They are spaces adapted to carry out technological projects, work on technical content and provide digital literacy to students and teachers in order to achieve a better adaptation to the labor market. In 2021, 9 classrooms were inaugurated in Argentina and 17 more are planned in 2022. In addition, the possibility of extending the program to other Latin American countries where Techint Group companies have operations is being evaluated.
Over the years, the different STEM Community Relations programs of the Techint Group have progressively approached digitalization strategies through different initiatives.
The 2020 pandemic was the most profound catalyst for these isolated cases to escalate exponentially by unleashing the innovative capacity of students and teachers; diversify strategies and modularize learning, and transfer to the combination of platforms and tools a capacity for personalization, transaction and transfer that had not been achieved before.
The Technological Classrooms project emerged at the end of 2020, when we began to think about how to collaborate to accompany the challenges that the pandemic presented. That's where the need to provide connectivity resources to students who had lost contact with the school was detected, in order to move towards hybrid learning and access connectivity, even between different cities or schools. The objective is that the classrooms are adequate spaces to carry out technological projects, work on technical content and provide digital literacy to students and teachers in order to achieve a better adaptation to the labor market.
Inside the Technology Classrooms
They consist of computers, smart screen or projector, audio system and camera, cargo carts for notebooks and connectivity. Likewise, training is provided to the personnel responsible for the use of the equipment and repairs are carried out for the conditioning of the spaces.
During 2021, the Techint Group inaugurated 9 Technology Classrooms in the towns of Campana, Zárate, Ramallo, San Nicolás and Neuquén, in Argentina. This year it is planned to create 17 additional classrooms, adding schools in Salta and Comodoro Rivadavia, and the possibility of extending the project to other Latin American countries where the Group's companies have operations is being evaluated.
The voice of the protagonists
"For students who are teenagers and the time in which they live, it is very valuable to have digital classrooms since it allows them to access current technology. It also meant an added value for the school that positioned it positively in its community."
Silvana Núbile, Director of Technical Secondary Education No. 2 – "Col. Tomás Espora", Zárate.
"The work itself from the building was fantastic and for the students it means that they can work online, with connection with the world and with specialists where the progress day by day is great. It also allows them, for example, to access simulations. Technology today occupies a central and priority role, especially in technical careers."
Fabián Cimenti, teacher of Technical Secondary Education N° 2 – "Cnel. Tomás Espora", Zárate.
"The impact is positive; it means accessing things that other schools don't have. From the pandemic everything happens online and it’s a great advantage to have connectivity and equipment in the school, very useful tools for today's world".
Gian Franco Pedernera, student of Technical Secondary Education No. 2 – "Col. Tomás Espora", Zárate.
"It's nice to see how the school is growing little by little. They are very nice, modern rooms. With another colleague we are using these spaces and the machines to make a project of a smart cane, with a rubino plate and ultrasound sensors, for blind people."
Tomás García, student of the Technical High School N°1 "Bonifacio Velásquez", Ramallo.
"The new technology classrooms will help us grow as students, to be able to know working methods and project our designs in a much more advanced technology."
Naiquén Sirván, student of the Technical High School No. 1 "Bonifacio Velásquez", Ramallo.