The novel coronavirus pandemic brought schools, educational institutions, and universities to a sudden halt. It turned education upside down, ushered in virtual learning, and, in many cases, led teachers to seek their own solutions to help their students get back on track. Despite the countless challenges faced, the post-COVID-19 period has shown that we can do better, and that schools, parents, students, teachers, and society can and must redefine what education means.

“We can emerge from this even stronger if some of the changes we’ve made over the past few months don’t disappear once we return to a semblance of normalcy. At Bett Educar, which fulfills its role of bringing companies in the sector closer to schools and educational institutions, we foster this collaboration to contribute to a higher-quality and more equitable education,” explains Adriana Martinelli, Director of Content at Bett Educar.

To keep the educational community informed about the latest developments in the sector, Bett Educar has held several digital events since the pandemic began. The most recent event, held in May—the 2nd Bett Online Conference—featured more than 25 hours of activities, including lectures, live streams, hands-on learning workshops, and product and service presentations by exhibitors, partners, and sponsors.

In summary, the education sector has identified the key changes, what should be maintained, what is irreversible, and how teachers can continue to teach using active, problem-based or project-based learning methods—with both analog and technological resources—and how to promote their students’ social-emotional development.

The Second Bett Online Conference helped broaden the discussion on pressing issues facing Brazilian education during the pandemic and in the post-pandemic era, showcasing innovations, ideas, methodologies, technologies, and a variety of products and services as educational resources.

Edify Education, a provider of English language educational solutions, presented its new product portfolio at the event, designed for schools, teachers, and students. The company has recently expanded its operations and now offers more than just its bilingual program, incorporating English teacher training, professional development for educators and school administrators, and projects that support bilingual education into its solutions. “Edify works hand in hand with the entire market, constantly developing and fostering new ways to learn and teach English. Not only have we redesigned our bilingual program into three new formats—all of which place the student at the center of the learning process and focus on developing essential skills for today’s and tomorrow’s world—but we’ve also gone a step further by embracing new solutions that support the entire bilingual ecosystem,” says Ana Antônio, Head of Market at Edify Education.

In the same vein—to teach, create, and inspire—Nave à Vela embraces both technological and analog innovations, offering possibilities for a new educational journey through distance learning, hybrid learning, or (when possible) in-person learning. Through its “Maker Culture” initiative—better known as the “Culture of Making”— Nave à Vela introduced Espaço.NAV, a platform for educators, students, and families.

“Maker activities can be conducted in person or remotely, allowing students to create projects and bring ideas to life with their own hands and fostering creativity, using either technological or analog resources. All of NAV’s editorial and digital content is organized in one place, making it easier for educators to plan lessons and monitor students on a daily basis. At the same time, administrators and families have greater insight into students’ engagement and progress with maker activities,” said Stephanie Duarte, Director of Research & Development at Nave à Vela. 

 

Mental Health

In addition to methodologies, technologies, and innovations, Leticia Lyle, academic director of Camino School—a trilingual school that practices active learning—and of Cloe, a digital platform for active learning developed by Camino Education, included topics related to mental health and burnout syndrome in her presentation. “In the talk, I was not only able to discuss the work we do at Camino School, but we also talked about mental health and active learning—a methodology that seeks to understand the best way to place the student at the center of the process of knowing and learning,” Lyle noted. Camino Education is the first Brazilian edtech company to join the World Economic Forum’s Global Innovators community and ranks among the 100 most innovative edtech companies in Latin America, according to the annual 2020 LATAM 100 Edtechs ranking.

Another company offering solutions for bilingual education, AMCO presented the results and challenges of the BNCC amid the pandemic and the demands of the new reality of in-person, hybrid, and remote learning. The company grew out of a school and the challenges faced by teachers and students in learning English. Today, it operates in 1,400 schools across 14 countries in Latin America—including Brazil, Portugal, and Spain—and connects more than 35,000 teachers and 9,000 classrooms.

“We’ve been working hard to establish a foothold in Brazil, navigating all the challenges posed by the BNCC, the pandemic, and the requirements of the Multilingual Education Guidelines. “We’ve noticed that enthusiasm in the sector has grown, especially since our first partner schools achieved their goals in 2020 and recognized the value of this in continuing to grow in 2021 and beyond,” explained Mekler Nunes, Country Manager at AMCO Brazil.

In addition to the virtual booth, SAS Education Platform also brought in experts to discuss hybrid teaching, active learning, tips for conducting dynamic and engaging classes, and the identity of schools in the New High School System. “Even though it was virtual, we were able to connect with school operators and administrators to present our services, unique offerings, and showcase our expertise,” says Idelfrânio Moreira.

 

A tutor for every student

Designed to improve academic performance at schools that need to adapt to the rapid changes of an increasingly digital world, the TutorMundi platform was developed specifically for schools that want to offer personalized, hybrid, and individualized instruction.

For academic support, TutorMundi provides students with instant access to tutors from Brazil’s top universities, whenever they need it. For Rafael Lima, principal of Colégio Fator, which uses the platform, one of the benefits is being able to identify the topics students ask about most often and how long they spend asking questions. “What caught my attention the most was a student who had a question about philosophy and received high-quality tutoring with precise explanations.”

Positivo Tecnologia’s Educational Technology division showcased the new LEGO® BricQ Motion Essential sets at the event—one for 1st- and 2nd-grade students and another for 3rd- through 5th-grade students—which allow students to apply physics concepts while transforming loose, colorful pieces into equipment for Olympic sports. The portfolio also includes Schood, a smart wristband that enhances school safety and streamlines management; the Educational Tables, which aid in literacy and reading skills; Inventura, a comprehensive Education 4.0 program for teaching and learning programming; Aprimora, an adaptive learning ecosystem; and Pense Matemática, which teaches math in a fun way.

Evolucional, an evidence-based education startup, has been using technology to produce practice tests and diagnostic assessments of student performance. According to Vinícius Freaza, managing partner at Evolucional, assessment should help teachers make decisions and adopt an approach that views assessment as a tool for identifying learning needs. “Assessment is one of the most contentious issues in education. If we don’t have a clear understanding of the potential that can be developed based on its results, we run the risk of using it merely to label students, rather than to foster solid, meaningful, and measurable cognitive learning.”

 

Post-pandemic

Hybrid learning will continue to be the norm for a long time to come, and may even remain so indefinitely. It is in this context that the Intellectus Learning Platform was created, tailored to the needs of hybrid learning and based on the premise that knowledge today is accessible in a variety of locations and formats.

The team of experts at Intellectus Teaching Platform has developed a more engaging and efficient learning method in which students go through the Pre-Class stage, which provides context for what will be covered in class; they then move on to the Class—whether in-person or online—having already covered an essential part of the content, thereby preventing the teacher from having to revisit the subject of the previous class; and they complete the cycle with the Post-Class phase—equivalent to traditional homework—during which knowledge is reinforced and any gaps in understanding are filled.

“The digital platforms developed by our team fully integrate in-person and remote learning activities. Students have new ways to engage with the material, acquire knowledge in a more stimulating format, and the classroom becomes an environment for reflection and debate—not just for presenting content,” says Fabio Benites, the platform’s CEO.

Eduinfo was able to align its offering with various themes of the 2nd Bett Online Conference. The company presented a solution for live instruction: the Poly Studio USB, a camera that was already being used in the corporate world for meetings and that was a perfect fit for the current situation. For in-person classes, Eduinfo is investing in technologies such as virtual reality headsets, including Class VR—where teachers can design their lessons for an immersive learning experience—and Space Studio, which focuses on transforming the physical environment of schools through improved design and functionality.

 

Educational Quality

Inspira Rede de Educadores and the A+ Platform discussed the progress and challenges of the sector’s digital and human transformation. During the live stream titled “Strategy for Inorganic Expansion with Schools of Excellence,” the companies highlighted growth and the importance of maintaining educational quality. “The goal was to demonstrate the benefits of joining a network of educators founded on the principles of preserving educational heritage, developing people, and investing in technology,” explained André Aguiar, founder and CEO of Inspira Rede de Educadores.

During the live stream with Alexandre Sayão, CEO of Plataforma A+, the challenges and advancements in technological culture were discussed. “Technology has become essential both inside and outside the classroom and has impacted the entire school community. There’s no denying that technology is education’s main ally in Brazil, and we now have the chance to shed light on the sector’s developments and show that there is still much to be done and how to work toward filling these gaps,” Sayão emphasized. Plataforma A+ is an edtech company that provides administrative departments with access to operational procedures and allows parents to receive information about the school day, announcements, and consolidated data on student performance.

In addition to lectures, live streams, and learning workshops, Bett Educar also features product and service exhibitions at its digital events. The 2nd Bett Online Conference also featured companies recognized for the quality, customer service, and suitability of their products for the education sector.

The Pimpão Group, founded in 1992, presented its line of exclusive, modern products—featuring a distinctive design and in line with global trends in education—which also includes children’s furniture, playgrounds, educational toys, books, laboratory supplies, and educational consulting services.

To support participants in the 2nd Bett Online Conference, the Pimpão Group is launching an exclusive discount and installment plan promotion. Many of our customers are looking for innovative playground solutions. That’s why conference attendees are eligible for a 30% discount, interest-free installment plans of up to 12 payments, and free shipping (see terms and conditions) on our Escalda Planetária Playground. For more information, visit our website or contact us via WhatsApp at 41 9 9954-6869—be sure to mention the code BETTPLAY to take advantage of this offer.

Lenovo has announced LanSchool Air, its cloud-based classroom management software, now available to schools in Brazil. For more than 30 years, LanSchool has been providing its industry-leading classroom management software in the field of educational technology, serving more than 12 million customers in 75 countries.

LanSchool Air helps teachers connect with students in the digital space to create more meaningful experiences online, in the classroom, and remotely. It includes features to help monitor and protect students’ devices, enabling communication, screen sharing, and device management to help guide learning, promote collaboration, and maximize time spent teaching. Key features include screen monitoring, screen blanking, messaging, and push notifications. With LanSchool Air, teachers can increase student engagement, teach digital citizenship, and provide an immersive learning environment.

With over 30 years of experience in the display market, BenQ—the world’s No. 1 brand of DLP projectors and the international authority on interactive displays for education—has introduced a broad portfolio of products and integrated solutions.

Among other products, the 75" 4K Corporate Interactive Display RP7501K, designed to maximize the potential of a meeting room with integrated cloud-based whiteboard features that allow employees to quickly access their materials; the EW800ST Smart Projector, for collaborating with teachers and students who are constantly seeking new ways to make learning more engaging, effective, and fun; and the MW855UST Ultra-Short-Throw Interactive Projector, designed for collaboration and interaction in the classroom.

 

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