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 Title Slides Hours Average Attendance Common Lisp 145 1935
Neural Networks
224 15 40
Theory of Computing
143 11 20

7. Mini-Course

8. Mini-Courses

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

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: Don Bosco University:
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