Technology tailored to students' schedules and needs
Nadia Cibic—a student in ORT’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program—has attended classes both in person and remotely. This flexibility gave her greater freedom to organize her schedule and manage her time.
“In-person classes are great, and so are online classes. Which one you choose depends on your individual circumstances,” the student said.
“HyFlex® technology gives you the option to log in and continue studying without missing a beat if you’re at work and don’t have time to attend in person. Those of us pursuing a graduate degree generally have demanding jobs where we might have to work late, so it’s great that this doesn’t interfere with our studies.”
“We’re returning to a sense of normalcy, but it won’t be the same as it was before the coronavirus. HyFlex® adapts to the new world,” he added.
Technology in the Classroom
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HyFlex® has camera located in the classroom that tracks the instructor’s movements and picks up their voice. Students taking the class online can hear the instructor clearly, as well as their classmates’ questions and answers (whom they can also see, thanks to the high-quality audio and video provided by this technology).
“This proposal is based on state-of-the-art technical equipment: more than one computer, more than three or four screens, a robotic camera with automated video and audio controls, and its own audio feed for those in attendance,” said Dardo Salvetti, the faculty’s IT coordinator.
An opportunity for new teaching strategies
Teachers Alejandro Moreno, Leonardo Rodríguez, Erik Caseres, and Cecilia Jorge agreed that, from an educational standpoint, HyFlex® is an extremely valuable tool that allows classes to unfold organically and fosters interaction among all participants, whether they are joining online or in person.
“You can easily do any kind of activity. In my field, it didn’t limit me; rather, it opened up opportunities for me to implement new teaching strategies for class development that I found very appealing,” said Alejandro Moreno—general manager of Armco Uruguaya and professor of Corporate Finance.
Moreno noted that the sound quality is very good. “You can hear everything clearly—not just the teacher, but also the students’ participation in class.”
For his part, Leonardo Rodríguez—a partner at RMI Consultores—added that students taking classes online can interact, get to know one another, work in teams, and receive the same instruction as those who chose the in-person format.
“Anyone, anywhere, can study without compromising on quality,” said Rodríguez.
Erik Caseres—coordinator of Educational Technology and associate professor of mathematics—noted that HyFlex® technology offers students a variety of ways to take their classes.
“It’s a great tool because it allows students to learn in a way that makes them feel most comfortable, ”he said. It also ensures that they don’t miss classes if they encounter setbacks due to health, personal, or work-related issues, or if they are in another city or country. If necessary, it allows them to easily switch back to remote learning.
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Cecilia Jorge—assistant academic coordinator for the Public Accounting program—noted: “HyFlex® makes classes accessible to people for whom it would be impossible or very difficult to attend in person. This includes not only those living in rural areas but also students in high-responsibility positions for whom it’s a life-changing experience to leave work and automatically log into class, without having to set aside time to travel to campus.”
Just like being in the living room
Juan de Vries—who began pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Universidad ORT Uruguayin 2021 Universidad ORT Uruguaycurrently lives in Chile.
“My experience with online classes was flawless—it was just like being in the classroom. I feel like I know my classmates even though I haven’t met them yet. The best part was being able to finish work and log in right away from home. Also, even though I live in Chile, I’m Uruguayan and I want to move back to my home country. Studying this way allowed me to start planning my return from here,” said Juan de Vries.
“Since I’m an agricultural engineer, I’ll probably be working in rural Uruguay next year. Knowing that HyFlex® will continue to be available, regardless of coronavirus restrictions, gives me peace of mind.”
Regarding the dynamics of the class, he noted: “Teachers pay attention to both the students who are in person and those who are participating remotely. It’s not like you miss out on anything just because you’re joining from a distance,” added de Vriea. “Honestly, I felt like it was a year well spent.”
