Pearson

Diego Sette started as a teacher, shaping his understanding of education and the challenges faced in traditional learning environments. Growing curiosity and passion for continuous learning led him to transition into software engineering. Now, he focuses on leveraging technology to enhance educational platforms and content. The combination of teaching experience and technological expertise has been essential to achieve his current role as the Technology Director at Pearson, where he works on integrating innovative solutions into our educational offerings. Within the company, he has also served as a Coordinator, the Pedagogical Manager and the Innovation Manager.

The integration of technology and reforms varies geographically. Understanding and respecting cultural differences can help accelerate digital adoption. This is especially true in Latin America where upskilling the education sector poses regional hurdles. In this interview, Diego Sette gazes beyond outsourced technology-based strategies to introduce innovative in-house solutions that are melting these barriers in learning.

Aligning consumer demands in Latin America

One of the main challenges in Latin America is managing the needs of different consumers across diverse countries, which needs to be adapted to their local contexts. The technology itself is similar worldwide, but the application and scalability differ due to regional infrastructure. We handle these challenges by developing local solutions that meet the specific demands of each market, such as creating scalable platforms that can address varying levels of internet connectivity and infrastructure. Moving ahead, we focus on understanding the cultural nuances, particularly in language learning, where teaching approaches vary widely.

​ I am truly excited about the potential of technology to transform and create more engaging and accessible environments, especially in regions like Latin America, where the demand for personalized educational experiences is high 

Technology-driven customization in learning

At Pearson, we've been automating processes with artificial intelligence (AI) since 2022, focusing on efficiency and quality, with some applications already available to customers. Examples of AI in action include tools for originality verification, which ensure authentic, non-AI-generated texts validated by specialists, and automation where AI aids in content creation guided by our team using specific parameters. We're also investing in upskilling our team to train AI effectively, turning text editors into prompt engineers. For example, in the higher education division, we offer AI-powered study tools like:

1. Pearson AI Powered Study Tool: Finalist in two EdTech Award categories, this solution provides personalized assistance to students during their tasks and exercises, encourages critical thinking, and fosters deeper engagement with the assigned course content.

2. Pearson ETextbook: A tool that also incorporates embedded AI and helps simplify the study of topics considered complex by students, assisting them in identifying key content points and staying focused.

3. Mondly platform: This solution uses AI-driven chatbots and voice recognition technology to create immersive, interactive learning experiences in over 20 languages, providing real-time feedback on pronunciation and grammar.

Streamlining hybrid education systems

We are leveraging artificial intelligence to optimize learning, making it more adaptive to individual student needs. A practical example of this is the integration of AI with voice recognition. We are proactively using this feature among the tools available to students in our Wizard by Pearson franchises, enabling us to assess language learners' pronunciation and provide real-time feedback.

I am truly excited about the potential of technology to transform and create more engaging and accessible environments, especially in regions like Latin America, where the demand for personalized educational experiences is high. Speaking of excitement, I would also highlight the local expectations around 5G technology: characterized by higher speed, lower latency, and greater connection capacity, this resource could pave the way for smarter and more remote classrooms, based on mixed reality learning platforms with virtual tutors. As local infrastructure becomes ready to embrace 5G, the advancements are likely to be very rewarding.

In-house interactions to strengthen collaborative problem-solving

Innovation and collaboration are fostered through open communication and the exchange of ideas across different disciplines. We actively engage in interdisciplinary dialogue, particularly with colleagues in data analytics, software engineering, and pedagogy, to develop solutions that solve challenges in different scenarios.

The recipe to overcome real-world educational challenges

Embrace continuous learning and be open to change. Using technology in education requires not just technical skills but also an understanding of the cultural contexts in which these technologies will be applied. Aspiring leaders must build an integrated approach that combines technical proficiency with a deep understanding of the learning expectations. Additionally, fostering a mindset that views technology as an ally is the key to driving meaningful changes in education.