First simultaneous holographic class at 11 Tec campuses

For the first time, master’s degree students have had a class with a hologram professor at 11 Tec campuses simultaneously.

By Susan Irais | CONECTA National News Desk - 10/18/2023 Photo Kevin Chaires , Santa Fe & Ciudad Juárez COMMUNICATION STAFF

For the first time, Tecnológico de Monterrey students from 11 campuses simultaneously experienced a class with two-dimensional holographic-effect projection technology.

“It seemed like the teacher was in many places at the same time; it was a privilege to experience this,” said Said Arellanos, one of the students who took the class in Mexico City.

The “Winning with AI” class was given by Militza Basualdo, a Tec professor, partner at the Accelencia consulting firm, and author of the book Winning with Artificial Intelligence.

Participating were nearly 160 master’s degree students from the School of Engineering and Sciences in Guadalajara, Monterrey, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Santa Fe, Querétaro, Chihuahua, Tampico, Saltillo, Laguna, and Ciudad Juárez.

Profesora holograma por primera vez en 11 campus y clases de maestría — Holographic-effect technology is an educational innovation that humanizes the technological experience and generates an immersive environment much closer to a face-to-face class.

The first 11-campus holographic class

Gabriela Romero, a master’s degree student in Mexico City, described the experience. “When I arrived and saw the life-size professor in the classroom, it made such an impact. It really helps you feel like she is there.”

“I really enjoyed being able to raise my hand and have her see me and let me speak, like in a normal classroom,” she added.

Students from seven Tec master’s degree programs had a simultaneous class with the holographic-effect technology:

Master’s Degree in Information Technology
Master’s Degree in Engineering Management
Master’s Degree in Engineering with a Specialization in Quality and Productivity Systems
Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurial Innovation
Master’s degree in Cybersecurity
Master’s Degree in Applied Artificial Intelligence
Master’s Degree in Energy Management and Renewable Energy Sources.

“Although the technology is important, this wouldn’t be possible without an excellent professor”- Leticia Castaño.

Profesor Holograma — The experience at the Ciudad Juárez campus.

For Militza Basualdo, it was her first time teaching as a holographic-effect professor.

“It was a very pleasant and interesting experience. I enjoyed interacting with students from many geographic areas. It provides many possibilities for training in the future.”

The class covered everything from creating new jobs with artificial intelligence to profitable ways companies can use it.

This class was an initiative led by the Tec’s Department of Educational Innovation and Digital Learning and was supported by staff from all 11 campuses.

“We’re very happy to see how the teaching-learning experience with students and professors is transforming. The greatest satisfaction is seeing how they value it,” says Patricia Aldape, the Tec’s Director of Learning Experience Innovation.

Detrás de cámaras del holograma de Militza Basualdo — Behind the scenes with Professor Militza Basualdo.

The “magic” of the holographic effect

Holographic-effect technology, unlike a Zoom class, allows students to clearly see a life-sized professor and interact with her without technological barriers.

There is no need to pass a microphone or press a button; classrooms on each campus are already automated to create an immersive experience.

“Although the technology is important, this wouldn’t be possible without an excellent professor,” says Leticia Castaño, leader of Educational Innovation for Adaptive Learning and Holographic-Effect Professors.

“We work with professors minute by minute to prepare their material, using didactic strategies; it really is as if they’re on air for television,” she added.

“We’re very happy to see how the teaching-learning experience with students and professors is transforming. The greatest satisfaction is seeing how they value it.”- Patricia Aldape

This process is known as putting together the experience, in which you train and work with the professor who will be conducting the class.

They are given support to prepare their class and trained on how to interact with the technology and move around to look good in the holographic-effect projection.

“This is the main part of the experience because we need to connect with the student as much as the technology, so that they really have an interesting educational experience,” says Patricia Aldape.

El Tec de Monterrey usa la tecnología holograma desde 2008 — Tec de Monterrey has been a pioneer in hologram technology since 2018.

Hologram technology at Tec de Monterrey

This technology has been in use at Tec de Monterrey since August 2018.

Since then, classes have been taught in physics, chemistry, mathematics, financial programming, medicine, history, art history, architecture, business, finance, management, and engineering.

Currently, 11 Tec campuses have receiving classrooms equipped with this technology and three of them (Monterrey, Santa Fe, and Querétaro) have the capacity to transmit to the others.

In 2022, Tec de Monterrey and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands held the first intercontinental class using the institution’s educational innovation for holographic projections of professors.

This coming November 6, 2023, Tec de Monterrey will be on the receiving end of a class from Delft University of Technology.

Moreover, the team is already working on new experiences, such as holorooms, where there will be more space for professors, and two or three professors will be able to teach the class at the same time, as well as other advances that will be announced soon.

If you would like to learn more about this or other educational innovations, please visit the website innovacioneducativa.tec.mx