Providing Curricular Assistance to a Third World Computer Science Department

1
Providing Curricular Assistance to a Third World
Computer Science Department

• John Paxton
• Montana State University
• June 30, 2004

2
Co-Author

• Karim Heredia
• Director, Computer Science Department
• Don Bosco University
• Soyapango, El Salvador

3
(No Transcript)
4
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

5
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.

6
Soyapango
7
Mini-Courses
8
Mini-Course
9
Mini-Courses

• http//www.cs.montana.edu/paxton/elsalvador/salvad
  or.html

10
Attendees

• 75 students, 25 faculty
• Don Bosco University
• University of Central America
• University of El Salvador

11
Motivation

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

12
Student Projects
13
Timeline

• December 2002 invitation
• April, 2003 June, 2003 preparation
• July 15 August 15, 2003 visit

14
Funding

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

15
Guest House
16
Office
17
Per Diem
18
Lectures

• 900 a.m. (915 a.m.) noon
• Air conditioned lecture hall
• Projector
• Laptop
• Translator

19
Lectures
20
Laboratories
21
Publicity

• Don Bosco University
• La Prensa Grafica

22
Cultural Quirks

• Cell phones
• Timeliness
• Personal connections
• Transportation

23
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

24
Translation
25
Teaching Tips

• Solicit questions
• Present certificates
• 3 hours maximum
• Interject off-topic cultural material

26
Where is Montana?
27
Improvements

• Bring a laptop and projector
• Dont rely on the internet
• Schedule events with respect to faculty
  obligations
• Do a quantitative evaluation

28
Future Directions

• A semester visit to Don Bosco University
• teach courses
• supervise student projects
• A semester visit to Montana State University
• start a masters degree
• take courses
• Library
• Grants

29
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

30
USAID - ALO

• Objective improve the quality of eduction for El
  Salvadors poor families
• Objective improve the efficiency and
  productivity of key public and private
  institutions, particularly those contributing to
  sustained democracy and development

31
Benefits for Montana State

• Internationalization
• Better understanding of gender issues
• Conference papers
• Grants

32
Benefits for Don Bosco

• Internationalization
• Faculty training
• Student experience
• More advanced workforce
• Better library holdings

33
Questions?