Education—supporting math, science, and technology
The chair of the board of Intel Corp, Craig Barrett, recalls that the company has three priorities: education, education, and education. And for Intel Costa Rica it is also a priority. Intel Costa Rica invests, per year, more than $1 million to support the education of the country. Our educational programs are focused on three areas: elementary and high school education, higher education (university) and education in the communities.
The programs of schools and high schools seek to improve the process of learning and teaching, as well as to strengthen the 21st century skills in the curriculum. They also promote the creative learning of the sciences and maths.
In the universities, Intel Costa Rica works to fortify the engineering careers, especially, in the public institutions, to increase the amount of graduates. Intel works in the development of the curriculum, in the donation of laboratories, in chats and researches.
And finally, we also arrive to the communities with projects of environmental education and workshops to promote the business spirit of the youths or to improve the process of reading and writing of the students.
In 2006, Intel Costa Rica launched the Volunteer Matching Grant Program (VMGP), which consists in donating $75 for every 20 volunteer hours that is done by Intel volunteers in educational centers. In this way, the benefit is double: the work that carries out the employee, plus the money. In March of 2007 Intel Costa Rica delivered the amount accumulated during 2006: 4,420 hours, that represent $16,575. During the first year Intel worked with the three public schools of Belén, with the high school of Belén, the Technical High school Don Bosco, the schools of engineering of the University of Costa Rica and the Technological Institute of Costa Rica, the two Intel Computer Clubhouses, and the National Fairs Program.
Intel® Teach Program
The Intel® Teach Program helps teachers integrate technology into their classroom instruction methodology to enhance student learning. The program is implemented in 30 different countries, and since its launch in year 2000 has trained more than 2 million teachers around the world.
In Costa Rica, Intel Teach Program is in coordination with the Ministry of Public Education, and is implemented by the Omar Dengo Foundation.
Training is available for the teachers in all regions of the country, including teachers in very remote one–room schoolhouses. In Costa Rica more than 30% of the K–12 teachers have participated in the training program. Intel Costa Rica has also worked in collaboration with 20 different schools, providing teacher training, computers and other digital equipment to establish model classrooms where teachers can work directly with students using technology resources to improve learning of mathematics, science, social sciences, language, and other courses. Costa Rican teachers who have taken the Intel Teach Program training have already demonstrated the positive impact on learning that occurs when technology is integrated in the curriculum, rather than being used exclusively for computer science education.
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF)
Intel Costa Rica collaborates with the National Science Fair Commission and the Ministry of Science and Technology in Costa Rica to create awareness in students about the importance of math, science and technology, and to stimulate interest in these future careers. Intel Costa Rica also helps to support 20 regional fairs and one annual National Science and Technology Fair for elementary and high school students. Intel sponsors the winners of the top two awards at the National Science and Technology Fair to participate in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) each year.
Costa Rica initiated its participation in ISEF in 1998, and since then, 60 youths have represented us. In 2001, we obtained a honorable mention, in 2004 a third place was won, in 2006 we obtained again a third place, and in 2007 we won the first place in the category of Special Awards that is given by the Technological Institute of Monterrey.
Intel Computer Clubhouse
The Intel Computer Clubhouse is a non–formal education model that uses technology creatively to enable underserved youth to develop confidence and acquire problem–solving skills as well as technological skills, which will help youth form successful lives. This community education model was developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab in conjunction with the Boston Museum of Science, and with Intel support, forms a network of 100 "computer clubhouses" around the globe.
In Costa Rica we find two Intel Computer Clubhouses. The first one, CEDES Don Bosco, opened its doors in 2002, in a very urbanomarginal zone known as Alajuelita, in the south part of the capital, San José. The other one, Biblioteca Virtual 25 de Julio, started at the end of 2005 in Hatillo, a very conflictive zone.
Five years ago the Intel Computer Clubhouse of CEDES Don Bosco opened its doors. Since then, more than 29,400 youths have approached this space to receive one or more workshops and they have been able to carry their learnings to their communities, like Alajuelita, Lagunilla of Heredia, Escazú, Alajuela, San Sebastián, Barrio Cuba, Zapote, Escazú, Santa Ana, Pavas, among others.
Currently, 170 kids are participating in robotics workshops, creations in third edition, Adobe Photoshop*, conversational English, radio, etc.
The other Intel Computer Clubhouse, Biblioteca Virtual 25 de Julio, is hosting, in average, 215 youths who receive courses of digital caricature, blogs, fashion design, third dimension design, etc.
Its doors opened at the end of 2005, and more than 285 teenagers from Alajuelita, Desamparados , Paso Ancho, Hatillo, etc, have been benefited.
Technical education
Intel Costa Rica also works closely with the Ministry of Public Education to strengthen the technical education curricula in electronics and electromechanics. Intel has donated 30 industrial robots and other specialized manufacturing equipment machinery to 21 different technical institutions, where the students design and build demonstrations, create manufacturing processes, and practice maintenance procedures with high tech equipment. In particular, Intel places emphasis on transmitting to teachers and students the importance of personal and occupational safety values and conduct as a necessary habit to obtain and follow in daily activities in the laboratory and school environment. Intel works with the technical education system to further instill the values and skills that are required of the future workforce.
Higher education
Intel Costa Rica works with the two major public universities to strengthen engineering skills, particularly in the fields of electrical/electronics engineering, computer science, and material science. Intel engineers work directly with the university faculties to provide counsel on future skill requirements needed by industry that should be incorporated into technical curricula. Intel supports the university curricula development and modification efforts with faculty training, laboratory equipment donations, research opportunities, and student internships.
The Intel® Teach Program helps teachers integrate technology into their classroom instruction methodology to enhance student learning. The program is implemented in 30 different countries, and since its launch in year 2000 has trained more than 2 million teachers around the world.
Intel Costa Rica collaborates with the National Science Fair Commission and the Ministry of Science and Technology in Costa Rica to create awareness in students about the importance of math, science and technology, and to stimulate interest in these future careers. Intel Costa Rica also helps to support 20 regional fairs and one annual National Science and Technology Fair for elementary and high school students. Intel sponsors the winners of the top two awards at the National Science and Technology Fair to participate in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) each year.