Inter-American Observatory on Catholic Education -Some interesting facts-
The Inter-American Confederation of Catholic Education is a non-profit organization made up of 23 member countries, with headquarters in Brussels, which maintains permanent relations with international educational and educational-pastoral organizations.
Its mission is to encourage the evangelization of the peoples of America through education, to disseminate and defend the great principles concerning the organization and orientation of Catholic education, and to promote communion and solidarity among its members.
The Inter-American Observatory of Catholic Education is a program that studies, researches, reflects and provides accompaniment and training on topics that contribute to and qualify Catholic Education in America, and its main objective is to promote and lead the reflection of Catholic Education in America to respond with relevance to the educational challenges of today.
The observatory is organized into five main areas: 1) spirituality and educational pastoral care; 2) pedagogy and innovation; 3) family and school; 4) Catholic school and care for the common home; 5) school religious education.
CIEC also has its own magazine: "Revista Educación Hoy".
Summary of selected articles (to view the article in its original site, click on the title).
Educating for sustainable development [Revista Educación Hoy]
The document addresses the importance of education in creating a sustainable future. It explores issues such as the incorporation of sustainability in the educational curriculum, the training of teachers in sustainable practices, and the implementation of projects and activities that promote environmental awareness among students. The central idea is that education plays a crucial role in the development of a more just and sustainable society, empowering young people to face the environmental and social challenges of the future.
Learning to be brothers and sisters [Revista Educación Hoy]
The text focuses on education and the development of values to promote coexistence and brotherhood among individuals. It explores how education can foster respect, empathy and solidarity from an early age, and how these qualities are essential to build more just and peaceful societies. It discusses pedagogical strategies and practical activities that educators can implement to instill these values in their students. The main idea is that, by learning to see each other as brothers and sisters, we can work together to overcome the divisions and conflicts we face in society.
Bible and School. CIEC Collection No. 8.
The magazine includes short contributions on topics such as “Pedagogical and didactic keys to working with the Bible at school”, “The pedagogy of God: an education for freedom”, “Jesus, teacher and his pedagogy”, “Listening to today's children and young people: contributions from the Holy Scriptures”, ‘Curriculum and gospel: keys to the evangelization of the curriculum’, ‘Word, family and school: a complementary relationship’, ‘Educational management and leadership’, ‘Challenges for the Catholic School today’, among others.
What should we do to improve our lives and make them better?
The article entitled presents a reflection by Pope Francis on how to renew our lives and improve them. In his homily, Pope Francis talks about the importance of approaching God with sincerity and humility, admitting our sins and seeking justice and honesty in our actions. The article highlights two ways of waiting for the Messiah: the distrustful wait, full of anxiety and suspicion, and the joyful wait, which brings peace and hope. Pope Francis encourages the faithful to ask themselves sincerely “what should we do?”, and to prepare their hearts for Christmas and the arrival of Christ.
These documentaries help to work on Human Rights in Secondary School.
The importance of educating students about human rights is emphasized. With references to several documentaries that are useful for working on these issues in secondary school, promoting values such as respect, empathy and equality. Among the documentaries highlighted are: “Born in Gaza”: produced by Olmo Figueredo, Jon Sistiaga and the singer Bebe, this documentary gathers testimonies of children affected by the Israeli attack on Gaza in 2014. “Después de las ocho” (After Eight): directed by Carlos Juan Martínez, it shows the persecution of the migrant population in El Ejido (Almería) and the racism promoted by the Spanish far right. “La desidia afgana” (Afghan Indifference), directed by Pilar Requena, is part of the documentary series ‘Mujeres en Acción. Mundos huérfanos’ (Women in Action. Orphan Worlds), which focuses on the experiences of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. These documentaries provide an essential context for understanding current situations and promote reflection and learning about human rights among students.
An intelligent assistant for students to learn to read.
The article presents a new tool called Guided Reading available on Google Classroom. This tool uses artificial intelligence to help students improve their reading skills in an independent and personalized way. The tool includes Diya, a virtual character who assists students while they read aloud, resolving doubts about pronunciation and word meaning. Teachers can obtain data about their students' progress, including accuracy, reading speed and comprehension, allowing them to adjust their teaching approach according to individual needs.
The author, Andrés García Barrios, comments that human beings are born with vulnerabilities and disadvantages inherent to our human condition, a condition that has been the subject of philosophical reflection since ancient times. The article emphasizes that education should be a tool for generating hope, not just superficial optimism, but a real capacity to take risks and grow. Pope Francis is also mentioned, emphasizing that education is an act of giving life and growth, and that educators must be loving and attentive to listening to young people. In short, the article emphasizes the need to humanize education and foster a culture of dialogue and the search for truth, especially in a world full of challenges such as violence, poverty and discrimination.
Almost half of children under 5 use a cell phone or tablet on a daily basis.
The study highlights research carried out by specialists from the Isabel I University, which reveals that approximately 44.7% of children under the age of 5 in Spain use smartphones or tablets on a daily basis. The study, based on a survey of 410 parents, shows that the average time of use is 30 minutes per device per day. It was also observed that 12.2% of children access these devices within 30 minutes of waking up and 14% use them up to an hour before going to sleep. María Cerrato Lara, one of the researchers, warns that the use of screens at these times can affect children's sleep and emotional and cognitive development. Furthermore, 75.4% of children use video applications and 36.1% of parents have applications dedicated to entertainment or education. The article stresses the importance of promoting a healthier use of screens and suggests that health professionals, especially nurses in Primary Care, could play a fundamental role in educating families about the responsible use of devices.
7 keys to making a school a family.
This article offers seven essential strategies for strengthening the educational community and creating a family environment in the school. Some of the keys mentioned by its author, Javier Luna, are: 1) Affection: show affection and selfless love towards students and their families. 2) Commitment: establish a common educational project and defend it together. 3) Training: continue learning and improving as educators. 4) Trust: create an environment of trust and sincerity. 5) Unity: promote unity and collaboration among all members of the educational community. 6) Forgiveness: practice forgiveness and empathy in daily relationships. 7) Values: teach and live by values such as justice, honesty and humility.
What is equitable sustainability?
It addresses the importance of integrating social justice into environmental strategies. It is important to understand that equitable sustainability is not only about reducing emissions or protecting ecosystems, but also about ensuring that these efforts benefit all communities equally. The article highlights that developing nations, although they contribute less to climate change, tend to suffer its most severe impacts, such as floods, droughts and forced displacement. To promote a just transition to sustainable systems, it is essential to invest in accessible renewable energy and provide training for vulnerable communities.
Reflections on Spiritual Intelligence and Education. A Theological-Historical Perspective.
The article explores the concept of spiritual intelligence from a theological and historical perspective. The Catalan theologian and philosopher Francesc Torralba presents a paper entitled “Spiritual Intelligence: Openness and Giving”, which serves as the basis for the article. He reflects on the difference between “knowing about spirituality” and “exercising spiritual intelligence”. While the former refers to the accumulation of knowledge about the Spirit, the latter implies a continuous and disciplined practice to develop true spiritual intelligence. In addition, it discusses how secularization has affected the perception and practice of spirituality in society, and how education can play a crucial role in promoting a deeper and more authentic spiritual intelligence.