Guest speaker at the Bett Nordeste Conference, which will take place on August 27 and 28 in Recife (PE), Cris Sanches, Head of Innovation and Educational Technology at YDUQS, participated in the Bett Connection to share her thoughts on the role of imagination, authorship, and innovation in transforming teaching practices.

Throughout the conversation, Cris argued that a more collaborative approach—one that is sensitive to the realities of students and teachers—is essential as a starting point for a more meaningful education.

“I realized that if technology is used merely as a gimmick, as a passing fad, without any connection to learning, it loses its meaning. Creativity, to me, is about generating ideas—and that starts with co-creation with students. There’s no point in designing a perfect project if it doesn’t make sense to those who are learning. We need to listen to students, understand their local realities, and create together,” he said.

According to Cris, active teaching methods help foster this type of inventive learning. “To develop knowledge and creativity, educators should consider teaching methods linked to design thinking (problem-solving) and project-based learning. This is what will encourage students to think outside the box, while always taking constraints into account.” In her view, by presenting real-world challenges with limited resources, students’ creative thinking is strengthened.

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In addition to creativity, Cris emphasized the importance of active listening—to students, teachers, and administrators alike. “We need to listen to what teachers need to put an innovative project into practice, understand what motivates students, and what administrators need to support this initiative. If a teacher is enthusiastic but lacks support from administrators and families, or if the project doesn’t make sense to the students, it’s unlikely to work. Education is a collective endeavor. And although much of it may seem new, practices such as project-based learning have actually been around for decades. The challenge is to truly integrate them into the day-to-day classroom environment,” she noted.

She also drew attention to the challenges faced by educators in the face of pressure from families and traditional assessment models.

“Teaching is one of the most challenging professions there is. Since we’ve all been to school, we think we understand education. Families often don’t understand more innovative approaches, such as interdisciplinary projects, and feel uncertain: ‘Will this be on the ENEM?’”

Cris emphasized that the process of more creative learning depends on a partnership between administrators, teachers, families, and students.

And how can we transform this school culture to foster more creative learning? Cris points out that transformation in schools requires small steps, not major revolutions. “What can you (as an educator) do differently in that 50-minute class? What small challenge can you set for students to solve within that time? It’s these small steps that build something greater over time,” she said.

See also:

• Challenges and Opportunities of AI in Education
• Bett UK 2026 Delegation: Registration Open for an Educational Immersion Program in London
• Neuroethics, neurorights, and digital citizenship: the next step in education

Bett Northeast Conference

At the Bett Nordeste Conference, Cris will participate in the panel “Creating Is Part of Learning: When Imagination Changes School Dynamics, ” on August 28, alongside Manu Bezerra, a Learning Experience Designer and graduate professor of Creative Education at PUC Minas, with Nicollas Freitas, Coordinator of Educational Projects and Solutions at CESAR School, serving as moderator.

“My hope for the conference is to hear what went wrong. Because what went wrong for one person can go wrong for many, and we learn together. And I also want to talk about the courage it takes to take that first step. Because no one chooses a career in education just to do more of the same. Sometimes there’s a lack of support or opportunity. And my message will also be to say: you’re not alone,” Cris concluded.

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