Although it is not a new concept—after all, it has been around since the 1950s—the Artificial Intelligence has gained more prominence over the past year. This is because the technology has now become generative—that is, it operates based on a database and can predict patterns, providing quick and accurate responses. The rise in popularity of ChatGPT has sparked a debate in the educational community about the role of technology in teaching and how this type of innovation impacts learning. The topic was chosen for the first lecture at Bett Brasil 2023, which began this Tuesday (9) in São Paulo.

At a special panel hosted by Microsoft, a global partner of Bett, experts presented the various ways in which Artificial Intelligence can be integrated into the school curriculum. “Artificial Intelligence is disruptive; it no longer allows things to be done the way they used to be. We need to transform,” emphasizes Vera Cabral, a director at Microsoft and moderator of the panel “ChatGPT and OpenAI—The Transformation of Education Is Now Inevitable.” 

During the meeting, Silvia Scuracchio, educational director and head of innovation at Escola Bosque, presented the school’s success stories regarding the use of technology. The school uses AI across various platforms that serve as learning accelerators. She cites, among other examples, advanced reading programs, a speech coach, reading fluency tools, and an image generator. 

“We have several solutions that make learning more seamless—for example, Speaker Coach, which is an artificial intelligence program that evaluates intonation, rhythm, clarity, and word difficulty, directly contributing to the improvement of writing and public speaking. Just as technology makes our daily lives easier, it can also make teaching easier,” Silvia points out. 

Another point emphasized by the speakers is the need to teach students what questions to ask in order to get better search results. In addition, tools like these promote student autonomy and stimulate curiosity. “The concept the company has developed today is that we are no longer users, but pilots and co-pilots. The focus is on using Artificial Intelligence to achieve 100% utilization of platforms and software that we do not know how to operate to their full potential,” explains Ricardo Wagner, director of marketing and operations at Microsoft, as he introduced Microsoft 365 Copilot to the audience.

When asked about the role of the teacher, the speakers were emphatic: there is no substitute for the teacher, but there are tools that can facilitate the process. “The teacher’s role is to educate with a critical eye, to analyze, to make comparisons, and to use activities that blend traditional teaching with technology. The use of Artificial Intelligence should be an integral part of teaching,” Scuracchio emphasizes. Vera Cabral added: “We shouldn’t be afraid; we should embrace change. Technology isn’t the enemy—it’s an ally.” 

New High School

One of the most recurring topics in the field of education today revolves around the New High School System. The subject was addressed during the first day of the Bett Brasil 2023 Conference. The president of the Brazilian Association for Educational Assessment (ABAVE), Maria Helena Guimarães de Castro, explained the history of the initiative, from the initial debates in 2003 about the idea of structuring a New High School System (NEM)—noting that Brazil is the only country in the world where high school education is rigidly standardized and identical for everyone—through to the implementation of the NEM last year.

In her view, the biggest obstacle to implementing the NEM at present was the lack of national coordination regarding the proposals and the failure of the Ministry of Education (MEC) under the previous administration to finalize the ENEM (National High School Exam) model by the end of 2021. “A complete repeal of the NEM is out of the question because it is already being implemented nationwide. Now, it is important that the current MEC is open to discussions on improving the NEM,” said Maria Helena.  

Katia Smole, executive director of the Reúna Institute, commented that Brazil does not have a tradition of implementing disruptive educational reforms such as the NEM, one of whose most important features is its focus on young people by allowing them to plan their life paths with the school’s support. She points out that establishing a “school of choice” that offers different educational pathways in the four areas of knowledge, in vocational education, and in elective courses is an aspect that cannot be altered. However, a more effective and coordinated implementation plan needs to be defined for the country. “Initial and continuing teacher training to prepare them for this ‘school of choice’ is also essential,” Katia emphasized. 

Also on the panel, Maria Inês Fini, educational director and president of EDUCARE and the National Association for Hybrid Basic Education (ANEBHI), added that the National Common Core Curriculum (BNCC) is a set of guidelines that allows for a broad spectrum of options in organizing the NEM’s educational pathways. Regarding the ENEM model, she advocates for an integrated first-phase exam covering core subjects and a common core track for the second phase. “All that’s left is to do it, because as we already know!” concluded Fini.

Mindfulness for Educators

A career in teaching ranks among the 10 most stressful professions in the world, given the responsibilities and scope of the work involved. With this in mind, Bett Brasil has organized a special panel discussion on educators’ mental health for its 2023 edition. 

Daniela Degani, founder of MindKids, and Sandra Regina de Almeida Moura, Tarumã’s Secretary of Education, shared with the audience a case study from the municipality, which has a public school system serving 2,200 students and employing 120 teachers. “We need to take care of teachers so they can take care of students,” Daniela emphasized.

According to the secretary of education, the idea to implement the method came from a lecture she attended at a previous edition of Bett Brasil. “It’s worth noting the wealth of content at the event. That’s where I met Daniela, and we decided to launch the project in my city—it went very well and is now a success,” explains Sandra.

The mindfulness method promotes concentration and better control of emotions. Daniela explains to the audience that the technique is now an effective practice recognized by the scientific community. “People often associate meditation with religious practices, but it goes beyond that. Today, we have scientific studies that prove its beneficial effects directly on the cerebral cortex, which promotes focus, concentration, and an understanding of emotions.”

Inspiring Talks 

To wrap up the day, Bett Brasil presented a series of inspiring talks featuring leading figures in the field of education. Among them was journalist Iberê Thenório, creator of the “Manual do Mundo” YouTube channel. “In 2018, I made a crazy promise to build a submarine within a year,” said Thenório. He recounted the entire research process leading up to the construction, which raised many questions—such as choosing a material strong enough to withstand water pressure and building a full-scale prototype out of cardboard and hot glue to calculate the confined space.

The vessel’s design took four years to complete and was tested in the waters off Paraty, in Rio de Janeiro, in September 2021. “We dove three times for 12 minutes each, and everything went smoothly—except for a leak in my helmet.” The journalist drew a parallel between the entire experience and the maker culture, explaining that completing the submarine’s construction wasn’t the best outcome achieved—rather, it was the four years of shared learning about various real-world applications of physics. “We spend years in classrooms preparing for the future, and that learning process needs to be fun. After all, those are the best years of your life,” he concluded. 

Human emotions and their connection to advances in artificial intelligence were the focus of the talk given by Rossandro Klinjey, co-founder and ambassador of Educa. The expert addressed the need for self-awareness in order to make good use of technology. “Imagine that a single unit of Artificial Intelligence is equivalent to millions of human beings. It is the greatest disruption in history, which is why we need to know ourselves well in order to harness the best—and not the worst—of this technology,” he explains.

Rossandro prompted educators to reflect: “How have I been managing my emotional life? Am I in touch with myself?” At the time, he warned everyone about the dangers of autopilot. “Today we see many cases of burnout, families without support, and people who give up on life. All of this in a hyper-technological world, through which we often navigate on autopilot. It’s important to remember: all the answers lie within ourselves, and we have to be careful, because it’s very easy to lose sight of who we are.”

The series of inspirational talks also featured Tião Rocha, CEO of CPCD—the Popular Center for Culture and Development—who spoke about schools as learning communities; Meanwhile, “Parameters of the New Global Intelligence: Artificial & Emotional Together—How to Make the Most of This Combination!” was the topic of the lecture by Emilio Munaro, vice president of Anebhi—the National Association of Hybrid Education. Dado Schneider, who holds a Ph.D. in Communication from PUC-RS and is a specialist in Generation Z, addressed the topic “The future has changed… right when it’s my turn.” Meanwhile, Luciano Meira, Science and Innovation Coordinator at Proz Educação, spoke about small changes leading to major transformations in the field of education. 

Bett Brasil runs through Friday (the 12th) at the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo. Those interested in visiting the trade show can register for free directly at the event.

Bett Brasil 2023

Date: May 9–12
Location: Transamerica Expo Center (São Paulo).
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Website:Bett Brasil
Full Schedule:Click here

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.

Press Information:

Communication Collective

Valeria Bursztein
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Arucha Fernandes
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Berlitz Communication 

Ricardo Berlitz
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