Projects & Tools
Applied Projects & Interactive Tools
This section showcases interactive platforms, dashboards, and applied research projects developed as part of my work at Ceibal and other institutions. These tools bridge research and practice by making data accessible and actionable for policymakers, educators, and researchers.
Interactive Dashboards & Data Platforms
Gender & STEM Equity Dashboard
Purpose: Real-time monitoring of gender gaps across Uruguay’s digital education ecosystem
Technology: R Shiny, interactive visualizations, responsive design
Indicators: 50+ metrics across access, participation, perceptions, and outcomes
Users: Policymakers, program managers, researchers
Live Access: https://ceibalunidaddatos.shinyapps.io/genero-STEM/
Integration: Embedded in Ceibal’s official gender website
Computational Thinking Gender Analysis
Purpose: Track gender disparities in teacher perceptions and student participation
Technology: R Markdown, interactive reports, longitudinal data visualization
Key Feature: Relative Risk (RR) metric for quantifying gender gaps
Access: https://ceibal-pc-genero.netlify.app/
Impact: Informs teacher training and curriculum adjustments
Knowledge Synthesis Platforms
EdTech Evidence Synthesis Platform
Purpose: Curated database of research on digital technologies in education
Content: Systematic reviews, theoretical frameworks, policy proposals
Technology: Quarto, searchable interface, thematic organization
Access: https://ceibal-fichas-edtech.netlify.app/
Use: Supports evidence-based program design in Uruguay’s Ceibal ecosystem
Gender & STEM Knowledge Hub
Purpose: Comprehensive resource on gender equity strategies in STEM education
Content: Meta-analysis of 250+ research documents, analytical briefs, conceptual frameworks
Technology: Digital publishing, interactive navigation
Access: https://ceibal-fichas-genero-stem.netlify.app/
Audience: Program designers, policymakers, educators
Digital Technologies Expert Analysis
Purpose: Qualitative insights from 21 expert interviews on EdTech challenges
Method: Natural Language Processing (NLP) and network analysis of interview transcripts
Technology: Text analysis, network visualization
Access: https://ceibal-entrevistas-tde.netlify.app/
Outcome: Identified key themes for strategic decision-making
Strategic Planning & Program Design
micro:bit Program 2025-2030 Strategy
Purpose: Strategic overhaul and scaling plan for Uruguay’s computational thinking program
Components: New delivery model, monitoring framework with usage index, theory of change based on “Digital Capital”
Technology: Interactive strategy visualization, roadmap development
Access: https://ceibal-microbit.netlify.app/
Status: Adopted as official strategy for national program
Ceilab Maldonado Territorial Analysis
Purpose: Gender-disaggregated analysis of Ceilab program implementation in Maldonado region
Output: Published book with territorial indicators and gender analysis
Technology: Spatial analysis, indicator development
Access: https://ceibal-ceilab-maldonado.netlify.app/
Publication: Ceilab Maldonado (2025), ISBN: 978-9915-9808-1-2
Capacity Building & Training Tools
Statistics Course for Teacher Professional Development
Purpose: Virtual course development for Ceibal’s Mathematics Department
Technology: Online learning platform, interactive exercises
Access: https://ceibal-formacion-estadistica.netlify.app/
Impact: Supports teacher capacity in data analysis and interpretation
Internal Technical Manuals
Purpose: Build organizational capacity in computational reproducibility
Tools Developed: - Manual para crear páginas webs usando RStudio, GitHub y Netlify - Adapted R materials from Stanford’s Machine Learning and Causal Inference course - Workshop materials on Machine Learning, Heterogeneous Treatment Effects, DAGs
Use: Internal training within Ceibal’s expert teams
Methodological Development Projects
Intervention Index (IIC) Redesign
Purpose: Methodological redesign of Ceibal’s school-level intervention intensity metric
Innovation: New theory of change, updated weighting and aggregation criteria
Use: Strategic planning and pilot selection for educational technology programs
Missing Data Analysis for National Surveys
Project: Methodological analysis of missing data patterns in END2023 (National Digital Education Survey)
Finding: Identified non-random missingness associated with teacher gender, age, and grade level
Implication: Informs survey design improvements and bias assessment
Aristas Methodological Analysis
Purpose: Investigate gender gap emergence in mathematics between 2020-2023
Focus: Impact of excluding students with special educational needs (NEE) and non-random non-response
Output: Methodological report informing national assessment practices
AI & Emerging Technology Projects
Generative AI in Education Research
Project: From conceptualization to execution of Ceibal’s first generative AI research project
Output: Functional chatbot to support student learning in Computational Thinking courses
Working Paper: Available here
Status: Informing policy development for AI integration
AI Observatory Design
Project: Leading design and establishment of Ceibal Foundation’s Observatory on AI in Education
Phase: Advanced planning and development
Goal: Systematic monitoring and research on AI’s educational impact
Conference & Event Organization
Women in Data Science (WiDS) Montevideo Chapter
Years: 2020, 2021, 2022 (three annual conferences)
Role: Organizer, program developer, presenter mentor
Recordings: - 2022: YouTube playlist - 2021: Recording - 2020: Summary | Full program
Impact: Platform for women researchers and practitioners in data science
Data Festival Session
Event: “Using Data for Educational Center Management” session at Data Festival
Role: Coach for ANEP and Ceibal teams on effective data communication
Focus: Practical tools for school-level data-driven decision making
Project Methodology & Approach
Development Philosophy
These projects follow a consistent methodology: 1. Co-design: Engage stakeholders from conception through implementation 2. Iterative Development: Prototype, test, refine based on user feedback 3. Capacity Building: Include training and documentation for sustainability 4. Open Practices: Share methodologies and learnings when possible
Technology Stack
- Analysis: R, Python, Stata
- Visualization: R Shiny, ggplot2, Plotly
- Publishing: Quarto, R Markdown, GitHub Pages, Netlify
- Collaboration: GitHub, Git
Impact & Adoption
Policy Integration
- Gender Dashboard: Embedded in Ceibal’s official operations
- micro:bit Strategy: Adopted as national program framework
- AI Research: Informing Uruguay’s AI in education policy
Capacity Building Outcomes
- Internal Workshops: Trained Ceibal teams in advanced methods
- Teacher Development: Virtual courses reaching hundreds of educators
- Methodological Transfer: Tools adopted by ANEP and other institutions
International Recognition
- Presentations: BETT London, Canning House, UN Behavioural Science Week
- Delegations: Estonia/Finland digital ecosystem study, Wales ARC Summit
- Collaborations: OECD, Inter-American Development Bank networks
Access & Collaboration
Public Access
Most interactive tools are publicly accessible via the links provided. Some internal tools and methodologies are available upon request for research or policy collaboration.
Code Repositories
Selected code and methodologies available via GitHub
Collaboration Opportunities
Interested in:
Adapting tools for other educational contexts
Collaborative research using these platforms
Methodological exchanges on dashboard development
Capacity building partnerships
Contact: robano@gwu.edu
Projects page updated: December 27, 2025