The 2nd edition of the Mapping of Best Practices in Digital Education in the Americas, promoted by the Organisation of American States (OAS) and ProFuturo, the programme of educational innovation with technology of Telefónica Foundation and the “La Caixa” Foundation, has produced extraordinary results that highlight the commitment and creativity of educators, institutions and organisations throughout the region.
A total of 17 countries have brought together more than 180 innovative initiatives with the aim of identifying and communicating best practices that are transforming digital education in the Americas. This initiative, whose objective is to seek out and share the most successful experiences in digital education across the region, aims to foster collaboration and learning among educational institutions, teachers, and students.
In figures, this second edition showcased a total of 184 experiences, 80% of which were submitted by schools and 20% by other educational organisations. In addition, during this edition, the five countries with the highest representation were Mexico, with 67 initiatives, followed by Colombia with 40; Ecuador with 18; and the other countries in this top five were Peru with 13 initiatives and Argentina with 11.
Innovation and creativity in Digital Education
The experiences submitted show a remarkable diversity of creative approaches that harness technology to improve the quality of education. These practices are demonstrating how digitalisation can be a key driver in making education more accessible and impactful for students across the region, a mission that ProFuturo has been working on for more than eight years.
The chosen initiatives have not only transformed the classroom in which they have been applied but have directly made an impact on the educational community that has translated into relevant results in the second mapping of the Americas, carried out by ProFuturo and the OAS. Through this process, 24 initiatives were selected that stood out for their contribution to the development of education in the region as well as for their quality and relevance. From among them, an evaluation committee chose six practices to be presented in an audiovisual format (video) so that participants are able to share their stories and experiences, seeking to inspire the educational community of the Americas and promoting the adoption of new methodologies.
The six selected practices are:
- Semilla Digital – Teaching Training School “Lácides Iriarte” (Colombia)
- Digital Gap Programme – Potenciar Solidario Foundation (Argentina)
- STEAM i2 Project – Don Bosco Salesian Education Centre (CEDES) (Costa Rica)
- Basic tactile programming kit for the blind – Ulkantú Corporation (Chile)
- Global Classroom by Interactive Audio Instruction – Carvajal Foundation (Colombia)
- Learning together with Educa SM TV – San Martín School (IEE) (Peru)
These initiatives reflect the diversity and creativity of the solutions implemented on the continent, with a focus on inclusion, technology, and the comprehensive education of students.
Furthermore, the results of this second mapping have marked a crucial step towards the future of digital education in the Americas in which the Partnership between the Organisation of American States and ProFuturo will continue to promote and communicate these best practices, with the aim of boosting innovation and educational quality in the region over the coming years. In fact, the report on the results of this second mapping will be available throughout 2025 in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and will serve as a guide for future developments in the field of digital education.
This full report of the second mapping of the Americas, carried out by ProFuturo and the OAS, will include a detailed data sheet of the 24 most outstanding practices, which will allow stakeholders to gain an in-depth understanding of each of the selected initiatives. In addition, in a special recognition of commitment to education and practices that stand out for their impact, the Educational Portal of the Americas has decided to award scholarships to three of these practices so that the project heads can have access to the OAS training catalogue this year.
Finally, all the practices validated in this mapping will be incorporated into the Map of Best Practices, a platform that was launched in the mapping first edition. With the inclusion of the new practices collected in this second edition, the map will have over 300 educational initiatives across the region and will become an outstanding resource for organisations and schools, offering a repository of innovative pedagogical solutions that can be replicated and adapted in different contexts.
Mapping of Best Practices, 1st edition
The 1st edition of the mapping took place in 2021 and the compiled innovative practices have transformed teaching and learning in a wide range of contexts. The call received over 165 entries from 17 countries, the result of which produced the report: Digital Education in the Americas: Best Practices to Inspire.
This report highlighted the importance of teacher training in the use of digital tools to maximise the impact on students’ learning; it also demonstrates the effectiveness of integrating technology into the teaching process, always with the aim of improving educational quality and facilitating access to digital resources.
Among the practices highlighted in the first mapping are the use of online learning platforms, the implementation of virtual classrooms, and the fostering of distance education. In addition, the importance of personalising learning is underscored, where content is adapted to the needs and pace of each student. The mapping also highlighted initiatives that promote collaboration between educational institutions and their community, as well as the use of digital tools to foster creativity and critical thinking in students.
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