Summer Break
Nestled between Argentina to the west and Brazil to the north, Uruguay lies on South America's southern Atlantic coastline. The capital city of Montevideo has been recently described as providing the highest quality of life in Latin America.
This mini-term is part of an ongoing partnership with Montevideo's Universidad de la Republica for students to study and contribute to "Plan Ceibal, the Uruguayan version of the One Laptop Per Child initiative. Plan Ceibal's goal is to promote technological proficiency and social inclusion through the distribution of laptops and training in their use. In three years, this ambitious program has already reached all primary students in the nation and is now expanding to the secondary level.
Course of Study
The mini-term includes a three-week trip to Uruguay in the summer, five project planning sessions in the spring term and five project meetings in the fall term.
Students will fly to Buenos Aires and travel to Uruguay via the historical city of Colonia de Sacramento. Once settled in Montevideo, students will learn about Uruguay's culture, government and education system to better understand the social inclusion initiative and the history and status of Plan Ceibal. Students will partner with peers to visit schools and interact with students, teachers and community members about the Plan Ceibal program, identifying specific ways to make a contribution to the Universidad de la Republica's own efforts in monitoring and evaluating the Plan. Each year that the mini-term is offered, it will build on the results of the previous year.
Pre-requisites
Students applying to this mini-term should have:
- Successful completion of an introductory computer science course, CS 10x, OR
- Successful completion of SPN 201, OR,
- Fluency in Spanish, OR
- Permission of instructor
Students will work in teams, so it will be important for at least half of the students to have Spanish language skills.
Accommodations
Students will be staying in a hostel for the majority of the mini-term.
Calendar
(For specific dates, contact the International Programs Office, Old Chapel, Third Floor.)
- January: Application deadline is the third Friday of winter term.
- February: Non-refundable deposit due at the Cashier's Office in McKean House, and receipt brought to the International Programs Office
- Spring term: Five planning seminars
- August: Mini-term begins
- Fall term: Five project seminars
For More Information
Students may contact Professor Guillermina Seri, Professor Pilar Moyano or Professor Cherrice Traver.
Photo Credit: 
Some rights reserved by jikatu
