Salesian IT staff meet with Google representatives, discuss new technologies

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian St. Gabriel Archangel Province of Chile celebrated IT Day for Salesian Schools on June 11, with representatives from the network of Salesian schools in Chile meeting at the Google office, located in Titanium Park in Las Condes, near Santiago.

Daniel Lagarini, head of the educational ecosystem at Google, welcomed the Salesian IT professionals. He said, “We believe that schools must have access to tools, which must derive from progressive work and their design towards the future.” He presented new tools and new features, including Gemini Artificial Intelligence, interactive questions on YouTube and the availability of the Read Along app within the Classroom platform to help students learn the English language.

Cristián Flores and Daniel Méndez, IT teachers from the Salesian Institute in Concepción, explained the digital transformation undertaken by the school that allowed them to become a Google Reference School, the only one of its kind in the country. The school developed a digital work culture that allows the appreciation of technological skills, guarantees equal opportunities by reducing the digital gap in access to and efficient use of technology, and improves student learning.

The school started the project in 2019, getting 113 certified educators at level one and 25 at level two. It currently has more than a thousand Chromebook computers and a Google laboratory that improves the use of technological tools.

Salesian teachers also held a variety of other workshops focused on IT efforts and the roles of an IT teacher. In addition, Tomislav Goic, an IT teacher from the Salesian school in Puerto Natales, held a workshop via videoconference on a networked development system on the following day.

Salesian missionaries provide education and social development programs for poor youth in Chile. Once finished with primary and secondary school, students can advance for higher education. Salesian technical schools cater to students who have dropped out of school and are seeking a second chance. In many programs, students complete their education while engaging in internships with local employers. This increases the students’ hands-on work experience and ability to gain livable wage employment after their studies are completed.

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ANS – Chile – Salesian Schools IT Day: Salesians and Google, united to promote the digital transformation of education

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