PROJECTS
I have participated in various research projects:
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Block Magic
Project Timeframe: 2011-2013
Description:.BLOCK MAGIC is centered on the concept of a magic block – an “intelligent” version of the “logical blocks” and “teaching tiles” already familiar to teachers. BLOCK MAGIC combines low cost RFID technology, “scripts” for learning activities, and a software engine controlling block behavior. In a typical scenario, the class is divided into groups and provided with a bag of Magic Blocks. The teacher sets a task (e.g. order the magic blocks to tell a story) designed to develop a specific creative, logical, linguistic, or strategic skill. The children then work together to solve the task. When children touch a block, or a sequence of blocks with a wand or a glove, BLOCK MAGIC generates feedback (e.g. by talking) that changes from one activity to the next or at different stages in the same activity. This feature makes the system an endless source of surprise and curiosity.
BLOCK MAGIC will (i) define a methodology and a large set of learning activities based on Magic Blocks (ii) design and implement the Magic Blocks; (iii) collaborate with teachers to test and refine the design; (iv) test the final system in infant and primary schools in Italy, Greece, Spain and in Germany; (v) encourage take-up in schools and countries not involved in the project.
Reference: LLP-KA3 (project number: 517936-LLP-1-IT-COMENIUS-CMP)
URL: www.blockmagic.eu
PATHWAY
Project Timeframe: 2011-2013
Description: PATWHAY (The Pathway to Inquiry Based Science Teaching) aims to set the pathway toward a standard-based approach to teaching science by inquiry. The project has three main goals. First, to support the adoption of inquiry teaching. The project plans to achieve that by demonstrating ways to reduce the constraints presented by teachers and school organisations. Second, to demonstrate and disseminate methods and exemplary cases of both effective introduction of inquiry to science classrooms and professional development programmes. Finally, PATHWAY aims to deliver a set of guidelines for the educational community to further explore and exploit the unique benefits of the proposed approach in science teaching. In this way the project team aims to facilitate the development of communities of practitioners of inquiry that will enable teachers to learn from each other.
The Pathway Consortium team will collaborate closely with teachers to develop a support service network designed to help teachers implement the necessary changes, to develop the diagnostics and intervention skills necessary to plan and diffuse innovation in their own contexts.
Reference: EU FP7, Science in Society, THEME SiS-2010-2.2.1.1 (project number 266624)
URL: http://www.pathway-project.eu
URL: http://www.bayceer.uni-bayreuth.de/pathway/
URL: http://sites.google.com/site/pathwayespana/
ProActive
Project Timeframe: 2010-2011
Description: PROACTIVE (Fostering Teachers' Creativity through Game-Based Learning) aims at fostering creativity and supporting flexibility of trainers working in Lifelong Learning (LLL) sub-programmes. We will create learning contexts where teachers of Comenius, Erasmus and Leonardo can apply creativity in designing their own game-based learning scenarios by using digital tools. Within training workshops, teachers in 18 pilot sites in four countries will use two game editors (EUTOPIA and e-adventure) in designing their learning sessions. PROACTIVE promotes a new approach to learning, by proposing a conceptual framework for integrating different learning metaphors through the implementation of new ICT-based tools (2D and 3D virtual environments) and an innovative methodology (game-based learning). The project will validate the proposed approach as a means of learning and evaluate its impact on teachers’ creativity and students’ outcomes.
Reference: 505469-LLP-1-2009-1-ES-KA3-KA3MP
SCeTGo
Project Timeframe: 2010-2011
Description: Science Center to Go (SCeTGo) project aims to bring comprehensive learning experiences out of the Science Centers into a school’s classroom and everyone’s home. SCeTGo goals include crosscutting the boundaries between formal (schools, universities) and informal (SCs) learning settings and stimulating motivation of students of both genders and encourage students to consider science and science-dependent vocations as careers. The consortium will design and test a series of miniature exhibits combined with Augmented Reality (AR) that will enable learners to experiment whenever and wherever they please. Various learning environments will be represented -schools, universities and science centers.
Reference: 505318-LLP-1-2009-1-FI-KA3-KA3MP
URL: www.sctg.eu
SoRuraLL!
Project Timeframe: 2009-2010
Description: The Rural Social Networking for Lifelong Learning (SoRuraLL!) project aims to investigate the potential for enhanced lifelong learning offered by social networking tools and platforms to those living in geographically and socio-economically disadvantaged rural areas. Experimental learning approaches will be developed and implemented, examining the potential offered by these new trends and tools for the alleviation of the disadvantage suffered by such populations in Europe through the enhancement of opportunities for effective and meaningful lifelong learning. Several technological solutions will be tried in the various sectors of lifelong learning, both formal (school, higher education, VET, adult education) and informal. The work involves preparation and implementation of pilot sites, observation of usage and pedagogical and technological evaluation.
Reference: 143680LLP120081GRKA3KA3MP
URL: www.sorurall.eu
EFELSE
Project Timeframe: 2009-2010
Description: The overall aim of EFELSE is the definition of criteria for successful Life Long Learning Strategy definition/implementation. Under this general scope the project aims to develop an understanding on the factors that impede upon progress towards change in E&T from a socio-cultural and capacity building perspective. The area of study is that of adult education as it is the area that is mostly influenced by traditional practices and attitudes towards learning. This is evident through benchmark performance levels and appears that the effects are stronger on the Southern European and New Member States National contexts.
Reference: 147760-LLP-2008-GR-KA1NLLS
URL: efelse.iacm.forth.gr
SART
Project Timeframe: 2006 - continues
Description: The focus of the Software and Art (SArt) project is the exploration of interesting research issues in the intersection of art and software with the objective to propose, assess, and improve methods, models, and tools for software development in art context. The goal is to address software engineering processes which are of interdisciplinary nature when meeting with arts.
URL: prosjekt.idi.ntnu.no/sart
MOBILE EDIT
Project Timeframe: 2001-2006
Description: Mobile Eldit (or M-Eldit) is a system for studying German and/or Italian languages with PDA devices. It allows offline access from windows based PDAs to the learning materials of ELDIT – an adaptable language learning platform. The main design goal in the development of M-Eldit was to be used as an additional tool for the preparation for the exams in bilingualism in the South Tyrol region.
URL: www.trifonova.net/OLD/MobileEldit.php
COSPA
Project Timeframe: 2004-2006
Description: The COSPA project - Consortium for Open Source Software for the Public Administration - aimed to study the introduction and the use of Open Source Software in the Public Administrations within the effort of the 5th EU Framework Programme to support eGovernment. The research has two main directions – the process of assimilation of OSS in the Public Administrations and the costs of migration and ownership.
Reference: FP6-IST 002164
Knowledge Web
Project Timeframe: 2004-2006
Description: The mission of KnowledgeWeb has been to strengthen the European industry and service providers in one of the most important areas of current computer technology: Semantic Web enabled E-work and E-commerce. The project has concentrates its efforts around the outreach of this technology to industry. One of the Knowledge Web aims has been to work towards the establishment of a European Association for Semantic Web Education (EASE), which will act as the principal focus for educational activities on Semantic Web.
URL: knowledgeweb.semanticweb.org
TOX-DIDACT
Description: Tox-Didact is a computer aided learning software for teaching of toxicology . Clinical cases presented, resulting from a hospital experiments, are proposed for the training of the health professionals. Through these cases, the professionals will have to always be vigilant for the prescription and the dispensation of drugs and for the evolution of the therapeutic schedules.
URL: www.sante.univ-nantes.fr/pharma/toxdidact/