Research Spotlights

Research Spotlight pieces are written by various contributing authors and reviewed by two academics in the EdTech field: Dr. Helen Crompton, Associate Professor of Instructional Technology Director of the Virtual Reality Lab and Director of the Technology Enhanced Learning Lab (TELL) at Old Dominion University and John Traxler, FRSA, Professor of Digital Learning in the Institute of Education at the University of Wolverhampton. Both Dr. Crompton and Professor Traxler are members of the mEducation Alliance. If you are interested in submitting a research activity to highlight in a future mEducation Alliance publication, please fill out this form.

Learning from Crisis in Venezuelan Education

Written by: Lyssa Bevan, M.A. International Education & Development

Images from Prensa Venezolana de Television, VTV and REUTERS, Albert Gea

Professor Sandra Leal Huise, an education researcher with the Simón Bolívar University, is leading an initiative to organize education information produced in response to the COVID-19 quarantine in Venezuela.  While a large volume of information regarding education during quarantine has been produced quickly, it is often shared by a variety of sources in an unstructured and disorderly fashion.  This may leave recipients confused or overwhelmed regarding what reliable resources are available for improving educational endeavors.  Consequently, distance education has experienced rejection and destructive criticism that could impact the long-term education opportunities of Venezuelan citizens. Professor Leal is analyzing such information to generate recommendations and proposals that could help to counter destructive misinformation in education.

Issues that have existed in education for years  have become more evident during quarantine, as misinformation complicates the significant challenges already endemic to distance education.  With deep concern for the crisis being faced, one of the primary goals of this initiative is to identify lessons learned to begin generating the necessary information to support educators and educational managers in decision-making in the education field both now and in the future. 

Professor Leal  is managing data in an organized and meaningful way. The information accumulated, during implementation of distance education during the quarantine, is being analyzed and classified in four main themes of interest. The first theme is related to television programs produced by the Ministry of Education of Venezuela.  The second consists of school tasks designed by educational institutions for the support of students in Primary, General Middle, or Baccalaureate Education.  The third addresses difficulties in the 2019-2020 end of year coordination.  The final theme identifies “Virtuous Experiences”, or constructive educational practices that result from responsibly planned and creative teaching work.  Using a variety of evidence sources in these four thematic blocks, analysis on educational institutions, student learning, and immediate educational future is being conducted with the intent to produce recommendations and proposals through articles made publicly available.  Five of these articles have already been published in the Digital Newspaper, PLUMA, of the Monteávila University (see publications below for access). 

For more details: 

Website:  PLUMA Digital Newspaper, Monteávila University 

Publications:
Leal, S. (Apr, 2020). Reflexiones educativas sobre «Cada Familia una Escuela». PLUMA. Retrieved from https://uma.edu.ve/periodico/2020/04/21/reflexiones-educativas-sobre-cada-familia-una-escuela/
Leal, S., Bong, S. (May, 2020). Reflexiones Educativas: ¿Cómo terminar el año escolar eficientemente? PLUMA. Retrieved from https://uma.edu.ve/periodico/2020/04/28/r/
Leal, S. (May, 2020). Reflexiones educativas: finalización del año escolar 2019-2020. PLUMA. Retrieved from https://uma.edu.ve/periodico/2020/05/05/reflexiones-educativas-finalizacion-del-ano-escolar-2019-2020/
Leal, S. (May, 2020). PLUMA. Reflexiones educativas; experiencias virtuosas durante la cuarentena. PLUMA. Retrieved from https://uma.edu.ve/periodico/2020/05/14/reflexiones-educativas-experiencias-virtuosas-durante-la-cuarentena/
Leal, S. (May, 2020). Reflexiones Educativas: ¿Cómo terminar el año escolar eficientemente? PLUMA. Retrieved from https://uma.edu.ve/periodico/2020/05/28/reflexiones-educativas-como-terminar-el-ano-escolar-eficientemente/ 

Researcher name: Professor Sandra Leal Huise
Researcher email: [email protected] or [email protected]

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Jax Chaudhry

Jax Chaudhry leads Project Invent, a national nonprofit that empowers youth with future ready mindsets for individual success and global impact, through invention. Originally from the Southside of Chicago, Jax loves working with students, families and partners to ensure every student can attain success as they define it. For more than 10 years, she has worked with elementary schools, high schools, education nonprofits and led regional teams and operations to ensure student success.

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Kenneth Y T Lim

Kenneth Y T Lim operates at the intersection of neuroergonomics, the learning sciences, and cognitive psychology. In 2023, he and his team were identified by UNESCO to share their work on the affordances of Generative AI for meaningful teaching and learning, during UNESCO’s first annual flagship event Digital Learning Week, international forum on the implications of Generative AI for education, in the session on ‘Preparing students and teachers for responsible use of AI’.