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Providing Curricular Assistance to a Third World Computer Science Department. John Paxton Montana State University June 30, 2004. Co-Author. Karim Heredia Director, Computer Science Department Don Bosco University Soyapango, El Salvador. Don Bosco University. Founded in the mid 1980s
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Providing Curricular Assistance to a Third World Computer Science Department John Paxton Montana State University June 30, 2004
Co-Author Karim Heredia Director, Computer Science Department Don Bosco University Soyapango, El Salvador
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
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.
Mini-Courses • http://www.cs.montana.edu/paxton/elsalvador/salvador.html
Attendees • 75% students, 25% faculty • Don Bosco University • University of Central America • University of El Salvador
Motivation • Mini-courses • Faculty training • Curriculum advising • Student projects • IEEE CONESCAPAN conference http://conescapan.org.sv/
Timeline • December 2002: invitation • April, 2003 – June, 2003: preparation • July 15 – August 15, 2003: visit
Funding • U.S. Embassy Cultural Affairs Division: • plane ticket • Don Bosco University: • guest house (laundry, breakfast) • $1100 honorarium • $20 per diem • office space
Lectures • 9:00 a.m. (9:15 a.m.) – noon • Air conditioned lecture hall • Projector • Laptop • Translator
Publicity • Don Bosco University • La Prensa Grafica
Cultural Quirks • Cell phones • Timeliness • Personal connections • Transportation
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
Teaching Tips • Solicit questions • Present certificates • 3 hours maximum • Interject off-topic cultural material
Improvements • Bring a laptop and projector • Don’t rely on the internet • Schedule events with respect to faculty obligations • Do a quantitative evaluation
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
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
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
Benefits for Montana State • Internationalization • Better understanding of gender issues • Conference papers • Grants
Benefits for Don Bosco • Internationalization • Faculty training • Student experience • More advanced workforce • Better library holdings