By Elena Arias, Ximena Dueñas, Cecilia Giambruno, and Angela López “What is not measured cannot be improved. What is not improved, degrades.” Although it sounds simple, this phrase, attributed to the renowned physicist and mathematician William Thomson Kelvin, is key to understanding why educational assessment is so important. If we don't know how much students are … [Read more...] about Evaluate to Transform: How to Improve Our Education by Improving Our Assessments?
Elena Arias Ortiz
Elena Arias Ortiz is a Senior Education Specialist. She joined the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in 2011 as part of the Young Professional Program. Her first rotation was in the Competitiveness and Innovation Division. Since then, she has been part of the Education Division. Before joining the IDB, she previously worked as a consultant for the World Bank, UNDP, and the European Commission. Elena holds a Master Degree in Economic Analysis and a Ph.D. in Economics, both from the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB). Her research focuses mainly on the development of skills and the transition of student to higher education and the workplace and the use of digital tools to improve learning. Her publication record includes international peer-reviewed journals.
Serving Learners Through High-Impact Education Management Information Systems
As the world faces the implications of escalating social, economic, and technological change entering the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the relative strength and capacity of systems to serve learners and learning come into stark focus. Educational institutions and decision-makers bear responsibility for designing robust, well-designed, fit-for-purpose systems to unleash … [Read more...] about Serving Learners Through High-Impact Education Management Information Systems
How to Avoid a Lost Generation: Three Strategies to Combat Pandemic Learning Loss
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused nearly 15 million excess deaths across the globe. Although mortality rates are lowest among children and youth, the young face another emergency: the learning crisis. Around the world, the disruption of education has meant that millions of children have lost the academic learning they would have gained if they had been in the classroom, … [Read more...] about How to Avoid a Lost Generation: Three Strategies to Combat Pandemic Learning Loss
How Should Schools Respond to the COVID-19 Mental Health Crisis?
Although youth tend to have milder symptoms from the COVID-19 virus, the pandemic has brought unprecedented changes and challenges into their lives and particularly their mental health. Pandemic-related school closures have disrupted their learning and isolated them from peers. Many young people have been less physically active, had irregular sleep patterns and … [Read more...] about How Should Schools Respond to the COVID-19 Mental Health Crisis?
Learning Mathematics in the 21st century: Can we add with technology?
Entry by Elena Arias Ortiz, Julian Cristia and Santiago Cueto “On Friday I reached 5,578 points and I managed to get 8 more flags. How many points do you have?” Sebastian asks his little friend. “I only got to 5,300, but I managed to get past Juan and now I'm second!” Ana replies enthusiastically. We might think that this conversation took place on a weekend, between … [Read more...] about Learning Mathematics in the 21st century: Can we add with technology?