In his view, the key is for every instructor and every student to “choose the best tool based on their needs and context.” “Digital technology is useful and essential; no one disputes that. However, we can’t take a deterministic view. Not everything has to be digital—many things should be, but others shouldn’t,” he stated.
https://youtu.be/B-WgKunTqgo
In addition to outlining some key strategies for incorporating digital tools in a sensible way, Rivera reflected on the main educational challenges in the post-COVID-19 era. While he noted that the pandemic taught us many lessons—since an “avalanche of changes” was implemented to ensure the continuity of schooling—it also “exacerbated social disparities and once again gave schools a dominant role that they shouldn’t have.”
Rivera therefore stated that it is essential to “rediscover the purpose of school.” In other words, to equip students with “skills and knowledge so they can integrate into the society in which they live.” “It’s not about food, it’s not about transportation, it’s not about healthcare,” he clarified, noting that the pandemic “highlighted how many countries relied on schools to fulfill that role.”
But in this new landscape, what is the role of teachers? “Teachers need to realize that they are no longer the center of the educational experience,” he replied. He immediately added: “We used to teach; now we guide.” The key lies in becoming individuals who guide students’ learning processes, rather than being solely responsible for imparting all the knowledge.
“Today, teachers must be able not only to design their own curriculum and choose which tools to use—whether analog or digital—but also to motivate students to shape their own futures,” he concluded.