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Rationale AMERICA@UTN is allowing us to start doing research work on a key issue for the entire UTN which, given its geographical arrangement of 33 regional campuses coexisting all over the Argentine territory, has been increasingly concerned with technology-based teaching proposals as a means to empower the distribution of instruction. The project extends to creating, disseminating, trying out and operating new learning models as well as promoting the use of a new generation of networks and mobile devices by means of: Developing pedagogical paradigms that may support learning in mobile environments;Selecting, adapting and/or designing contents in an appropriate format so that they can be accessed through either fixed or mobile devices.
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Implementation (pedagogy) Some elements that faculties want to underline from this educational experience are closely linked to changes in their professors' role. On the one hand, they became aware they had to reflect on the subject in general terms again, and focus on teaching and learning processes from a different perspective. If the traditional teaching modality is compared to this one based on technology, it can be seen that the latter allows a different work dynamics which empowers communication. It is clear from watching the classes that there is increasing autonomous work while a great interchange among peers. The professor and students keep on saying how agile their work has become thanks to technological resources and access to networks; and students in particular, were of the opinion that the use of the technology for academic purposes have been highly motivating for them.
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Expanded interaction
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Implementation (technology) This project is based on the concept of "Expanded Interaction" which lies on five distinctive though complementary characteristics, namely: Mobility: It relies on the use of mobile devices (Notebooks PC's, Tablet PC's and Pocket PC's) and the access to Internet and networks through wireless communication services.Proper Methodologies: They are described in the Implementation (pedagogy) section.Digital Material: Materials used are those traditionally available in printed format and/or eventually digitalized for certain purposes apart from specifically developed multimedia resources.Ink writing: It is supported by the specific functionality of Tablet PC's complemented by the use of the "Classroom Presenter" application.Virtual Campus: A new and specially developed learning platform based on the latest and most advanced Communication Means and Information Resources available.
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VC PocketPCs interface
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The project today The present stage of this Project could well be referred to as "the end of the beginning". As we are approaching the conclusion of tasks provided in the schedule, the project extensions and enlargements have started to take shape in the Facultad Regional Avellaneda itself; that is, on the premises where the pilot experience has developed, as well as in other faculties of the UTN and other universities in Argentina that got interested in AMERICA@UTN. In fact, the professor who conducted this program at the Facultad Regional Avellaneda has already taken this educational experience to Facultad Regional Buenos Aires where he also holds a faculty position. As a result of this, a plan for furnishing thirty classrooms with Tablet PC's and projectors was presented before the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in the framework of the PROMEI project which stands for Engineering Teaching Improvement Project in English. On the other hand, other private and public universities in Argentina have taken an interest in this undertaking and asked us to participate at classes being delivered at present with a view to replicating this modality in their facilities. We would like to mention the main reasons of this outcome: 1) The success of the project in terms of improving the teaching experience; in the professor's opinion: "the use of this equipment was a prime mover to learning, promoted discipline in the case of students and teaching transposition in my personal case. It improved student-student interaction and enhanced their communication with me". 2) The experience was divulged widely, both in the national and international ambit. Apart from the Web site which showed its creation and kept an update of its development, the project was presented at ten subject-related congresses and was well covered in the media with the press giving us considerable publicity .
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Professor and students in clasroom
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What do they say? Students often express high appraisal of a better use of time in the classroom. One of them says: "the lecturer speaks about devoting ourselves to the essential things as a way to save time during the class". Another one declares: "we hold more attention, retain more concepts and need less time to study". The higher level of students' motivation stands out in the following professors' words: "Classes are longer because students do not want to leave".
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Project Web Site
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Contact Us You are kindly invited to visit our Web Site (www.america.utn.edu.ar) where you'll be able to find also videos and demos related with this project You can also contact us at america@utn.edu.ar PI Uriel Cukierman The team Mariana Figueredo Aguiar Gustavo Aijenbon Alejandro Gonzalez Juan Palmieri Daniel Riganti Julieta Rozenhauz Horacio Santangelo Jose M. Virgili Damian Zantleifer
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Acknowledgments The first and main acknowledgment goes to Hewlett Packard's University Relations Program, especially to the Latin American Division. HP made our project possible by means of a very important grant. The second one goes to Microsoft's Argentine subsidiary which had provided the whole software platform. A very special acknowledgment to Richard Anderson's team at the University of Washington for the Classroom Presenter Tool, which is a perfect companion for our project.
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