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?
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.
Learning for life: Socio-emotional skills to face the new normal
The social isolation caused by school closures due to COVID-19 could have devastating consequences for children and adolescents and puts their mental health and their socio-emotional and cognitive development at risk. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of having socio-emotional skills such as adaptability, empathy and stress management, which are key for facing the … [Read more...] about Learning for life: Socio-emotional skills to face the new normal
From distance to hybrid education: 4 key elements to make it happen
Entry by Elena Arias Ortiz, Andrea Bergamaschi, Marcelo Pérez Alfaro, Madiery Vásquez and Miguel Brechner. The prolonged closure of schools during COVID-19 has been a challenge for students, teachers, and parents. Today many countries are planning to reopen schools in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), and social distancing measures make it very likely that … [Read more...] about From distance to hybrid education: 4 key elements to make it happen
COVID-19 and the gamble on homeschooling: Will it work for all?
No classes, no teachers, no friends, no games, and no daily routine that children are used to. Now all the days seem the same. The health crisis has significantly changed our day to day. This has been a radical change for all students of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), not only being inside all day long but trying to learn from somewhere other than school. Across the … [Read more...] about COVID-19 and the gamble on homeschooling: Will it work for all?
School closures: the challenge that COVID-19 has imposed on the educational systems of Latin America and the Caribbean
Rosita looks through the window of her house in Guayaquil and remembers her school, her teacher, and her classmates. She does not understand why she can no longer go out to play with her friends in the neighborhood or visit her grandmother, nor why her father has not come to visit her in almost a month. Her mother has told her she needs to study and do homework following … [Read more...] about School closures: the challenge that COVID-19 has imposed on the educational systems of Latin America and the Caribbean