IoT in STEM education – workshop at Greek Scientix Conference on STEM Education

Posted on 28 August 201828 August 2018 by imessalas

Project UMI-Sci-Ed aims to exploit cutting-edge technologies such as UMI technologies (Mobile Computing, Mobile Computing and the Internet of Things) to promote science education. More specifically, it aims to encourage young people to think creatively in a constantly competitive and demanding working environment. At the same time, through an entrepreneurial and multidisciplinary effort, it aims to increase incentives for young boys and girls aged 14-16 to engage in science and enhance the prospects for career choices in the UMI technology areas.

A workshop on using IoT to support education will be organized on September 4, 2018, from 11.00 to 12.30, in the context of the National Scientix Conference on STEM Education that will take place at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) premises in Zografou. The workshop is organized by the DAISSy research group of Hellenic Open University and is addressed mainly to teachers in primary and secondary education and educators in general.

Participants in the UMI workshop will be granted access to the UMI-Sci-Ed online platform and will be trained in using its services. The platform hosts the STEM education scenarios that have been developed by project partners, together with guidelines on how to apply them in the classroom. At the same time, it facilitates discussions among teachers and UMI researchers.

Moreover, a demonstration of the UDOO IoT platform and its capabilities will be given through the implementation of a STEM education scenario that measures distance using ultra sound. The required hardware will be provided by the workshop organizers.

Participation in the UMI workshop is free, but requires online registration to the Scientix conference at https://scientix.ellak.gr/. More information about the workshop can be found at https://scientix.ellak.gr/events/to-diadiktio-ton-pragmaton-stin-ipiresia-tis-ekpedefsis-i-ekpedeftiki-platforma-umi-sci-ed/. Note that it would be useful to bring a laptop.

The UMI-Sci-Ed project is funded by the European Commission under the H2020 Program. For more information about the project, you can visit http://www.umi-sci-ed.eu/ or send an inquiry to the address info@daissy.eap.gr.

Promotion of projects BRIGHTS, MuSA, WEMIN and DCDS at the “Spoudase” Festival

Posted on 23 July 201825 July 2018 by imessalas

“Spoudase” Festival, the biggest festival for all levels of Education in Greece, was organized for the second consecutive year at the Technopolis of the City of Athens on 19 & 20 May 2018.

The Festival hosted more than 300 participants from all levels of education, which communicated and presented programs, activities and exhibits related to Education, Training, Innovation, Science and Technology. It was a major event, during which visitors got acquainted with educational and scientific courses linking education, skills, training and lifelong learning with career, creativity, growth, entrepreneurship and, in general, production and labor market needs. More than 70 schools were hosted at the Festival and presented their activities in sciences and new technologies. In addition to the booths and stands, more than 200 workshops and seminars were held free of charge by leading scientists, institutions, universities and market executives.

The DAISSy research group of Hellenic Open University participated in the “Spoudase” Festival with its own booth, promoting its research activities and projects. Four big screens were set up, each displaying videos about the DAISSy group, the various projects that the group participates in and their products.

One of the screens was dedicated to the promotion of the MOOC on “Promoting Global Citizenship Education using Digital Storytelling” that was produced in the context of project BRIGHTS. A specially created video based on the MOOC content was playing constantly on the screen, enhanced with slides promoting BRIGHTS project outcomes. Also, Projects MuSA, WEMIN and DCDS were promoted within a specially created short video showcasing all DAISSy projects that was being constantly played on one of the screens.

Thanks to its central location, the DAISSy booth attracted more than 500 visitors, all of whom expressed their interest in the projects.

WEMIN partners meeting at the Council of Europe

Posted on 16 July 201816 July 2018 by imessalas

ALDA’s office within the Council of Europe, in Strasbourg, hosted the second meeting of the steering committee of the project WEMIN on 9-10 July 2018.

WEMIN, funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund of the European Union, stands for “Migrant Women Empowerment and Integration”. Over two years, it puts together 9 partners from 8 EU countries to implement and promote a pioneering integration model for migrant/refugee women of all ages in the communities involved.

Funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund of the European Union, the 2-year project aims at implementing and promoting a pioneering integration model for migrant/refugee women of all ages in the communities involved.

Very soon activities will be put in place to recruit migrant and refugee women, as well as local women from the communities, interested to take part in the project. They will benefit from training, including language training, mentoring sessions, peer learning and art activities – many occasion to stimulate dialogue, intercultural relations and exchanges. An online platform will also be used to foster peer-learning and exchange.

Follow #WEMIN on social media

Ποιότητα στην Ανοικτή Μαζική Διαδικτυακή Εκπαίδευση

Posted on 8 July 20188 July 2018 by imessalas

Ο ΕΛΟΤ και το Ελληνικό Ανοικτό Πανεπιστήμιο, ερευνητική ομάδα DAISSy, διοργανώνουν εκδήλωση με τίτλο “Ποιότητα στην Ανοικτή Μαζική Διαδικτυακή Εκπαίδευση”, την Παρασκευή 13 Ιουλίου 2018 και ώρα 10:00 έως 17:00, στο Παράρτημα του Ελληνικού Ανοικτού Πανεπιστημίου, Γραβιάς 4-6, Αθήνα.

Σκοπός της εκδήλωσης είναι η παρουσίαση των αποτελεσμάτων έρευνας με διεθνή συμμετοχή για την ποιότητα των Ανοικτών Μαζικών Διαδικτυακών Μαθημάτων (Massive Online Open Courses – MOOCs) και η διαβούλευση με την κοινότητα ερευνητών και ενδιαφερομένων για το σχεδιασμό ενός Ευρωπαϊκού Πλαισίου Αναφοράς Ποιότητας (Quality Reference Framework – QRF) που αποσκοπεί στην αξιολόγηση, τη διασφάλιση ποιότητας και τη βελτίωση της αποτελεσματικότητας των μαθησιακών εμπειριών στο πλαίσιο της ανοικτής ηλεκτρονικής εκπαίδευσης.

Η έρευνα διεξήχθη στο πλαίσιο του έργου MOOQ.

Το πρόγραμμα της εκδήλωσης είναι διαθέσιμο εδώ.

Η συμμετοχή στην εκδήλωση είναι δωρεάν, αλλά απαιτείται εγγραφή στη σελίδα εδώ!

Η είσοδος είναι ελεύθερη. Θα δοθούν βεβαιώσεις συμμετοχής.

Περισσότερες πληροφορίες στην ιστοσελίδα http://daissy.eap.gr ή στη διεύθυνση info@daissy.eap.gr

Επιτυχής συμμετοχή του ΕΑΠ στο φεστιβάλ κατά των διακρίσεων στην Κρήτη

Posted on 4 July 20184 July 2018 by imessalas

Με επιτυχία πραγματοποιήθηκε η συμμετοχή του Ελληνικού Ανοικτού Πανεπιστημίου (ΕΑΠ) – Ερευνητική Ομάδα DAISSy, στο φεστιβάλ για την καταπολέμηση των πολλαπλών διακρίσεων που διοργανώθηκε στις 25 Μαίου 2018 στο Ηράκλειο Κρήτης. Η δράση εμπίπτει στο έργο: «Καταπολέμηση των πολλαπλών διακρίσεων στην Ελλάδα: Προώθηση της ισότητας μέσω της ενεργητικής συμμετοχής και της διαμόρφωσης πολιτικών» (“Tackling multiple discrimination in Greece: delivering equality by active exploration and enabling p

olicy interventions”-TACKLE) και την ευθύνη της διοργάνωσης είχε η Περιφέρεια Κρήτης που αποτελεί φορέα-εταίρο του έργου μαζί με το ΕΑΠ- Ερευνητική Ομάδα DAISSy, την Οικονομική και Κοινωνική Επιτροπή της Ελλάδας (ΟΚΕ) και το Πανεπιστήμιο της Σεβίλλης, με Συντονιστή το Εθνικό Κέντρο Κοινωνικών Ερευνών (ΕΚΚΕ). Το έργο χρηματοδοτείται κατά 80% από το πρόγραμμα «Rights, Equality and Citizenship» (REC) της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης και κατά 20% από ίδιους πόρους

Κύριοι στόχοι του φεστιβάλ ήταν η ανταλλαγή πετυχημένων παραδειγμάτων σχετικά με την καταπολέμηση των διακρίσεων και η ανάπτυξη διαλόγου με βάση τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα και το περιεχόμενο της Ευρωπαϊκής και εθνικής πολιτικής για τις πολλαπλές διακρίσεις. Οι ομιλίες ανέδειξαν καλές πρακτικές ως προς την καταπολέμηση στερεοτύπων σε ευάλωτες ομάδες καθώς και αποτελεσματικά «εργαλεία» στον τομέα αυτό.

Ο Δρ Αχιλλέας Καμέας, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής ΕΑΠ και επικεφαλής της Ερευνητικής Ομάδας DAISSy, είχε την ευκαιρία να παρουσιάσει αποτελέσματα των δράσεων του φορέα για το έργο, κάνοντας ειδική αναλυτική αναφορά στις επιτυχείς ημέρες πληροφόρησης (info-days), το φεστιβάλ και το εργαστήριο δικτύωσης τοπικών φορέων που διοργανώθηκαν στην Πάτρα. Έδωσε έμφαση στη διασύνδεση μεταξύ συναφών Ευρωπαϊκών έργων που υλοποιούνται παράλληλα από το ΕΑΠ (WEMIN, TOY+, BRIGHTS, DCDS), επιτυγχάνοντας πολλαπλασιαστικά αποτελέσματα και ενθαρρύνοντας την πολύπλευρη αξιοποίησή τους.

Το φεστιβάλ ολοκληρώθηκε με μια όμορφη εκδήλωση στην πλατεία του Ηρακλείου, στην οποία μέλη συλλόγων ευαίσθητων κοινωνικών ομάδων και συλλόγων μεταναστών συνέβαλαν σε ένα πολύχρωμο πολιτιστικό πρόγραμμα.

Υλικό για το έργο βρίσκεται αναρτημένο στην ιστοσελίδα, καθώς και στην ιστοσελίδα του ΕΑΠ, την ιστοσελίδα της Ερευνητικής Ομάδας DAISSy, και στις σελίδες του φορέα και της ομάδας στα μέσα κοινωνικής δικτύωσης (facebook, twitter).

Για περισσότερες πληροφορίες μπορείτε να επικοινωνήσετε με την Ερευνητική Ομάδα DAISSy του ΕΑΠ (Υπεύθυνος Δρ. Αχιλλέας Καμέας / e–mail: info@daissy.eap.gr)

The Mu.SA Project at the Museum Studies Seminars “Communication Oriented Museums”

Posted on 3 July 20184 July 2018 by imessalas

Akbank Sanat and ICTOP successfully organized five Musical Studies Seminars that took place at the AKBANK SANAT Art Center, celebrating the International Museum Day “Hybrid Connected Museums: New Approaches, New Publics” and the 50th anniversary of ICOM – ICTOP.

In the two-day seminars entitled “Communication-Oriented Museums”, the changing faces of the museums are confronted and negotiated, without denying, the new conditions created by technology, taking into account the communicative aspect of Museology. Speakers, museum, communication and training specialists from both the academic community and the museums of Turkey, as well as professionals from internationally renowned European museums such as the British Museum, the Van Gogh and the National Gallery of Denmark etc., presented their own experiences and presented successful practices on museum issues.

In Seminar V: ICOM-ICTOP: “Communication in Museums Related Trainings / Professional Development” was presented the Mu.SA project with the first results of the research as well as the training phases that will be developed within the project (MOOC, Specialization courses and work-based learning) for Museum professionals, by Panagiota Polymeropoulou, Archaeologist – Museologist MSc and Researcher at the Greek Open University, member of the DAISSy Research Group. Participants as well as speakers and the seminar organizers, expressed their interest and will to participate in the project’s future educational activities.

The topics discussed in the seminars were the spaces and changes in exhibition practices and ways of interpreting museums, participatory approaches to museums, forms of implementation of marketing strategies in museums and the ways in which museums make use of social media networking as well as the importance of the education and training of the Museum’s professionals. The seminars were attended by a total of 137 people from Turkey and Europe and the lectures were held in Turkish and English (with simultaneous interpretation for the public).

Download the conference programme here.

Interview with Dr. Achilles Kameas, UMI-Sci-Ed project coordinator

Posted on 24 June 201824 June 2018 by imessalas

Watch the interview of Dr. Achilles Kameas about UMI-Sci-Ed project.

UMI-Sci-Ed (Exploiting Ubiquitous Computing, Mobile Computing and the Internet of Things to promote Science Education) is a Horizon 2020 project, which aims at enhancing the attractiveness of science education and careers for young people (14-16 year olds) via the use of latest technologies. We put Ubiquitous and Mobile Computing and the Internet of Things (UMI) into practice towards enhancing the level of STEM education. At the same time, we are increasing the attractiveness of pursuing a career in domains pervaded by UMI for these youths.

Read more about the UMI-Sci-Ed Project here!

Watch the videos of UMI-Sci-Ed Project from DAISSy YouTube channel here!

YouTube channel of UMI-Sci-Ed Project

Posted on 14 June 201814 June 2018 by imessalas

UMI-Sci-Ed aims to empower youngsters to think creatively, apply new knowledge in an effective way, become continuously competitive in a highly demanding working environment. The ability to switch efficiently between different disciplines such as science disciplines depends on processing effectively the educational material based on clearly defined outcomes, expanding a broad repertoire of ICT communication, problem solving and decision-making skills, and using the collective knowledge represented in networks, based on working environments. The orientation of UMI-Sci-Ed is entrepreneurial and multidisciplinary in an effort to raise young boys’ and girls’ motivation in science education.

Read more about the UMI-Sci-Ed Project here!

Watch the videos of UMI-Sci-Ed Project from DAISSy YouTube channel here!

Promotion of project WEMIN during festival for combating multiple discrimination

Posted on 12 June 201812 June 2018 by imessalas

Α one-day festival on combating discrimination against stereotypes and prejudices and promoting respect for diversity and human rights was organized by the DAISSy research group of HOU on Friday 4 May 2018 in the amphitheater of the new Archaeological Museum of Patras. The festival was among the awareness raising activities implemented by the project “Tackling multiple discrimination in Greece: Delivering equality by active exploration and enabling policy interventions” (project number JUST2015RDISAGDISC9507), which is coordinated by the National Centre for Social Research (EKKE) with HOU participating as partner.

The main objectives of the festival were the exchange of good practices on combating discrimination and the development of dialogue about human rights and the content of European and national policy on multiple discrimination. During the festival, interesting speeches on the types of multiple discrimination and the extent to which they appear in Greece were delivered by EKKE researchers, followed by the presentation of related good practices and projects by an excellent group of researchers, project managers, teachers, cultural educators, activists and volunteers. The speakers highlighted good practices in combating stereotypes in vulnerable groups, application of effective “tools” in this field as well as successful examples of actions exploiting diversity as a parameter of further activation for the benefit of both personal development and the progress of society as a whole.

During the second part of the festival, local Associations of Migrant Communities played a leading role by carrying out cultural activities aiming at highlighting human values and solidarity among all people.

The festival attracted about 60 participants from public and private organizations of the Region of Western Greece, including Education Directors, School teachers, NGO owners, VET managers, Cultural organization managers, Journalists, Researchers, Students and Volunteers. All of them received the WEMIN project brochure as part of their conference pack; many of them expressed strong interest in the project and were given the project contact points for further information.

Focus group with low-skilled adults in Greece

Posted on 12 June 201812 June 2018 by imessalas

A focus group involving thirteen low-skilled adults took place in Patras, Greece, on June 6, 2018. The focus group took place at noon (12:00 – 14:00) at the Patras premises of the Hellenic Open University, a convenient location near the city centre. Four of participants were unemployed, four of them were employed, three were migrants, one elder – retired, and one student. Among them, there was also a person representing a rehabilitation and integration social enterprise. Eight out of the thirteen participants were women.

The focus group ran with the support of one facilitator (Nick Achilleopoulos) and one observer (Panagiota Zafeiropoulou) from Hellenic Open University. The facilitator presented the objectives of DCDS project and the purpose of the focus group. Additionally, he informed the participants about the focus group method and the ground rules. After that, the main discussion session was conducted, lasting approximately 90 minutes; in the following, the most important findings are summarized.

Most of the participants agreed that the digital transformation has helped a lot people who are already familiar with technology but has also created serious problems to people who are not. Usually, the capability of adults to use effectively and properly technologies increases together with their educational level, although elder people may display negative stance about having to learn to use digital technologies. Overall, the Greek society does not seem to be ready for the digital transformation.

Most of the focus group participants agreed that they understand technologies and use them mainly for acquiring knowledge, recreation and serving their daily needs. They would like to improve their digital competences mostly to serve their daily and professional needs. In general, low-skilled adults need to improve their basic skills, whereas middle and high-skilled adults should focus on specialization.

A common problem the participants face with digital and online services is the perception that they are consumed by technology, instead of them using it. Moreover, they are afraid of their personal data being misused because they consider digital technologies as non-credible.

Most of the people participating to this focus group prefer distance learning, preferably with the support of a tutor. This type of learning should be accompanied with project works (assignments) and a pre-assessment of their skills related to the use of online learning platforms. The learning contents should be mostly interactive and include videos. People without previous experience in online learning were also excited with the idea of learning through videos and interactive materials. Migrants would like videos to come with subtitles in their mother tongue. Learning through online means should be based on easy-to-use platforms and supported by an online tutor.

Last, given that most employers acknowledge the value of certification, participants would like to receive a certificate at the end of training, to use it for professional purposes. Unfortunately, the social competences and most competences that are developed through experience, as well as prior experience, are not accredited.