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Offering Mini-Courses in El Salvador

Offering Mini-Courses in El Salvador. John Paxton Montana State University October 20, 2003. Co-Author. Karim Heredia Director, Computer Science Department Don Bosco University Soyapango, El Salvador. Don Bosco University. Founded in the mid 1980s 3500 students

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Offering Mini-Courses in El Salvador

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  1. Offering Mini-Courses in El Salvador John Paxton Montana State University October 20, 2003

  2. Co-Author Karim Heredia Director, Computer Science Department Don Bosco University Soyapango, El Salvador

  3. Don Bosco University • Founded in the mid 1980s • 3500 students • 900 computer science majors • 7 full time CS faculty (B.S.) • 10 part time CS faculty

  4. DBU Mission Statement To offer superior scientific and technological education with a solid humanities base to the people of El Salvador, especially the poorest young people. The aim of the training is to produce people illuminated by the Gospel who can be the protagonists in a changing society.

  5. Soyapango

  6. Mini-Courses

  7. Mini-Course

  8. Mini-Courses • http://www.cs.montana.edu/paxton/elsalvador/salvador.html

  9. Attendees • 75% students, 25% faculty • Don Bosco University • University of Central America • University of El Salvador

  10. Motivation • Mini-courses • Faculty training • Curriculum advising • Student projects • IEEE CONESCAPAN conference http://conescapan.org.sv/

  11. Student Projects

  12. Timeline • December 2002: invitation • April, 2003 – June, 2003: preparation • July 15 – August 15, 2003: visit

  13. Funding • U.S. Embassy Cultural Affairs Division: • plane ticket • Don Bosco University: • guest house (laundry, breakfast) • $1100 honorarium • $20 per diem • office space

  14. Guest House

  15. Office

  16. Per Diem

  17. Lectures • 9:00 a.m. (9:15 a.m.) – noon • Air conditioned lecture hall • Projector • Laptop • Translator

  18. Lectures

  19. Laboratories

  20. Publicity • Don Bosco University • La Prensa Grafica

  21. Cultural Quirks • Cell phones • Timeliness • Personal connections • Transportation

  22. Teaching Tips • Hands-on labs • Prepare materials in advance • Use electronic delivery • Take 20 minute breaks • Keep written material to a minimum • Translation is important

  23. Translation

  24. Teaching Tips • Solicit questions • Present certificates • 3 hours maximum • Interject off-topic cultural material

  25. Where is Montana?

  26. Improvements • Bring a laptop and projector • Don’t rely on the internet • Schedule events with respect to faculty obligations

  27. Future Directions • A semester visit to Don Bosco University • teach courses • supervise student projects • A semester visit to Montana State University • start a master’s degree • take courses • Library • Grants

  28. USAID – ALO • USAID – U.S. Agency for International Development • Association Liaison Office for University Cooperation in Development • 18 awards of up to $100,000 over a two year period • Target strategic objectives of USAID missions

  29. USAID - ALO • Objective: improve the quality of eduction for El Salvador’s poor families • Objective: improve the efficiency and productivity of key public and private institutions, particularly those contributing to sustained democracy and development

  30. Benefits for Montana State • Internationalization • Better understanding of gender issues • Conference papers • Grants

  31. Benefits for Don Bosco • Internationalization • Faculty training • Student experience • More advanced workforce • Better library holdings

  32. Questions?

  33. Tikal

  34. Lake Atitlan

  35. Antigua

  36. José Barrios University

  37. El Cuco

  38. Joya de Ceren

  39. San Pedro

  40. San Pedro

  41. San Pedro

  42. Parque Imposible

  43. Parque Imposible

  44. Last Night

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