During the pandemic digital technologies allowed us to save endless hours of transportation, commuting, for work, shopping or leisure. This post explores whether digital technologies are carbon footprint neutral or not? What is the environmental impact of using phones, streaming or sending an email? What is important to know and what actions can be taken? It is important that individuals, societies, and governments are mindful of the existing digital footprint. Increasing awareness in this field can be a game-changer. Think about how you can help.

Mozilla Foundation asked 100+ people to share a healthy and unhealthy moment for the internet around the world... here what their voices....

The open-access eBook: I accept the terms and conditions: Uses and abuses of digital technologies, published by IDRC and Ceibal Foundation. Available in English and Spanish (Spanish version published by Santiallana Foundation). This book questions the purported neutrality of technology. They explore the extent to which the algorithms that give life to digital tools become the new oracle, the interface of connection with reality—a reality modified to satisfy the interests of a few. In this scenario, states are late to the discussion and the population at the individual level lacks the tools to regulate and manage their digital lives. It is crucial to understand the limitations of the current era and to take account of the fact that artificial stupidity (resulting from systems offering poor or bad information in an automated fashion) can be more dangerous than the lack of timely information. Today, it is necessary to develop an improved understanding of the meaning of critical digital literacy so that digital citizens can help make sense of, and act on, the new rules of the game.

Comparto una conversación sobre educación sobre educación y futuro que tuve con el Director Regional de la Fundación Varkey, Agustín Porres @agustinporres. En estos intercambios, recogeremos miradas disruptivas y originales sobre la educación que se viene y los diferentes caminos para acercarnos a ella. Agustín plantea una avalancha de preguntas y juntos exploramos futuros posibles caminos con una vista en lo que viene sin olvidarnos de los retos pendientes.

Esta presentación sobre competencias digitales docentes explora 5 preguntas: ¿Cuáles son los programas de formación de habilidades digitales docentes más efectivos? ¿Cómo integrar tecnología y pedagogía? ¿Qué enfoques de evaluación y monitoreo adoptar? ¿Qué mecanismos de apoyo e incentivo implementar? ¿Cuál es el diseño institucional más adecuado?

Algo que esta pandemia ha puesto en evidencia es que las distinciones que teníamos hasta el 2019 entre la educación presencial y la virtual o a distancia son hoy menores. A nivel global, diferentes sistemas educativos han abierto las puertas a nuevos formatos de enseñanza, nuevas formas de conectar estudiantes y docentes y es poco probable que eso desaparezca cuando acabe esta crisis.

La pandemia ha acelerado el papel de las tecnologías. Quizás sean necesarios cambios en nuestra mentalidad y comportamiento. ¿Hasta qué punto comprendemos la integración de las viejas y nuevas vulnerabilidades que surgen en la sociedad digital? Quizá haya que aclarar que este mensaje no debe simplificarse a un llamado contra todas las tecnologías digitales. Este es un llamado a la acción, a mantenernos críticos y en estado de alerta.

These press clippings might help us to understand how important is (and will be) to understand the transactional cost of our digital life. The pandemic has accelerated the role of technologies. Perhaps changes in our mindset and behaviors will be needed. To what extent we understand the old and new vulnerabilities that emerge in the digital society? No need to say that this message shall not be oversimplified as a call against all digital technologies. This is a call-to-action to be critical and to be alert. Citizens will still need to protect themselves in the smart city (I prefer smart citizens before smart cities).

This also is an unprecedented opportunity to rethink education systems, reimagine the learning organizations, empower the role of teachers, and perhaps reimagine what it means to learn. Despite all the challenges previously mentioned, it is also true that we have seen a wealth of experiences that are becoming a garden of innovations that are blooming in education. Today more than ever educational systems are all called to become learning organizations....

The COVID-19 health crisis created a unique difficult situation for teachers. With little warning and preparation they were required to conduct distance teaching and support remote learning, yet many were unable given the number of households that lack the relevant technology, tools and connectivity to allow pupils/students participate in the distant learning activities. Moreover, many teachers do not have ICT tools at home, even those with access to the internet often lacked the ICT skills and confidence to effectively conduct teaching online. In this workshop organized by my colleagues at UNESCO, we explored how to better support teachers in these challenging times...