São Paulo, May 11, 2022.

Distance learning came into the spotlight and proved its importance during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Through the internet, teachers and students were able to connect and continue the school year, even amid challenges. Now, with in-person classes resuming, schools are seeking new methodologies and technologies to enhance teaching and keep teachers and students motivated. The metaverse, virtual reality, robotics, and gamification are some of the examples presented at Bett Brasil 2022 as the latest resources for education.

The education startup is launching the Tindin Metaverse, an interactive and immersive learning environment where students can attend online classes, access multidisciplinary content, and make decisions that simulate various aspects of life, such as finance, sustainability, and citizenship. The decisions students make in this digital environment are directly linked to other players, fostering collaborative actions that impact the entire social ecosystem.

According to Eduardo Schoroder, CEO of Tindin, more than 1,200 schools across the country are already using the resource. “The idea behind this project is to promote the self-directed learning and flipped classroom models. Students explore the game at home and then bring their questions to the classroom. In addition, this tool is socio-educational and facilitates the setting of goals linked to the UN’s SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).”

Still on the topic of the metaverse, the AZ Learning platform, from the Conexia Educação brand, is showcasing AZVerso at its booth—an immersive experience that offers visitors a fun, bilingual learning experience, combining sports, art, and sustainability.

“Attending Bett Brasil 2022 in person marks a new chapter in post-pandemic education and symbolizes just how much the AZ Platform can contribute to the future of education. We’ve brought innovative educational solutions that use technology to enhance learning for students across Brazil—solutions that schools can use in their day-to-day operations—and we’ve also presented a vision of what education will look like in 5, 10, or 20 years, with our own version of the Metaverse, the AZVerso,” said Sandro Bonás, CEO of Conexia Educação.

Another technological solution highlighted at the event is from Somos Educação. Science in Learning is a resource that combines technology and neuroscience to understand the factors that influence learning and, in turn, propose solutions based on scientific evidence. It consists of a headband with sensors that, when placed on the student’s head, can measure concentration. The teacher can tell if a student is losing focus through the indicator lights that illuminate on the headband. If the student’s concentration is found to be dropping, the teacher can adjust the lesson’s approach and topic. 

Meanwhile, the edtech company Codex, which is participating in the event for the first time, brought a technological innovation to the fair designed primarily for public schools. Index is a school management platform that can track the arrival of students, teachers, and staff at the school, as well as monitor body temperature and record the meals served, ensuring quality and quantity control. The tool plays an important role in tracking student activities at school and combating food waste, since the person in charge of school meals receives the exact number of students who attended school each day. “We chose Bett Brasil to launch Index, and we’re very surprised by the high number of visitors at the fair. We’ve already made many promising contacts,” commented Codex founder Eline Vignoli. 

At the Maker Educação e Tecnologia Group’s booth, visitors can explore various robotics models and other educational technologies. The company provides services to more than 3,000 public and private schools through technology development kits that train teachers to instruct students on how to assemble robots or systems. The products are recommended for children ages three and up and support students’ development through high school, fostering creativity, cooperation, and organization. “The top-ranked schools in PISA are those that incorporate robotics; this is essential for learning. What sets us apart is that we train teachers to teach how to assemble and disassemble the products, thereby making the most of and enhancing the skills of the school’s teaching staff,” says Odair Fastroni, the company’s business manager.

The SAS Education Platform brought a space to Bett Brasil that invites the public to delve deeper into teaching practices for early childhood, elementary, and high school education through programs displayed on screens at the booth. “First, it’s very important for us to be back and to have this sense of reconnection, even though the pandemic isn’t over yet. It’s been very productive for us—the schools were eagerly awaiting the event. The impression is that many exhibitors are showcasing new products, and Bett Brasil 2022 is the hot topic of the moment. At the SAS booth, we’re focused on the return to in-person classes and hosting talks on social-emotional learning, the mental health of students and teachers, and other topics related to the evolution and modernization of basic education,” says Ademar Celedônio, director of Teaching and Educational Innovations at SAS.

Mental Health Promotion in Schools

Mental health, one of the main themes of this year’s Bett Brasil Conference, was the subject of a panel discussion featuring psychiatrist Dr. Gustavo Estanislau and Dr. Fernando Louzada, a professor in the Department of Physiology at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), with Celso Niskier, CEO of the Brazilian Association of Higher Education Institutions (ABMES), serving as moderator.

The speakers discussed how mental health is an urgent issue that requires the attention of school administrators, particularly given the scale and consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. Estanislau pointed out that the amygdala plays a central role in understanding our reactions to major changes in routine, such as those experienced during this pandemic. “The amygdalae act like radars that go on high alert in response to stimuli around us and send these signals in the form of emotions such as anxiety, fear, and sadness,” explained the psychiatrist.

According to him, we can identify these triggers and reduce the most harmful and unnecessary ones. “The amygdalae are part of our body, so exercising, eating a balanced diet, and getting quality sleep are simple steps that help reduce the impact of these feelings of anxiety, for example.”

For children and adolescents, Estanislau believes that returning to the classroom in the current context is a new experience. “We have to reach out to them and gently reintroduce students to the school routine,” he said.

Louzada spoke about his area of expertise, which is neurodevelopment, and how mental health should be addressed in schools. “School is the primary setting for promoting mental health. It is important that teachers and administrators be prepared to address this issue,” he said. He listed several measures that support mental health promotion in schools, such as a suitable sports court for physical education classes, access to natural environments, interaction among classes, and limiting screen time. “We’ve returned to the classroom with all the lessons learned from hybrid learning, but we haven’t made the schedule more flexible, for example. Class starts at 7 a.m. as usual,” he noted.

In closing, the teacher emphasized that students’ mental health is directly linked to teachers’ mental health. This means, among other initiatives, recognizing the value of their work and providing adequate compensation.” 

Innovation in Higher Education - Administrators' Forum

"Innovation in Higher Education" was one of the panel discussions at the Bett Brasil Administrators' Forum. Vera Cabral, Director of Education Development for Microsoft Brazil and Latin America, moderated the session, which featured Celso Niskier, CEO of the Brazilian Association of Higher Education Institutions (ABMES), and Flavio Murilo de Gouvêa, National Director of Education at Ydugs.

The panelists highlighted the pandemic’s impact on distance learning technology, the effect of the economic crisis, changes in public funding programs, and the new methodologies demanded by the market. “There is no denying the acceleration that remote learning has experienced due to the pandemic. Education used to be resistant to distance-learning technologies, but that is no longer the case. Today, this type of learning transcends educational settings and can offer people better time management and a higher quality of life,” explains Vera Cabral.

The CEO of ABMES cited the events that have most affected the sector. “We’ve been facing challenges since 2017. First, an economic crisis; then, significant changes to the FIES program; and shortly after, the pandemic. However, even in the midst of these challenges, we were able to see the power and potential of technology.” The CEO also presented the hybrid quadrant system as a tool for innovation. The technique consists of asynchronous in-person, synchronous in-person, asynchronous virtual, and synchronous virtual learning approaches. According to the speaker, the most important thing is to work on all fronts and provide learning options for the new generation, which is known for its affinity for technology. “The virtual approach is one quadrant, but it shouldn’t be the only one. What matters most is the variety among them and the diverse ways of working. Young people of this generation are highly connected and have the independence to choose what they want; it’s up to us to provide the options."

Flávio Murilo points out that, until the start of the pandemic, the classroom was a static environment that required more attention. “We need to explore a methodological revolution. Students today are willing to come to campus two to three times a week. Issues such as commuting, costs, and time are common obstacles that need to be overcome through distance learning technology. Until the pandemic, we were using innovations in everything except education. The classroom was still a relic of the past, so the time for change has come.”

Transformative Teacher Award - Another highlight of Bett Brasil was the announcement of the winners of the Transformative Teacher Award. The results were revealed by Professor Wellington Cruz, president of the Significare Institute, and Adriana Martinelli, Director of Content at Bett Brasil. The Institute and Bett Brasil are partners in promoting the award, which aims to recognize educators and promote transformative projects implemented in K-12 education.

“The common thread we see among the 12 finalist projects is a commitment to students, the community, and the planet. There’s a very clear connection between teachers and students,” Cruz noted. “It’s been two years since we’ve had the physical presence of Bett Brasil. We’ve continued online, but human beings are social by nature. It’s as if this were the first edition of the event,” emphasized Adriana, who also revealed that the third edition of the Award, featuring new elements, will be launched soon.

The first-place winners by category were as follows: Andrea Lange, from Joaçaba (SC), with the project: “You and Me: In Our World, Our Differences Make Us Equal” (Early Childhood Education); Karina Letícia Júlio Pinto, from Timóteo (MG), with the project: “Youth Chamber 2019” (Elementary School, Grades 1–5); Celiana Mota Rodrigues, from Brasília (DF), with the project “Desiderata” (Upper Elementary School); and Renato Nunes Ramalho, from Cajazeiras (PB), with the project: “Reuse of Rainwater and Ash in Schools in the Paraíba Semi-Arid Region” (High School).

The awards ceremony featured DJ and activist Rivkah, who, at just 14 years old, is the youngest electronic music producer on the planet. Rivkah performed for the audience and spoke about education for Generation Z. She cited a Stanford University study that revealed that 80% of young people cannot tell whether a source is reliable or not. “Generation Z is digitally native. We receive an abundance of information every day and need to learn how to research, verify, interpret, and use that information. We have to learn how to learn and take charge of our own learning,” said Rivkah.

Bett Brasil continues through Friday, the 13th, at the Transamérica Expo Center.

Event: Bett Brasil 2022

Date: May 10–13, 2022.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Location/Address: Transamerica Expo Center (Av. Dr. Mário Vilas Boas Rodrigues, 387 - Santo Amaro - São Paulo, SP).

Official Website: https://brasil.bettshow.com/home

About Bett Brasil

Bett Brasil is the largest education and technology event in Latin America. It is part of the global Bett Show series organized by the Hyve Group, one of the world’s leading organizers of events considered industry benchmarks. Bett aims to inspire and discuss the future of the sector and the role of technology and innovation in the education of educators and students.

About Hyve Group

The Hyve Group was founded in 1991 and is now one of the world’s leading organizers of international trade shows, conferences, and events. The Hyve Group’s primary strategic vision is to build a global portfolio of events grounded in high-quality content, delivering an excellent experience and ROI (return on investment) to its clients. Hyve strives to deliver the best services to clients worldwide, regardless of location. It places exhibitors and visitors at the center of its efforts and drives sustainable growth for its investors. Hyve Group is a publicly traded company that has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1998.

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