ICA's First Conference on Education, Teacher Training, and Research

The Argentine Cultural Institute (ICA) has confirmed the hosting of the First Conference on Education, Teacher Training, and Research. This academic gathering will take place on November 14 at the UPRO hall in the city of Villa Mercedes, San Luis. The event will bring together educators, researchers, and specialists in education and physical education from Argentina and Chile to foster a space for exchange, reflection, and knowledge production regarding teaching, teacher training, and educational research. Participation in the conference grants professional development credits recognized by the San Luis Teacher Training Program.

Two Keynote Lectures with an International Perspective

A highlight of the event will be the participation of two internationally renowned guest speakers. Dr. Luis Linzmayer Gutiérrez will travel from Chile to speak on "Decolonial Physical Education." His presentation invites a rethinking of the Eurocentric, mechanistic, and militaristic framework upon which the discipline was historically built in Latin America, proposing instead a paradigm centered on situated corporeality, emotionality, and the cultures of the region's peoples. He will be joined by Dr. Felipe Poblete Valderrama—also from Chile—whose keynote address will offer a complementary perspective based on academic research from across the Andes, reinforcing the regional and international character the organizers sought to instill in this inaugural edition.

The presence of these two Chilean specialists as keynote speakers—distinct from the general call for papers—reaffirms the ICA's commitment to positioning Villa Mercedes as a hub for academic exchange that transcends provincial and national borders. A diverse panel of local presentations

Alongside the keynote lectures, the event's Academic Committee evaluated and approved a series of presentations addressing various facets of physical education, teacher training, and pedagogical research, including:

Prof. María Margarita Moreira, with two papers: "Play, Games, Shall We Play?" and "Play as a Dynamic Agent," both focusing on the role of play in human development across the lifespan.

Prof. Fabricio Gabriel Cuello, with "Comparative analysis of physical activity levels among students at the Club Jorge Newbery Generative School using the Student's t-test."

Prof. Federico Jaime and Prof. Milagros María Fernández, co-authors of "Playing, Feeling, and Deciding: Hockey as a Space for Emotional Literacy," which proposes approaching the sport as a tool for emotional education.

Prof. Florencia Dos Santos, with "Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools in Teacher Training and Physical Education: Contributions, Ethical Challenges, and Active Learning Strategies," a paper analyzing the impact of generative AI on higher education teaching processes. Prof. Dos Santos is a well-known host of ICA academic activities and a distinguished professional from Buenos Aires.

Prof. Sofía Quiroga, with "Anthropometric changes in the thigh induced by strength training in young adults."

Prof. Ezequiel Garro, with "Strength levels and body mass index in individuals with Down syndrome, aged 17 to 28."

Prof. Mauricio Manzur, with "Assessment of physical fitness and body mass index in students aged 9 to 12 at a primary school in Villa Mercedes using the Eurofit battery."

Joining these papers—already evaluated by the Academic Committee—will be others from prominent professors such as Guillermo Antunez, Analía Racca, and other educators. Fourth-year students from the ICA's Physical Education Teacher Training program—enrolled in the Research Methodology course taught by Sergio Quiroga (M.Ed.)—will also present their work; research is an essential commitment of modern teaching practice, enabling a better understanding of educational organizations.

Link to register for presentations or general attendance: https://forms.gle/QQuVN4HrTCzTmU27A

ICA marks its 84th anniversary in October and continues to campaign daily for the completion of its sports complex—a project currently only in its initial stages—awaiting the support of municipal and provincial officials to move forward. The event is organized by the Instituto Cultural Argentino (ICA) and will be officially endorsed by Dr. Silvia Ávila (Rector) and José Luis Barroso (Secretary of Outreach), who will preside over the opening and closing sessions. The event—which will combine keynote lectures with research presentations—is expected to draw to a large audience of teachers and students from the region.