript: 00;00;09;02 - 00;00;28;19  Welcome to the Oracle Academy Tech Chat. This podcast provides educators and students in-depth discussions with thought leaders around computer science, cloud technologies, and software design to help students on their journey to becoming industry ready technology leaders of the future. Let's get started.     00;00;28;22 - 00;00;46;13  Welcome back to Oracle Academy Tech Chat, where we discuss how Oracle Academy is helping prepare the next generation's workforce. This episode is part two of Transforming Database Operations MCP server and OCI generative AI in action.     00;00;46;16 - 00;01;02;05  So here is the code which we have built it. And I'll start my server. Okay. So first thing is like we can just do list all the databases.     00;01;02;07 - 00;01;28;22  So you can see like how many databases we have. So here are all the databases which we help you see. Database 123. Okay. And we can see what are the prompts. So let's say the first prompt I am using. Connect me to the database and list user tables. Okay. So I'll just go ahead.     00;01;28;25 - 00;01;42;24  Connect me to the I will connect to the first database and list all the user tables.     00;01;42;26 - 00;02;03;17  And meanwhile it does it operation. I'll also show like how you can build your own resources. So you see here I am using this open AI. If I wanted to use I can use this okay. Okay. So these are the things and these are the databases connections which I have used. So basically consist of the resources grants and the tools.     00;02;03;18 - 00;02;26;27  So this is some thing you can think like a resource. This will just turn to you okay. These are the resources which I am using it. And then I was also talking like a you can build your own provider. So I have been like OCI provider. This is my OCI provider. Similarly I have built open a provider. Here is my opening a provider.     00;02;26;29 - 00;02;50;28  And when you build your own provider you can also build like as I said MCP server consists of the prompt state prompt also tool and resources resources. I already shown these are the prompts. If you see here you are an expert Oracle DB which has this access for database operation. Perform these operations. So these are the prompt which you have to provide okay.     00;02;51;00 - 00;03;11;18  And there are certain means. There are the tools which we have already discussed. I will show us in the code. And that tool you can invoke. So yeah. So here you can see I have like within the prompt only I have added these tools stuff. Use this for SQL query to use this for this connection for list like that.     00;03;11;21 - 00;03;35;21  So if you see here I give the prompt connect me to the PUC database and list all the users tables. What it basically does it it basically with the first option it does it it basically connects me to the database automatically. Then it runs this again. It gets the response. It sees that response, and then it runs the query.     00;03;35;24 - 00;04;06;05  And you can see for the user table. So first it does the connection. Second it does the user query to get the response. So if you can see there are two operations which it performs after getting the response it performs another one operation. So total two task has been performed. Successful two okay. So yeah. So here you can see now I will just go to the next prompt list user table.     00;04;06;05 - 00;04;32;24  We already shown you. Now I just run this one list user table list transition event skills in separate tables. So if anyone has to build their own MCP server by using our good, I'll be sharing this code. This is available in the GitHub repository. So you can build your own orchestrator so that you can use this code as a reference code.     00;04;32;27 - 00;04;56;24  And in this code, if you see there is an MCP server code. So basically Oracle already came up with a tool which is a plugin which you can install SQL okay, you can install and you don't have to do. But what we have done is like we have mirrored that tool by building our own MCP server. Like we  build a real database connection, we build the real tool, expose it, and trying to use it.     00;04;56;26 - 00;05;25;09  So it's just to make sure that everybody understand the actual real world behind this. Okay. So here you can see I gave the prompt, list user tree with rich transaction events using separate tools. Okay. Three tasks has been executed. If you see it user table. These are the user table it tries to get. Then there was some error.     00;05;25;09 - 00;06;07;10  It got other this one queue name is invalid identifier. Then it tries to invoke again okay. And but the system indicate that no errors. So maybe I haven't given the permissions to list available connections or something. But transaction events stuff. Right. So that permission is not there. That's why you didn't able to query the database. So those days just now so is needed whenever you are building the MCP server so that you may not get what I can just say is like, you may not, give him the admin privilege and he can change the policy or do some nasty stuff.     00;06;07;13 - 00;06;37;25  Now, I'll, move to the next prompt. So this one prompt called saw me all the tables. Before that, I'll just use this, provide me the top three weight operations. So let's see how many weight operations which are running inside our database. So it automatically generate the query and tries to find the weight operations. So if you see here here's this is this this was our okay.     00;06;37;25 - 00;07;00;09  So I'll just first go there. So the if you see here this was the things which is try to like using probably does then it converted converts it into the SQL query okay. These are the SQL query. It gets converted. And this was the response which it tries to fetch it. So top three weight event. We asked.     00;07;00;12 - 00;07;24;05  So it gives you the events. Weight class total weights time weighted average wait time. So library cache okay. So basically total three weight operations try to providers ten rows has been selected. You can see here. So yeah. So if you give anything it basically tries to invoke the tool call converts your natural language into the SQL language and gets the response back to you.     00;07;24;07 - 00;07;48;24  And if you wanted to perform some agent approach, you can build your agent approach. As I said, we have already done this right in front of everyone, right? We connect to the database, we get the response, then we are listing the user tables. Okay. There is something called, report. I will show that also before so this is done and then so me all the tables inside the database.     00;07;48;26 - 00;08;09;25  So there are lot of tables. It may take some time so it will take some time. Meanwhile, I'll just say like so if you see here two will already available. But these are the tools.  The Oracle has built it just to show everyone that how you can build your own tool.     00;08;09;27 - 00;08;30;16  So this is also the tool this the other tools which we have. I'll make it available as a part of this MCP. So you can see here. So these are the tools we are calling these tools. And then there is a real tool called we are doing it. And basically it does the real database connection okay. It does everything on a real basis.     00;08;30;16 - 00;08;51;11  Not like a plugin does it. you can install and start working on. So basically the idea here is like you can take this code and build your own NCP stuff by taking this as a reference to me. So actually there are a lot of tables we get this query, it may take some time, so I'll just move to the fifth and the sixth prompt.     00;08;51;13 - 00;09;24;08  Close this, start the server again. So I will generate so basically in the database we have report. So all the DB basically goes and then try to analyze this report. And it takes a lot of time. Right. And the first thing is like there is a query with which you can generate a report okay. And then you provide this like what all the weight operation you does all the performance recommendation analysis using that report.     00;09;24;10 - 00;09;57;27  So we'll see how we can generate using this. So I'll connect to my first database and generate report of last one. So meanwhile you can just see here, you have a config and in the config you can this is just like all these sources where you can have your stuff. And from I have already shown so there is a resource ID, there's a prompt and there a too

    27 min
See All (46)

Ratings & Reviews

3
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Oracle Academy, Oracle's global philanthropic education program brings you Oracle Academy Tech Chat where we discuss how Oracle Academy helps prepare the next generation's work force. In this podcast Tyra Crockett, Senior Manager Oracle Academy North America, interviews experts across the Oracle ecosystem about their experience and advice for educators and their students.

Information

  • Creator
    Oracle Corporation
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Oracle Corporation 2023
  • Show Website
    Oracle Academy Tech Chat

You Might Also Like