Twin Innovators Mario and Alberto Herráez Velázquez Honored for Educational Impact

Salamanca-born twins Mario and Alberto Herráez Velázquez, founders of the didactic innovation company ETwinz, have achieved national recognition by securing three awards and an additional special prize at the 2026 Educational Excellence Awards. The brothers, 32, were lauded for their pioneering work in transforming learning through digitalization, active methodologies, and the strategic integration of artificial intelligence in education. Their success underscores a deep-seated belief that education can be a powerful catalyst for societal change.

From early childhood, both Mario and Alberto were drawn to teaching. Their journey led them from graduating in Spain to developing creative classroom methods in Utah, USA, as part of the Amity program with the University of Valladolid. Upon returning to Spain, they channeled their experiences into establishing ETwinz, aiming for a broader impact on educational practices. The recent accolades highlight their dedication and innovative approach, especially in navigating the complexities and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence in modern pedagogy.

Rethinking Education in the AI Era

The Herráez Velázquez twins advocate for a shift away from a memorization-based educational system, which they argue was a necessity when information sources were scarce. In today's information-rich environment, they emphasize the critical importance of critical thinking and discerning which tasks are best suited for human intellect versus technological assistance. They point out that while technology offers cognitive offloading—a natural human tendency to delegate tasks, like remembering phone numbers—it's crucial to prevent this from atrophying critical and creative capacities, particularly concerning AI.

Datos clave

• Fundadores ETwinz: Mario y Alberto Herráez Velázquez
• Reconocimiento: Premios de Excelencia Educativa 2026
• Premios recibidos: 3 categorías principales + 1 premio especial
• Enfoque principal de innovación: Digitalización, metodologías activas e Inteligencia Artificial en educación

Challenges of the Digital Age

The brothers acknowledge that educators are in a constant battle for student attention against tech giants that invest billions in captivating users through social media and gamified applications. Alberto asserts that the issue isn't the screen itself, but the content within it, challenging the notion that technology in schools is the primary cause of problematic behaviors. Mario adds that many technological problems are unfairly attributed to schools, suggesting that issues like declining reading comprehension might stem from broader societal habits, such as parents not reading at home. They argue that scapegoating technology in classrooms prevents a deeper reflection on collective habits.

Integrating AI Responsibly

The twins stress that AI is already a reality in classrooms, and the key lies in how it is approached. They propose a pedagogical framework for working with AI, which includes designing new challenges for students to ensure that AI use doesn't undermine the educational value of exercises. They liken current AI tools to an "Rincón del Vago on steroids," highlighting the need to teach students media literacy and to question the infallibility of AI, noting that students sometimes legitimize AI chat output above their teachers.

Professionalizing Educational Leadership

Beyond student and curriculum innovation, Mario and Alberto also underscore the vital role of school directors. They believe that educational management in Spain is facing a crisis and requires professionalization, drawing parallels with the more prepared US educational system. They argue that strong leadership, accounting for 80% of a successful transformation process, is essential for guiding teacher training and ensuring no one is left behind in adopting new methodologies. While acknowledging budgetary differences, they commend Spanish teachers for their creativity and ability to achieve much with limited resources, seeing this human element and empathy as more important than ever in the age of AI.

The insights from Mario and Alberto Herráez Velázquez are particularly relevant for Football Español's readership, many of whom are parents or have children in the Spanish educational system. Understanding the evolving landscape of education, especially with the integration of AI, impacts how future generations are prepared, including potential athletes and professionals. The emphasis on critical thinking and responsible technology use resonates beyond the classroom, influencing societal development and the skills required for various future careers, including those within the dynamic world of football.

Fuente: abc.es – https://www.abc.es/espana/castilla-leon/romanticos-educacion-creemos-puede-cambiar-sociedad-20260511082533-nt.html