Launch of LIID-USS: Theory, Innovation, and Practice to Improve Teaching in Chile

This initiative aims to transform teacher education through applied research, pedagogical innovation, and international collaboration. The launch of LIID-USS featured Deborah Loewenberg Ball and Francesca Forzani, faculty members at the University of Michigan and leading global experts in teacher training.

Education is facing a global crisis—one that is also impacting Chile. According to the Ministry of Education (Mineduc) and Elige Educar, 40% of schools in Chile currently hold classes without a qualified teacher. In addition, the latest  Ipsos survey shows that Chileans identify safety and youth mental health as the greatest challenges for the education system. At the international level, UNESCO warns that teacher attrition in primary education has doubled in just seven years. Together, these factors—teacher shortages, loss of vocation, and limited opportunities for professional development—pose a direct threat to the quality of education.

In this context, the Faculty of Education at Universidad San Sebastián (USS) launched the Laboratory for Research and Teaching Innovation (LIID-USS), a new center aimed at transforming teacher education in Chile through pedagogical innovation and evidence-based solutions.

Areas of Action

The laboratory focuses on applied research and generating evidence that bridges theory and practice. Its priority areas include effective learning and instruction; teacher identity and commitment; equitable access; teacher and school leadership training and professional development; pedagogical innovation and emerging technologies; as well as public policy and the teaching career.

“The goal of LIID is to close the gap between theory and practice, supporting teachers in their training and professional development. We believe that only through evidence-based and experimental approaches is it possible to respond to today’s challenges and anticipate tomorrow’s needs,” emphasized Víctor Ruiz, Dean of the USS Faculty of Education.

International Collaboration

LIID operates on the basis of collaboration and co-creation. Within this framework, the alliance with TeachingWorksat the University of Michigan stands out, as the institution is a global leader in research on teacher training and high-impact pedagogical practices.

“Changes in education cannot be promoted in isolation. LIID is an agile and experimental space that brings together academics, future teachers, school system actors, and international experts. Collaboration with TeachingWorks enables us to innovate with strong backing, adapt world-class models to the Chilean context, and establish the laboratory as a space for effective transformation,” stated Paulina Guzmán, Director of LIID-USS.

For her part, Dr. Ana Luz Durán, Executive Director of the International Affairs Office at USS, added: “International partnerships are essential for our researchers to engage with peers, work collaboratively, and strengthen their capacities. This relationship with the University of Michigan opens new opportunities to enrich teaching practices and raise the quality of initial teacher education at USS.”

Launch with International Experts

The launch event included keynote lectures by Deborah Loewenberg Ball and Francesca Forzani, Director and Associate Director of TeachingWorks. Ball, a renowned researcher in mathematics education and creator of the Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching (MKT) model, stressed: “We must face the challenge of combining content, practice, equity, and theory to create authentic learning opportunities, as well as to design tasks that integrate multiple aspects of teaching in real classroom contexts.”

Forzani, an expert in teacher training and practice-based education, highlighted: “Practice-based preparation seeks to train educators through authentic classroom experiences, not only through theory courses disconnected from practice. This approach enables teachers to foster student thinking, guide discussions, provide feedback, and build positive classroom relationships.”

The event also brought together key stakeholders in the education system, including Luz María Budge, President of the National Education Council (CNED). “I am deeply concerned that students study very good theory at the university, but when they arrive at schools they must adapt to the reality of that particular institution. It is, in some way, frustrating to have learned how something should be done and then discover that the school lacks the environment or conditions to apply it. This initiative will help bridge that gap by turning schools into living laboratories where future teachers can observe, question, connect theory with practice, and apply solutions,” she explained.

Strengthening Pedagogical Knowledge through Practice

As part of her visit to Chile, Dr. Deborah Loewenberg Ball will also participate in the Mathematics Education Seminar organized by the USS Faculty of Education. The program will feature an interactive session and a panel discussion with leading experts, including Dr. Soledad Estrella, President of the Chilean Society of Mathematics Education (SOCHIEM). This activity aims to further promote dialogue on challenges and effective practices for mathematics teaching and teacher training in Chile.