Resources: Educational Research

The main objective of this research is to explore the knowledge and assessment of teachers and students from the public and private systems of Puerto Rico regarding educational technologies and their use in the classroom.

Data is collected related to the benefits of information and communication technologies in education; likewise, the opinions, concerns, and technological needs of teachers; and the contribution of information and communication technologies to the academic performance of students.

The revealing analysis of this work, rather than speaking to the details of our system, largely reflects the state of Puerto Rico's situation regarding its crucial educational issues. This study presents a social photograph that describes the various sociodemographic and cultural levels outlining the role of teachers and their challenges as professionals and agents of social change. In summary, this work is part of a reflection on the social and epistemological parameters of education and its conditions for fulfilling the social mission ascribed to it in both the public and private educational worlds in Puerto Rico.

A similar investigation has already been carried out in Spain, Chile, Mexico, and Brazil. The long-term goal is to conduct a comparative study of school coexistence in Ibero-America. In Puerto Rico, the SM Foundation has had the collaboration of the Department of Education, and the participation of the Private Education Association, the Superintendencies of Catholic Schools, and the Union of Adventist Schools of Puerto Rico.

Our interest has been to inquire about the Puerto Rican school climate: the conflicts it faces and their roots. Consequently, initiatives can be channeled to turn conflicts into learning situations and starting points for finding solutions.

This workbook is designed to be used in school as part of a community service training course, but it is not limited to this setting; it can also be used within other community, religious, or family groups.

This guide is designed to serve as a link to the community service and volunteering workbook that students will use. It consists of suggested plans for carrying out each activity with the students.