In Colombia, a group of students at the International School of Cartagena, along with their technology entrepreneurship professor, developed an algorithm as part of an initiative that seeks to transform educational processes through technology.

Daniel Puerta, professor of technological entrepreneurship at the institute, told Infobae From the beginning, the intention was to create a prediction model for the detection of myeloid leukemia, and in this way to promote the development of students’ practical skills so that they can solve problems adequately and functionally.

This project was developed in collaboration with Arkangel Ai, a company developing artificial intelligence algorithms for the healthcare sector, which provided the necessary systems for the students to complete their mission of creating a detector for myeloid leukemia.

The technology entrepreneurship professor explains that it all started with some training by an allied company for students to learn how to manage the platform they would use to create the algorithm.

The students then learned how to acquire and analyze the information needed to build a machine learning system, or as the teacher explains, to build a machine that can learn from data programmed into it.

In all theory, the students compared cells that contained cancer information to cells that did not, in order to train the system so that it could detect leukemia from blood samples. In addition, the professor confirms that they managed to make the system more than 90% accurate in its diagnoses.

Leonardo Guerra, a ninth-grader and member of this project, spoke to Infobae and said that before this experience, he had not had the opportunity to learn about algorithms, which is why He found it interesting to be a part of this initiative to save the lives of children and youth like him around the world.

In turn, he explains, it allowed him to determine what he wanted to do after graduation.So your plan is to study mechanical or electronic engineering.

Regarding the process of developing this algorithm from the students’ point of view, Leonardo comments that before starting this project he knew absolutely nothing about leukemia or technological processes. Therefore, it was relevant to conduct training on leukemia and its types, as well as data analysis.

Finally, the student points out that this type of experience would be very productive and useful in schools because it would instill in students initiative to build a more sustainable society.

Daniela Carvajalino, the school’s director, emphasized that “schools are the first to kill dreams” and that for this reason it is very important to transform education so that students feel motivated to make changes with social meaning. And that they can contribute to the social and economic development of Colombia, in addition to being prepared to solve the various problems of life in a humane way.

The school director states that as an institution, they are interested in spreading educational models that go beyond typical memorization processes, try to help students prepare for real life and be able to overcome different circumstances and solve real problems.

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