Professional insight from Tecnológico de Monterrey

Tecnológico de Monterrey is a private, non-profit Mexican university founded with the conviction that "education can do it all." It shapes graduates with academic excellence and social commitment. Its strong focus on health, sustainability and education research has granted it global recognition as a leading university.

Tecnologico de Monterrey

A man using a VR headset

Are you missing a vital ingredient in VR teaching and learning?

VR learning should go beyond aesthetics. Each object, space or interaction must have a pedagogical function, says Nancy Zavala. Learn how a design thinking approach can help students put theory into practice

Nancy Zavala

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A female student taking notes from her online class with other students and a teacher appearing in a gallery view on her screen

The power of feedback to build belonging in online learning

Connection in online learning does not happen accidentally; we must design and nurture it through feedback. Because good feedback conveys attention, recognition and care, write María de Lourdes Gómez Calvo and Estefannía Garza Tamez

María de Lourdes Gómez Calvo, Estefannía Garza Tamez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Students working in groups in class

‘What are we doing today?’ Design classes that students look forward to

When students feel that classroom learning is meaningful, that their voices are heard and that their presence genuinely matters, learning becomes more exciting, says Rocío Elizabeth Cortez Márquez

Rocío Elizabeth Cortez Márquez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A student with headphones on her laptop

Build students’ intercultural competence in online classrooms

The ‘global shared learning classroom’ teaches students how to view traits such as leadership through different cultural lenses, better preparing them to thrive in an interconnected world. Learn how

Jorge Alberto Mosqueda Benavides

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A student taking notes on a notepad while looking at her laptop

How to prevent free riding in online group work

When collaborative assignments lack structured guidance, levels of contribution among team members may vary. Gabriela Espínola offers insight into building community and accountability online

Gabriela Espínola Carballo

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A student on a zoom call in her home office

Make tech work in large online courses

Students on large online courses can sometimes feel like a face among the crowd. Keep them engaged with interactive activities such as digital escape rooms or business simulators

Nelly Ramirez Vásquez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Multiracial group of adult learners

Five principles for designing industry-relevant microcredentials

Microcredentials that respond to student and employer needs require industry-backed, thoughtful design, writes Karla Margarita Banda Martínez, who offers guidance

Karla Margarita Banda Martínez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Indigenous Mexican women dressed in colourful traditional clothes

How to turn humanities students into advocates

How a design thinking approach to a community project helped students raise awareness about racism against Indigenous women in Mexico

Eunice Costilla Cruz , Adriana García Domínguez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

University students working individually at their desks

Five pillars of collaborative online learning

How to promote interaction, a sense of collective responsibility and reflective practices to prevent students from ‘dividing and conquering’ in group projects

Mariana Elizondo, Elizabeth Marcial Morales

Tecnológico de Monterrey

He professionals working together on an educational project

Five keys to success in multidisciplinary educational projects

Each team that contributes to educational initiatives has expertise-specific perspectives that influence its approach. Learn how to harness this diversity

Laura Angélica Castillo Lara

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A biology teacher standing next to a demo human body with its organs exposed

Banning AI won’t make students care about learning

When students don’t see the point of an activity, they often turn to AI for a shortcut. Here’s how to make learning meaningful and relevant

Mariana Elizondo, Nelly Ramirez Vásquez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A university lecturer explaining a concept while sitting amongst students

Five words and a GenAI prompt to spark deeper online learning

A five-stage framework, enhanced by GenAI, can help educators create more interactive, inclusive and responsive online learning experiences that boost student engagement and learning online

María Robertha Leal Isida, Dania Arriola Arteaga

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Industrial engineer inspecting a residential construction project with a VR app with a virtualisation of the building's interior

Extend reality to make learning more meaningful

To meet the challenges of the modern workplace, students need to encounter environments that simulate professional scenarios during their studies. Read about how to design extended reality activities that boost a range of discipline-specific skills

Daniel Cantú, Claudia Hernández

Tecnológico de Monterrey

iStock/sasirin pamai

When pedagogy meets extended reality: a quick guide

How to design extended reality experiences with clear pedagogical intent, immersing students in worlds that develop decision-making skills, deepen learning and prepare them for the workplace

Graciela González Valdepeña, Lorena Quilantán García

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A mother on her laptop while her son plays next to her

Why flexibility is essential for accessible teaching

Rigid course structures can shut students out. Designing for flexibility helps ensure that those juggling work, care and study have a fair chance to succeed

Rocío Elizabeth Cortez Márquez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Students in a boardroom working on a company project

Every AI learning persona needs an origin story

Anna, a fictional social responsibility consultant, mentors students analysing a company in crisis. Her story shows how thoughtfully designed AI personas can turn simple chat interactions into immersive learning experiences

Lorena Quilantán García

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A hand sketching prototype designs amongst rulers and other tools

Teaching design in 3D: blending sketching, AI and AR

GenAI can do more than generate images – it can spark design students’ ability to imagine objects and spaces in 3D. Here’s how

Lesly Pliego , Fernanda Peña, Antonio Juárez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A student writing an essay by hand in a library

From shortcut to support: GenAI’s role in essay-writing

A guide to moving beyond panic and prohibition, showing how educators can set clear, evidence-informed boundaries that turn GenAI from an essay-writing shortcut into a meaningful learning support

Luis Moisés López Flores

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Two designers making a model of a building

Tips for introducing complex design software in the classroom

As design education becomes increasingly digital, educators face the challenge of integrating powerful simulation and modelling software without overwhelming students. Adalberto Tamez Alanis offers guidance

Adalberto Tamez Alanis

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Close up of a camera as it films an instructor explaining a medical concept

Use scripted conversations to fill knowledge gaps

How a conversational video that recreates instructor–student dialogues is boosting test scores, confidence and deeper comprehension across engineering cohorts

María Villarreal, Jobish Vallikavungal, Ana Sarmiento, Jonathan Montalvo

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A student presenting in front of class

AI tools that strengthen students’ communication skills

AI can help students reflect, practise and improve the skills employers really value, from writing clearly to speaking confidently and working effectively in teams

Nelly Ramirez Vásquez , Gabriela Espínola Carballo, Carla Camacho

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Students sitting in a circle haveing a discussion with a teacher

Intervene with empathy to support students in need

With mental health challenges increasing on campus, structured tools that capture students’ thoughts, feelings and behaviours can help educators spot concerns early and tailor support

Eduardo de Jesús Faz Flores

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Someone standing at a crossroad, unable to make a decision

Top business graduates lack one key skill – execution

Top-performing graduates often struggle with execution in the workplace. Educators can change that by designing learning exercises that hone decision-making skills and resilience

José Ignacio Sordo Galarza

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A group of people following someone

Embrace discomfort to develop these four leadership attributes in your students

Educators play a key role in developing the next generation of bold leaders. Here is how to nurture traits – such as curiosity and realistic thinking – that students will need in the modern workplace

José Ignacio Sordo Galarza

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A student on her laptop

How to boost student motivation and engagement in virtual classrooms

Practical strategies – from clear communication and visual resources to community building and inclusive pedagogy – to help educators foster participation and motivation in digital learning

Adela Vega Guerra, Angeles Carolina Aguirre-Acosta

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A group of students planting trees

The keys to strong university–non-profit partnerships

Collaborative projects between universities and non-profits nurture empathy and allow students to make a real-world impact. Here, three educators share their tips for building meaningful partnerships that benefit students and communities alike

Mariana Leyva , Martha Sáenz , Itzel Eguiluz

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A group of corporate employees

Teach business students to write like executives

Many business students struggle to communicate with impact. Teach them to pitch ideas on a single page to build clarity, confidence and work-ready communication skills

José Ignacio Sordo Galarza

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A student at her laptop

Questions to ask when designing collaborative online learning experiences

Practical steps for designing meaningful online learning experiences with external collaborators that help students develop essential competencies

Bárbara Regina Granados Guzmán , Luis Gerardo Rojas Solorio

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A tablet with a floor plan being held

How we use GenAI and AR to improve students’ design skills

Guidance on using generative AI and augmented reality to enhance student creativity, spatial awareness and interdisciplinary collaboration

Multiple authors

Tecnológico de Monterrey, El Bosque University, San Sebastián University

Astronauts on the moon

How combining VR with cultural identity can make interdisciplinary learning more impactful

A project that involved students designing human settlements on the Moon shows how combining cultural identity with VR technology can unite learners across disciplines and campuses to imagine and shape the future

Rubén Vázquez, Antonio Juárez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A woman pouring a smoothie into a glass

From ‘filler’ to ‘fulfilling’: how to change students’ perceptions of a course

Ways to employ tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot to show students the real-world relevance of so-called filler courses

Elizabeth Marcial Morales

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A student smiling to camera

Ways to make your learning materials accessible and inclusive

Advice on laying the groundwork for inclusive teaching and using tools that help students with specific needs thrive

Eunice Costilla Cruz , Nelly Ramírez Vázquez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A futuristic digital classroom in the metaverse where students, represented as diverse avatars, engage in an interactive lesson. A teacher, using holographic AI tools, guides them through immersive learning experiences. Floating virtual screens display storytelling prompts, character designs, and business concepts. The background features a blend of virtual reality elements

Use AI and the metaverse to keep your students engaged online

AI and virtual reality technology enables diverse learning experiences for online students. Discover how by applying universal design for learning principles

Angeles Carolina Aguirre-Acosta , Gloria Anahí Molina Barrón , Rebeca Elizabeth Alvarado Ramírez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A teacher designing an infographic on her laptop

Canva and ChatGPT for feedback and academic support

Don’t bore your students with lengthy, written feedback. Here are ways to make it more visually appealing and how to use custom GPTs to offer extra academic support

Mariana Elizondo, Eunice Costilla Cruz

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Close up of a microphone

Make your annual report sing

An annual report is a useful tool for promoting your institution’s work. Here’s how to coordinate its publication and get it seen

Ana Fuster , Perla Téllez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A group of students discussing a case

ChatGPT and other AI tools to use in the classroom

ChatGPT is a great starting point, but other tools can improve our students’ learning experiences. Read about a few here.

Gabriela Espínola Carballo, Nelly Ramirez Vásquez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Yooung woman studying at her latop at university

Ensuring online education is inclusive and accessible to all

Creating a culture of inclusivity where every student feels welcome and listened to is paramount. Here are some ways to achieve it

Mayela Beatriz Rodríguez Romo , Martha Fabiola Espinosa Mata, Abraham Esteban Gómez Coss

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Students studying together on campus

Strategies to enhance your online course

Read about some strategies to make your online courses more engaging

Sara Camacho

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Staff at a university pitching their ideas for innovative solutions to challenges

Host a competition to foster creativity and innovation at your institution

Challenging and rewarding staff for coming up with innovative solutions can help your institution become more adaptable and forward-thinking

Multiple authors

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Dragon animation from a video game

Using AI to create engaging educational games for humanities students

Combine AI with gamification and storytelling activities to enhance student engagement

Dania Arriola Arteaga , Bárbara Regina Granados Guzmán

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A university student on her phone outside a campus building

Engage Gen Z students by integrating TikTok into your teaching

Four pointers for using this platform to enhance the learning process

Mariana del Sol González

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Students discussing prompt writing in class

Teach students to use GenAI to create characters for stories

Over time, students will learn to perfect their prompts and work side by side with AI to enhance their creativity, write Gloria Anahí Molina Barrón and Pamela Inés Marroquin Alanis

Gloria Anahí Molina Barrón , Pamela Inés Marroquin Alanis

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Students sitting on the steps of a campus building each holding a paper with a letter of the word "change" on it

Combat social injustice burnout in social sciences and humanities courses

Teaching our students about modern-day challenges is imperative if we want a fairer world. However, it can be frustrating and disheartening when we focus on the issues rather than the solutions, writes Paulina Millán Aguilar

Paulina Millán Aguilar

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Female student smiling at the camera in a library

Seven exercises to incorporate into your gender studies classes

It can be challenging to come up with new and interesting ways to educate your students on gender issues. Eunice Costilla Cruz outlines seven ways

Eunice Costilla Cruz

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Man appearing as a hologram

Using telepresence to enrich learning

Implementing cutting-edge technology enriches the learning experiences and prepares students for an increasingly interconnected and diverse world

Sidney Ornelas

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A female student browsing a computer in the library

The library’s role in digital education: content is still king

University libraries have a huge opportunity to evolve and strengthen their roles. To do this, they must demonstrate the value of their digital content by promoting the use of their digital collections to engage, inspire and enhance learning

José Vladimir Burgos Aguilar

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A row of students standing outside with their backs to the camera and their arms around each other

Three ways technology can make your classrooms more inclusive

By embracing diversity and promoting inclusion, we provide equal opportunities and ready our students for a globalised world, not only improving the quality of education, but laying the foundation for a more compassionate and just society

Adela Vega, Elizabeth Marcial Morales

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A hand holds a tiny globe wearing a mortarboard

Tips for mastering the Global Shared Learning Classroom

The Global Shared Learning Classroom can help extend internationalism beyond traditional exchange programmes. Jorge Alvarez offers advice

Jorge Alvarez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Online international classrooms

A good plan is essential to make online international courses a success

How can we ensure teachers and students have positive experiences in online international classrooms? Here, Nelly Ramírez Vásquez and Mariana Estefanía Elizondo García share some tips

Nelly Ramirez Vásquez , Mariana Estefanía Elizondo

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Class full of students with an instructor at the front

Seven ways to tailor your teaching for different class sizes

Useful ways to provide effective learning experiences for all your students, no matter the class size

Gabriela Espínola Carballo , Mariana Estefanía Elizondo

Tecnológico de Monterrey