Adopting technology in the classroom: fad or science?
Thiago Aragao.
Technology has arrived in classrooms to stay. However, it is not always easy to know whether its presence transforms teaching or whether we are simply following passing trends. Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: not all technological and educational innovations have a positive impact on learning. But how can we distinguish those that only appear modern from those that produce real and effective change in the way we learn and teach? In this article, educational innovation expert Pablo Langa offers us a clear and thoughtful perspective on how to transform technology into a real ally for teachers and students.
Artificial intelligence as a driver of creativity in the classroom
The arrival of artificial intelligence in education opens up a range of possibilities that, until recently, we could only see in films or read about in science fiction books. Now, students can interact with machines that answer their questions, help them structure ideas, or even inspire them for creative projects. But to what extent does this benefit or harm their ability to think for themselves? In this article, we will look at how AI can enrich education and discuss the precautions we must take so as not to lose sight of what really matters: the human spark that ignites creativity.
Less banning and more educating: experts weigh in on the ban on screen use in schools
Amid a growing global debate about the role of technology in education, some school systems have opted to ban the use of screens in classrooms, concerned about their potential impact on students’ concentration, learning, and mental health. However, this strategy has generated a wave of criticism from educators, researchers and health professionals, who warn of the risks of isolating schools from the digital world. Is banning really the best response? This article brings together the voices of those who advocate an educational and inclusive approach to prohibitionism, betting on a school that also teaches how to coexist with the digital world.
The augmented teacher: the alliance between teachers and artificial intelligence
What if, instead of seeing AI as a threat, we thought of it as an ally? Far from replacing teachers, artificial intelligence can become a powerful tool to increase their capabilities and allow them to focus on what no machine can replicate: empathy, pedagogical judgement, critical thinking and relationship building. This article explores how teaching is changing in the age of AI, what it means to be an ‘augmented teacher’ and why, if we do it right, this could be one of the best things to happen to education.
Ten principles for rethinking digital learning
What does it mean to learn at a time when everything seems to be available, labelled and just a click away? What place does critical thinking occupy when we have all the answers in a world without questions? How can we ensure that technology truly enhances education? This article proposes ten fundamental principles that guide the effective integration of technology into pedagogical processes. An essential guide for those who think and practise education in terms of innovation.
From pressing keys to thinking critically: the evolutionary leap of digital literacy
Digital literacy is no longer a simple technical skill but has become an integral competence that combines critical thinking, communication, content creation and online safety. What was once sufficient to function in digital environments is now insufficient: students, workers and citizens need to master tools, discern reliable information and adapt to constantly changing technologies. This evolution is necessary to face the challenges of the present and the future. We see this in this article.
Formative feedback: how to transform assessment into learning
Teaching is not correcting, and assessing should not be judging. Formative feedback proposes another path: transforming assessment into dialogue, guiding rather than judging, listening to help improve. Fundación ‘La Caixa’ and SUMMA clearly develop this in a guide published and endorsed by the Education Endowment Foundation. An invitation to rethink teaching from a perspective of trust, error as opportunity, and learning as a shared process.
Real stories that are transforming digital education in Latin America
You don’t need big budgets or futuristic laboratories to change the way you teach. Sometimes all it takes is a handful of teachers who are convinced that technology can do more than just appear modern. In Latin America, several projects demonstrate this every day: concrete practices that, from rural classrooms and urban centres, use digital resources to reduce gaps and give education a broader and more human purpose. The Second Edition of the Mapping of Good Practices in Digital Education in the Americas shows us several, and we will tell you about some of them in this article.
Teacher coaching: teaching better, together
What makes a teacher improve their teaching? Beyond traditional training, there is growing evidence that teacher coaching (a personalised form of support based on observation and dialogue) is key. In this article, Dr Carmen Strigel, an expert in educational innovation and teacher professional development at RTI International, explores how technology can enhance the coaching process without losing its human essence.
A school that thinks: routines to spark curiosity and understanding
We have spent decades confusing learning with memorisation, as if knowledge were a museum and not a living territory. Today, education for critical thinking has become a necessity that cannot afford to confuse memory with learning. Thinking routines, born decades ago in a Harvard “laboratory”, help us to make thinking visible and deliberate. In this article, we show you how they do it. Thinking routines: straight from Harvard to the classroom.
