Smart School As An Ecosystem For The Evolution Of Pedagogical Thinking

Abstract

This study examines the Smartschool platform developed by the University of Cartagena (Universidad de Cartagena) and the Colciencias institution, as a digital environment that promotes new ways of pedagogical thinking. It was a qualitative interpretative analysis of the platform's functional, aesthetic, and symbolic structure, allowing for the description of different aspects that transcend its technical utility to configure it as a complex educational ecosystem. The research is based on theories such as the extended mind, distributed cognition, imaginative pedagogy, and cultural evolution, from which the digital environment is interpreted as a cognitive and cultural mediator. The results show that Smartschool enhances teaching and learning experiences centered around autonomy, narrativity, and flexibility, but at the same time, poses ethical and formative challenges for 21st-century teachers. In conclusion, a critical understanding of these platforms is key to their meaningful integration into current educational contexts.