Dr. Maria Barrufet, professor and director of distance learning in the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University, was recently appointed to the Council for Academic Technology and Innovative Education (CATIE). She is one of 32 members named by Texas A&M Provost Karan Watson. All members are currently employed by The Texas A&M University System. Barrufet is one of two members from Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. She will serve a three-year term.
The purpose of CATIE is to support the education mission of system members in technology use when designing, developing, delivering and assessing courses and programs. It advises the vice chancellor for academic affairs and works in close collaboration with other system-level councils and committees to ensure all academic technology needs are met.
Barrufet is familiar with the use of technology in education, as she oversees the largest distance learning program within the college of engineering. The program uses remote logins, recorded live lectures for video streaming, recorded PowerPoint presentations, downloaded Smart Board notes and document annotations, and a range of other venues to provide 24 hour access. This allows students from all over the world the opportunity to pursue a Masters of Engineering degree in petroleum engineering. The students work at the same pace and use the same curriculum as students on campus, with the exception of lab work and thesis requirements.
Barrufet began her CATIE appointment by attending the Chancellor’s Summit on Academic Technology (CSAT) on June 22-23 at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center in College Station.