Pelusa Orellana, researcher at the Human Development Lab and professor at Universidad de los Andes, presented Leer+, a digital platform designed to strengthen reading comprehension and vocabulary development among primary school students, during an education event that brought together school representatives from Santiago and Puerto Montt.
The event showcased evidence-based educational initiatives developed by researchers at Universidad de los Andes to address key challenges facing schools. The projects focused on improving learning, inclusion, and teaching practices through research, technology, and collaboration with educational communities.
During the event, Orellana introduced Leer+, a digital platform that provides personalized reading activities for students in grades three to six. The platform combines progressively challenging exercises with continuous feedback on reading comprehension strategies and vocabulary learning. It also allows teachers to monitor students’ progress in real time and adjust instruction according to individual learning needs.
Orellana’s participation reflects the Human Development Lab’s commitment to developing evidence-based educational innovations that support student learning and provide teachers with practical tools to improve classroom instruction.
The event also featured three additional initiatives developed by UANDES researchers: Leer para Crecer, a literacy intervention model for students with reading difficulties; Convive en el Aula, a program that promotes neurodiversity awareness in school communities; and TeachSmart, an AI-powered classroom observation and teacher feedback platform presented by Human Development Lab researcher Carolina Melo.
