María Inés Baragatti – La Pasión de:

María Inés Baragatti is a renowned Argentine mathematics teacher whose passion for teaching has transcended university classrooms to reach thousands of students through social media. With over 40 years of experience at UNLP and UNQ, and a clear and passionate teaching style, Baragatti continues to teach for free even after retirement, becoming a respected and admired educational figure across generations.

María Inés Baragatti explicando matemáticas frente a una pizarra durante una clase grabada en la Universidad Nacional de La Plata. — María Inés Baragatti durante una de sus clases más vistas en YouTube, donde combina rigor académico y calidez pedagógica.

Early years and academic background

María Inés Baragatti was born in 1948 in Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina. From an early age, she showed a strong inclination for teaching, giving lessons to her classmates and, as she recounts, even to the walls of her home. She earned a degree in mathematics from the faculty of exact sciences at the National University of La Plata (UNLP) in 1970. In 2008, she obtained a master’s degree in educational informatics from the National University of Distance Education in Spain.

Teaching career

Baragatti began her teaching career in 1972 at UNLP, giving theoretical classes in various courses, including special mathematics, mathematical analysis III and IV, and mathematics D and E. From 1978 until her retirement in 2014, she worked at the faculty of engineering at UNLP. She was also a professor at the National University of Quilmes (UNQ), where she coordinated the logic-mathematics section of the entrance course from 1991 to 2005.

Teaching method

Known for her clear and direct teaching style, Baragatti uses analogies and everyday examples to explain complex mathematical concepts. For instance, she describes a function as a “machine” that processes numbers, making the idea more accessible to her students. Her approach focuses on deep understanding, encouraging reflection and constant questioning.

Impact on social media

After retiring, Baragatti continued teaching for free from her home. In 2017, her former student Damián Pedraza invited her to give a class at UNLP, which was recorded and uploaded to the YouTube channel “El Traductor de Ingeniería.” The video garnered over one and a half million views, turning her into a prominent figure on platforms like YouTube and TikTok.

Recognition

In September 2023, the faculty of engineering at UNLP named her an honorary professor in recognition of her career and dedication to teaching. During the ceremony, Baragatti delivered a master class on first-order differential equations, once again demonstrating her ongoing commitment to education.

Legacy and commitment

María Inés Baragatti has left a lasting impression on generations of students, who remember her for her passion, clarity, and dedication. Her focus on comprehension-based teaching and her willingness to help anyone in need have made her a key reference in the Argentine educational landscape.