innovation
Open Apps, UOC's knowledge and expertise available for everyone
Led by the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), the Open Apps project is a virtual repository of all the successful knowledge developed by the University during its nearly 20 years of expertise in distance higher education. Through its website, visitors can find more than 20 "open apps": innovative applications and pedagogical experiences that have been developed and tested within the UOC for providing solutions to pedagogical and management needs. In addition, Open Apps also aims to offer those apps and experiences that can be transferred, used and evolved by other institutions.
An app to learn Japanese writing online, a tool to efficiently manage several networks and IP addresses, and innovative methodologies to enhance mathematics comprehension are a few examples already available at Open Apps. This platform will incorporate more contents as the project grows and evolves.
Depending on the "open app", the site will offer the source code and/or extensive documentation regarding user experiences, technical support, articles, etc. Moreover, the platform also offers the possibility of contacting the developers and creators that brought those "open apps" to life.
In fact, Open Apps also wants to attract potential collaborators to build a network that works onto taking e-distance education to a higher level. Indeed, this project is inspired as an open innovation model and works like other 'open' services, like Open Data and Open Access. For this reason, Open Apps is also looking for collaboration focussed on evolving the apps with new functionalities, and sharing new educational uses and experiences.
How does Open Apps work? Check the website, choose the "open app" that suits your needs, click on the 'I'm interested' button, and discover what the collaboration possibilities are...If available, download the source code, change it, improve it, adapt it to your needs, and then just let UOC know; we will add your enhanced version to the Open Apps repository. Cooperation and networking are deep in the core of the Open Apps philosophy.
Creative Little Scientists
Science and mathematics education is important for Europe. Creativity and innovation are equally recognised as important, and their strengthening in and through education as a vital priority. Importantly, also, creativity holds a strong position in early childhood. The Creative Little Scientists project constitutes a timely contribution to a better understanding, at the European level, of the potential available on the common ground that science and mathematics education in pre-school and early primary school can share with creativity.
The recommendations of important European reports in science and mathematics education urge countries to implement innovative curricula and ways of organising the teaching of science and mathematics that address the issue of low student motivation, and ensure that science and mathematics education engages students before the age of 14.
It is widely acknowledged that empowering today’s students to become tomorrow’s creative citizens should be a priority of education in today’s world. Innovation and creativity are vital for economic and social progress, while qualities of mind such as inventiveness, imagination, intuition, wonderment and curiosity are vital for innovation and creativity.
Interestingly, an inherent link seems to exist between creativity and science and mathematics education. Science intrinsically involves inquiry and invention, which are triggered by curiosity, intuition, imagination, all of them elements closely related to creativity; it is also widely accepted nowadays that effective science and mathematics education is based on inquiry, which leads to wonder, and is fuelled by curiosity. However, traditional science and mathematics education is missing the element of creativity.
Despite universal recognition of the importance of inquiry based methods for science and mathematics education, they have not been implemented on a large scale in many European countries, resulting in less effective science learning. However, even in many contexts in which inquiry based science education has become mainstream in the educational discourse, the link with creativity is not explicitly acknowledged.
It seems therefore that we should explore the potential for science and mathematics education that exists on the common ground that it shares with creativity in pre-school and early primary school. The Creative Little Scientists project is a timely response to these needs.
19e Salon Education
Le Salon Education est le salon belge des outils pédagogiques et de l’équipement pour l’enseignement.
Le Salon Education s’adresse à tous les métiers de l’éducation et de l’enseignement : directeurs/préfets, économes, enseignants, formateurs, inspecteurs, logopèdes, agents PMS, médiateurs, bibliothécaires, éducateurs, animateurs, … normaliens et autres futurs professionnels de l’éducation, ... mais aussi aux parents qui jouent, bien sûr, un rôle primordial dans l’éducation de leurs enfants.
Il réunit plus de 200 exposants spécialisés dans la fourniture de biens et la prestation de services au secteur de l’éducation au sens large. Il est une très large vitrine couvrant les domaines d’activité qui touchent de près ou de loin l’éducation, la formation et l’enseignement, et notamment : l’édition scolaire et pédagogique, le matériel et le mobilier scolaires, le mobilier de bureau, le matériel didactique et pédagogique, le matériel technique et professionnel, le matériel artistique, le mobilier de plein air, les voyages, l’alimentation, les langues, l’informatique, l’audiovisuel, le multimédia, la formation des maîtres, les spécialisations, la sécurité, l’hygiène, la psychomotricité, l’équipement de classes, d’auditoires, de bâtiments scolaires, le matériel scientifique, les transports, la culture, les loisirs, le spectacle pour jeunes, les activités extrascolaires, la gestion d’établissements scolaires, la prévention, la santé, l’éducation à l’environnement, le livre de jeunesse, la presse jeunesse, la gestion du personnel, les assurances,... mais aussi l’aide et le conseil aux enseignants et autres professionnels de l’éducation.
Le Salon propose chaque année près de 200 conférences, débats et ateliers.
Ce sont autant d'occasions pour chaque professionnel de rencontrer des confrères ou d’autres professionnels de l’éducation, de se renouveler, de redynamiser son cours, de glaner les idées, de découvrir toutes les nouveautés en matière d’enseignement, de partager des expériences, de confronter ses idées, de se ressourcer, quel que soit son domaine, pour apprendre encore et encore à mieux enseigner, encadrer, orienter, animer, etc.
Ce foisonnement de moyens, d’outils et de solutions contribue à motiver le secteur et à faciliter la tâche des professionnels de l’éducation qui profitent de ce grand rassemblement.
CHEPS 2012 International Conference New Perspectives in Higher Education and Regional Development
Dynamic processes of knowledge infrastructures, innovative businesses and regions
Why do universities choose to contribute to regional economic development? Universities have many assets and facilities that can help drive regional economic development, but that is for the majority of higher education institutions that have the university name not a central part of what they do.
Central to the idea of a university is of independent, abstract learning and knowledge creation in a global knowledge commons, so why would universities tie themselves and be limited by opportunities for co-operation within the particular territory in which they are located? As universities are increasingly strategically managed to achieve their core goals, understanding why universities might choose to work with regions is essential to understanding the contributions that they can potentially make to economic development in general and recovery from the current economic crisis.
eLearning Papers 30 on Creative Classrooms and 21st Century Teachers published!
This issue spotlights new research and classroom practices that illustrate how new learning technologies have affected teachers' professional environments. 21st century learners has become a buzz-word in the field of educational research. This issues applies the term to teachers, seeking practical examples and prospective visions that examine what it means to be a teacher in today’s knowledge society.
The fast-paced evolution of technology is challenging for teachers, who often struggle with the demands of keeping up-to-date with their students’ digital lifestyles. Initiatives for the enhancement of ICT in education often address deployment of devices and tools in the classroom, without fully considering how they may affect and change the way people teach and learn.
This special issue asks: How do educational organisations change? And how does this transformation impact upon the role of teachers? By problematising and giving greater complexity to the issue in hand, the articles serve as a starting point for dialogue and debate.
eLearning Papers 30 that has been guest edited by Hans Laugesen, International Secretary and Senior Educational Policy Officer GL - The National Union of Upper Secondary Teachers, Denmark, Jim Devine, Former President, IADT (Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology), Ireland, and Tapio Koskinen, www.elearningpapers.eu, Director of the Editorial Board, includes the following articles:
In Depth articles
Innovating Teaching and Learning Practices: Key Elements for Developing Creative Classrooms in Europe
Keywords: creative classrooms, innovative pedagogical practices, ICT-enabled innovation for learning, systemic approach, educational change
By Stefania Bocconi, Research fellow at the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, Panagiotis Kampylis, Research fellow at the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies and Yves Punie, Senior scientist at the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies
Leveraging Trust to Support Online Learning Creativity – A Case Study
Keywords:assessment, new learning environments, learning interactions, e-participation
By Sonia Sousa and David Lamas, Tallinn University, Institute of Informatics
Academic Staff Development in the Area of Technology Enhanced Learning in UK HEIs
Tags
Keywords: staff development, technology enhanced learning, training, higher education
By Timos Almpanis, Learning Technologies, Southampton Solent University
From the Field articles
Training Teachers to Use Web 2.0 Tools
Keywords: professional development, Web 2.0 tools, open educational resources
By Sandra Vuk, August Šenoa Elementary School, Zagreb and Dubravka Petković Fažana Elementary School, Fažana
Enhancing Online Student Engagement
Keywords: distance education, student engagement, arts-based learning activities, higher education, learning technologies
By Beth Perry, Athabasca University, Katherine J. Janzen, Mount Royal University and Margaret Edwards, Athabasca University
Website – A Partnership between Parents, Students and Schools
Keywords: school website, cooperation, school-family relationships, primary school
By Sandra Vuk, August Šenoa Elementary School, Zagreb
To read eLearning Papers 30 on Creative Classrooms and 21st Century Teachers, click here
GeNeMe'12
Die GeNeMe'12 Tagung stellt innovative Technologien und Prozesse zur Organisation, Kooperation und Kommunikation in virtuellen Gemeinschaften vor und bildet ein Forum zum fachlichen Austausch. Diskutiert werden nicht nur technologische oder ökonomische Gesichtspunkte der Benutzung neuer Medien, vielmehr rücken auch soziologische, psychologische, personalwirtschaftliche, didaktische und rechtliche Aspekte in den Mittelpunkt des Interesses. Es richtet sich an Fachleute aus Forschung und Industrie und sucht den Erfahrungsaustausch zwischen Teilnehmern verschiedenster Fachrichtungen, Organisationen und Institutionen aus Wirtschaft und Verwaltung.
Internet-basierte Technologien wie z.B. Social Media Werkzeuge,aber auch ERP-Systeme und Wissensplattformen verändern weiterhin Form und Intensität der Zusammenarbeit in Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft und Bildung bis hin zum privaten (Zusammen-)Leben. Dabei führt die zunehmende Mobilität zu neuen Nutzungsoptionen auch für multimediale Systeme, sei es im Bereich des Gaming oder beim gemeinsamen Gestalten digitaler Produkte. Gerade für die Web 2.0 Technologien gilt: Ziel der Nutzung sind Kommunikation, Kooperation und Kollaboration.
Die Nutzer suchen Unterstützung bei täglichen Routineprozessen ebenso wie in nicht alltäglichen Situationen - etwa bei der Erstellung von Inhalten - und schließen sich in Online-Fachgemeinschaften, sogenannten Communities, unterschiedlichster Ausrichtung zusammen. Dabei entstehen weiterhin neue organisationale Einheiten: Kleine Unternehmenseinheiten finden bedarfs- und kompetenzorientiert in fluiden Netzwerken oder virtuellen Unternehmen zueinander, E-Business-Systeme, Online-Auktionen, Portale, Diskussionsforen u.v.m. lassen Gemeinschaften aus Konsumenten entstehen; fachbezogene überregionale Informationssysteme und lokale Bürger-Informationssysteme sind Orte gemeinschaftlicher Aktivität in Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft gleichermaßen.
Die Gemeinschaften fördern das web-basierte Arbeiten,Unterhalten, Lernen und dienen zunehmend auch wissenschaftlichen Zielen unter dem Label der eScience. Das Prinzip der virtuellen Organisationen verbindet nicht nur bestehende Standorte, vielmehr kennzeichnet es zunehmend die Kooperation innerhalb klassischer Präsenzgemeinschaften und -unternehmen und eröffnet neue Spielräume, sowohl intra- wie auch interinstitutionell. Mit dem aktuell erwarteten Börsengang von Facebook zeigt sich einmal mehr die ungebrochene wirtschaftliche Bedeutung von globaler Dimension.
Auf der GeNeMe 2012 werden technologische, ökonomische und organisationale Gesichtspunkte der Benutzung von Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien, so genannten neuen Medien, diskutiert. Hinzu kommen medienwissenschaftliche, psychologische, didaktische, personalwirtschaftliche, soziologische und rechtliche Perspektiven mit dem Ziel der Interpretation des Funktionierens von Gemeinschaften in und durch neue Medien.
CLC12- CorporateLearningCamp
CLC12 Leitthema: HR und Corporate Learning im Umbruch
Der große Erfolg des CLC11 macht uns Mut für das zweite BarCamp für Trainings-, Kompetenz- und Personalentwicklungs-Profis aus Unternehmen. Diesmal vom 28. bis 29. September 2012 in Frankfurt. Veranstalter des CoLearnCamps ist der Arbeitgeberverband HESSENMETALL.
Pragmatisches Lernen voneinander - über Unternehmensgrenzen hinweg. Für die, die sonst das Lernen Anderer in Unternehmen anstoßen, begleiten, oder verant-worten: Für HR-Experten, Trainings-Profis und Führungskräfte.
European Design Innovation SUmmit 2012
The main event of the European Design Innovation Initiative in 2012 will be held on September 17 and 18 in Helsinki, World Design Capital in 2012. The report of the European Design Leadership Board “DESIGN FOR GROWTH AND PROSPERITY” will be presented and discussed during the event
The European Design Leadership Board was established in early 2011 by Antonio Tajani, Vice President of the European Commission responsible for Enterprise and Industry. Vice President Tajani invited the Leadership Board to provide recommendations on how to enhance the role of design in innovation policy in Europe at the national, regional or local level and to develop a joint vision, priorities and actions to enable design to become an integral part of innovation policies in Europe, in line with the Innovation Union. Over a period of one year, the European Design Leadership Board held seven meetings and a co-design policy workshop with over fifty key stakeholders from government, industry, academia, the design industries and the public sector.
Taking a broad-based view of design, the Leadership Board identified twenty-one policy recommendations, in six strategic areas for design action:
- European design on the global stage
- Design in Europe’s Innovation system
- Design in Europe’s enterprises
- Design in Europe’s public sector
- Design in Europe’s research system
- Design in Europe’s education system
The twenty-one recommendations will be spelled out during the Summit. All participants will receive a copy of the report “DESIGN FOR GROWTH AND PROSPERITY”
The Summit will be hosted by the City of Helsinki and is expected to start at 16.30 on 17 September and to close at 15.30 on 18 September. The audience is limited to 200 participants and will be completed in the order of registration. REGISTER NOW!
The European Design Innovation Blog is constantly updated and provides most recent news about the Summit.