Georgios Fesakis | University of the Aegean (original) (raw)
Papers by Georgios Fesakis
Proceedings of the 2019 IEEE/ACM International Conference on Advances in Social Networks Analysis and Mining
Many researchers have extensively studied the importance of social media in every aspect of human... more Many researchers have extensively studied the importance of social media in every aspect of human life in recent years. There are several instances in which information collected from social media can help not only companies and political parties to design their strategy, but also can save human lives if appropriately analyzed and used. There are numerous cases in which information posted to social media in emergencies and natural disasters was used by the emergency responders to get immediate access to the areas in need or by authorities to acquire a better understanding of the affected areas. In our work, we attempt to test whether information from social media can improve the effectiveness of first responders in the areas of refugee crisis and especially in the Mediterranean Sea. Hundreds of thousands of people attempt to cross the Mediterranean sea and enter Europe but several of them lose their lives because of the dangerous boats that smugglers use. We simulated a Search and Rescue (SAR) mission in a virtual environment which takes place in the 3D world of a real Greek island and we tested our hypothesis that social media can help rescuers to locate people in need by applying the visual search theory. The experimental results were very promising for the specific application of social media surveillance.
2022 IEEE 14th Image, Video, and Multidimensional Signal Processing Workshop (IVMSP)
International Journal of Mobile and Blended Learning
In recent years more and more people use their mobile phones daily for work or entertainment. The... more In recent years more and more people use their mobile phones daily for work or entertainment. The increasing use of mobile devices has led researchers to seek new ways of learning with their support, beyond the confines of formal education. The increasing computing power of mobile devices has contributed to the emergence of new, rapidly evolving technologies, with augmented reality (AR) applications being at the forefront of these developments. This article provides a literature review of AR applications for mobile devices related to informal education. It analyses their structural elements to examine if they exploit powerful features such as collaboration and content modification, as well as storytelling potentials. The findings show that most of these applications use those learning affordances only to a very limited extent, as they are mainly designed for individual usage, do not allow user-originated contribution to the digital material, and do not incorporate elements of any st...
Mathematics
The COVID-19-induced distance education was perceived as highly challenging by teachers and stude... more The COVID-19-induced distance education was perceived as highly challenging by teachers and students. A cross-national comparison of five European countries identified several challenges occurred during the distance learning period. On this basis, the article aims to develop a theoretical framework and design requirements for distance and online learning tools. As one example for online learning in mathematics education, the ASYMPTOTE system is introduced. It will be freely available by May 2022. ASYMPTOTE is aimed at the adaptive and synchronous delivery of online education by taking a mobile learning approach. Its core is the so-called digital classroom, which not only allows students to interact with each other or with the teacher but also enables teachers to monitor their students’ work progress in real time. With respect to the theoretical framework, this article analyses to what extent the ASYMPTOTE system meets the requirements of online learning. Overall, the digital classro...
Proceedings of the 9th international conference on Computer supported collaborative learning - CSCL'09, 2009
Description of the workshop content Topic: Automatic and semi-automatic methods and tools providi... more Description of the workshop content Topic: Automatic and semi-automatic methods and tools providing indicators and multiple visualizations and views, that could support self-regulation and/or moderation purposes. Focus on Interaction Analysis (IA) tools that analyse ...
Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 2008
Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe - HAL - memSIC, Feb 2, 2022
Distance teaching and learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic was perceived as a major challenge by... more Distance teaching and learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic was perceived as a major challenge by both, teachers and students. With new ways of instruction emerging in a matter of days, the resulting instruction formatssummarized in the term Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT)-could not fully meet the needs of online teaching and learning in Spring 2020. With a particular focus on the reported problems of mathematics distance education during the Covid-19 pandemic, this paper firstly aims at providing a theoretical framework for the development of mobile environments for distance math class. In doing so, we refer to the Community of Inquiry (CoI) model and e-pedagogy to deduce design requirements for online learning environments. Secondly, the ASYMPTOTE system is introduced. Based on the theoretical considerations and the discussed Covid-19 experiences, necessary further developments and requirements for the project are identified.
Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing
Seeking a systematic combination of the pedagogical model of m-learning with the Realistic Mathem... more Seeking a systematic combination of the pedagogical model of m-learning with the Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) approach, this study concerns the use of math trail as a learning activity model that can take the advantages of mobile computing devices for the design of effective learning experiences in an authentic context. The paper presents the design and the study of the first pilot implementation of a math trail, using mobile devices for primary school students. In this math trail, the students are guided, through a digital map, to a sequence of preselected sites of a park where they solve specially designed math problems using data from the environmental context. The students measure real objects’ dimensions either with conventional instruments or by measurement applications of their tablet. According to the findings of the study, students solved the puzzles by applying mathematical knowledge, discussion and collaboration. The students applied and reinforced their knowledge through an effective and engaging learning activity. Moreover, the students were puzzled about the differences of the measurements by conventional and digital instruments and this confusion triggered social negotiation. Further research is needed for a grounded theory development about m-learning design for RME.
The International Journal for Technology in Mathematics Education, 2020
Scheduling ying crews of airline companies is a hard combinatorial problem, taken the complexity ... more Scheduling ying crews of airline companies is a hard combinatorial problem, taken the complexity of constraints that have to be satissed. Constraint-based programming techniques is a new method, apart to the traditional Operations Research-based techniques used so far for the solution of the problem. The presentation will discuss the ndings and results of applying constraint-based programming techniques and associated tools for the solution of the crew scheduling problem in the context of the ESPRIT HPCN project PARACHUTE, a project that combines constraint programming with parallel computing.
Aiming to contribute to the disambiguation of Computational Thinking (CT) concept the present wor... more Aiming to contribute to the disambiguation of Computational Thinking (CT) concept the present work explores the conceptual interpretation of CT in widely known institutional and programmatic curricula. The paper explores the understanding of CT by the teachers as this is depicted in the pedagogical translation of the curricula into learning activities. More specifically, a directed qualitative content analysis was conducted on the set of learning activities of selected curricula, using a complex coding scheme, based on current theoretical conceptions of CT. The outcomes promote the understanding of CT’s educational meaning, by unveiling the current content theory of CT formation as a school subject, as it is implicated in curricula proposed so far. The paper helps a more precise mapping of the general educational potential of CS, in comparison to CT, in K12 as well as the definition of relevant future research directions.
Review of Science, Mathematics and ICT Education, 2019
Over the past decade, the assessment of the general educational value of computer programming and... more Over the past decade, the assessment of the general educational value of computer programming and computational thinking has been constantly increasing and, as a result, they are introduced to increasingly younger ages. In parallel, educational programming environments are significantly progressing, providing a variety of options for different ages. This paper presents an overview of the modern learning programming environments for primary education and proposes a classification system with categories corresponding to the technological and educational dimensions of the area. The paper aims to support teachers in learning design for the interdisciplinary approach of programming and the development of computational thinking.
In recent decades, several studies about creative thinking are focused on its development through... more In recent decades, several studies about creative thinking are focused on its development through teamwork activities, using creativity techniques. Collaborative learning as an instructional method provides suitable conditions for the implementation of such activities. Social interaction and communication are the common ground of collaborative learning and the development of creativity. Moreover, both creative thinking and collaborative learning are facilitated and supported through the use of appropriate Information and Communication Technology (ICT). In addition, the need to study the possibility of applying creativity techniques in cases of Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) has arisen. The research may concern existing or new creativity techniques, specially designed for the case of CSCL and also examine whether these affect the process and the outcome of CSCL. This paper presents a study of two, equivalent effectiveness, groups of university students (Group A – GA and Group B - GB), who developed branching stories according to a CSCL scenario. Creativity techniques were provided to GA, in contrast to GB. Both groups worked exclusively through an electronic environment. The groups were compared in terms of their interaction throughout the process of collaboration as well as on the base of their final product. Drawing a comparison between the two groups, regarding the creativity, significant difference is observed in the fluency of ideas during the second half of the story development process. More specifically, using the creativity techniques, GA has generated significantly more ideas than the GB. Additionally, GA shows better and more extensive elaboration of its ideas, throughout the development of the story. Finally, there was a non-statistically significant greater flexibility in the first stage of the story development process by GA. The research findings support the hypothesis that creativity techniques are not only feasible in CSCL environments but in addition they can foster creativity dimensions such as fluency, elaboration and flexibility. The present research contributes in the investigation of the relation among creativity and CSCL as well as in the design of creative learning activities and scenarios. Future directions of the research could concern the invention and validation of new creativity development techniques especially adapted for CSCL environments.
This paper presents empirical research results about the impact of Interaction Analysis (IA) grap... more This paper presents empirical research results about the impact of Interaction Analysis (IA) graphs to groups of students collaborating through online blogging according to a “learning by design” scenario. The IA graphs used are of two categories, the first category summarizes quantitatively the activity of the users for each blog permitting the comparison of students’ activity level in a group while the second category permits the comparison among different groups. The statistical analysis of the students’ interactions shows significant impact of the graphs presence to the number of posts and comments produced by the groups. Furthermore the graphs of the first category (intra-group IA) have stronger consequences than the graphs of the second (intergroup IA). The results support the general claim that interaction analysis is an important component for self regulation in computer supported collaborative learning environments.
The purpose of this paper is the study of kindergarten children’s capabilities while they engaged... more The purpose of this paper is the study of kindergarten children’s capabilities while they engaged in problem solving concerning the production of combinations of one or two from a set of four objects with repetition. Two groups of children initially solved the problem using two microworlds without and with feedback and scaffolding mechanisms correspondingly. Finally, all children solved an equivalent problem using manipulatives. Video recordings of the children activity have been analysed in order to understand the effects of microworlds features in their performance.
Lecture Notes in Social Networks, 2021
Social media nowadays are linked almost with every aspect of our lives. They can and have been us... more Social media nowadays are linked almost with every aspect of our lives. They can and have been used to explain social relations, human behaviors, political affections, product preference, just to mention a few applications of social network analysis. Moreover, there are cases in which social media surveillance can be proved valuable for saving human lives as the case which is studied in this book chapter. More specifically, we attempt to test how information collected from social media can improve the ability of a Search and Rescue (SAR) crew to detect people in need using visual search. For the purposes of the study, we simulated a SAR mission in a 3D virtual environment and we asked the study participants to locate refuges needing assistance in different areas of an island. The initial information provided to the volunteers was differentiated and the experiments showed that volunteers who were searching for clues based on input from local social media posts were able to track all ...
Computational Thinking in the STEM Disciplines, 2018
The high impact of computer science (CS) in science, economy, and society has increased the inter... more The high impact of computer science (CS) in science, economy, and society has increased the international dialogue about the role of computational thinking (CT) in education. No sooner had this discussion come to a closing than several curricula developed, in the framework of various initiatives for the promotion of CT in K-12 education. In the meantime, concerns that CT is neither a unique and distinctive nor an adequate characterization of CS (Denning, Commun ACM 52:28–30, 2009), and thus supports a limited view of the role of CS in general education, were expressed. This chapter explores the conceptual interpretation of CT in widely known K-12 curricula. Furthermore, the paper explores the understanding of CT by the teachers as this is depicted in the pedagogical translation (Deng, J Curriculum Stud 41:585–604, 2009) of the curricula into learning activities. More specifically, directed qualitative content analysis on sets of learning activities of the selected curricula was conducted, using a complex coding scheme, based on current theoretical conceptions of CT, the fundamental principles of computing, and selected educational dimensions. The goals of the analysis include (a) to promote CT conceptual disambiguation, (b) to deductively confirm that CT concerns the application of CS to other school subjects and gain a better understanding of the nature of this relation, and (c) to search for evidence supporting Denning’s (Commun ACM 52:28–30, 2009) view according to which, while CT is one of the key practices of CS, it is not adequate to cover all the principles and practices of the discipline. The outcomes promote the understanding of CT’s educational meaning, by unveiling the current content theory of CT’s formation as a school subject.
Informatics in Education, 2019
The role of teachers is very important for the educational utilization of Computational Thinking ... more The role of teachers is very important for the educational utilization of Computational Thinking (CT) and its integration in education. As with any innovation, CTs' successful integration considerably depends on the perceptions, beliefs and attitudes of the teachers who will be asked to implement it. The study of these characteristics, concerning Computer Science (CS) teachers in Greece, was the objective of a survey research, theoretically supported by the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Findings reveal intense interest of participants on CT and their willingness to participate in professional development programs. Participants also reveal misconceptions of CT and negative attitudes toward its integration in education, that require further study and discussion. The researchers propose directions for the design and implementation of appropriate teachers training programs, while the findings can be exploited to support any effort of inte...
International Journal of Engineering Pedagogy (iJEP), 2018
Seeking a systematic combination of the pedagogical model of m-learning with the Realistic Mathem... more Seeking a systematic combination of the pedagogical model of m-learning with the Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) approach, this study concerns the use of math trail as a learning activity model that can take the advantages of mobile computing devices for the design of effective learning experiences in an authentic context. The paper presents the design and the case study of the first pilot implementation of a math trail, using mobile devices for primary school students. In this math trail, the students are guided, through a digital map, to a sequence of preselected sites of a park where they solve specially designed math problems using data from the environmental context. The students measure real objects’ dimensions either with conventional instruments or by measurement applications of their tablet. According to the findings of the study, students solved the puzzles by applying mathematical knowledge, discussion and collaboration. The students applied and reinforced their kno...
Proceedings of the 2019 IEEE/ACM International Conference on Advances in Social Networks Analysis and Mining
Many researchers have extensively studied the importance of social media in every aspect of human... more Many researchers have extensively studied the importance of social media in every aspect of human life in recent years. There are several instances in which information collected from social media can help not only companies and political parties to design their strategy, but also can save human lives if appropriately analyzed and used. There are numerous cases in which information posted to social media in emergencies and natural disasters was used by the emergency responders to get immediate access to the areas in need or by authorities to acquire a better understanding of the affected areas. In our work, we attempt to test whether information from social media can improve the effectiveness of first responders in the areas of refugee crisis and especially in the Mediterranean Sea. Hundreds of thousands of people attempt to cross the Mediterranean sea and enter Europe but several of them lose their lives because of the dangerous boats that smugglers use. We simulated a Search and Rescue (SAR) mission in a virtual environment which takes place in the 3D world of a real Greek island and we tested our hypothesis that social media can help rescuers to locate people in need by applying the visual search theory. The experimental results were very promising for the specific application of social media surveillance.
2022 IEEE 14th Image, Video, and Multidimensional Signal Processing Workshop (IVMSP)
International Journal of Mobile and Blended Learning
In recent years more and more people use their mobile phones daily for work or entertainment. The... more In recent years more and more people use their mobile phones daily for work or entertainment. The increasing use of mobile devices has led researchers to seek new ways of learning with their support, beyond the confines of formal education. The increasing computing power of mobile devices has contributed to the emergence of new, rapidly evolving technologies, with augmented reality (AR) applications being at the forefront of these developments. This article provides a literature review of AR applications for mobile devices related to informal education. It analyses their structural elements to examine if they exploit powerful features such as collaboration and content modification, as well as storytelling potentials. The findings show that most of these applications use those learning affordances only to a very limited extent, as they are mainly designed for individual usage, do not allow user-originated contribution to the digital material, and do not incorporate elements of any st...
Mathematics
The COVID-19-induced distance education was perceived as highly challenging by teachers and stude... more The COVID-19-induced distance education was perceived as highly challenging by teachers and students. A cross-national comparison of five European countries identified several challenges occurred during the distance learning period. On this basis, the article aims to develop a theoretical framework and design requirements for distance and online learning tools. As one example for online learning in mathematics education, the ASYMPTOTE system is introduced. It will be freely available by May 2022. ASYMPTOTE is aimed at the adaptive and synchronous delivery of online education by taking a mobile learning approach. Its core is the so-called digital classroom, which not only allows students to interact with each other or with the teacher but also enables teachers to monitor their students’ work progress in real time. With respect to the theoretical framework, this article analyses to what extent the ASYMPTOTE system meets the requirements of online learning. Overall, the digital classro...
Proceedings of the 9th international conference on Computer supported collaborative learning - CSCL'09, 2009
Description of the workshop content Topic: Automatic and semi-automatic methods and tools providi... more Description of the workshop content Topic: Automatic and semi-automatic methods and tools providing indicators and multiple visualizations and views, that could support self-regulation and/or moderation purposes. Focus on Interaction Analysis (IA) tools that analyse ...
Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 2008
Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe - HAL - memSIC, Feb 2, 2022
Distance teaching and learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic was perceived as a major challenge by... more Distance teaching and learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic was perceived as a major challenge by both, teachers and students. With new ways of instruction emerging in a matter of days, the resulting instruction formatssummarized in the term Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT)-could not fully meet the needs of online teaching and learning in Spring 2020. With a particular focus on the reported problems of mathematics distance education during the Covid-19 pandemic, this paper firstly aims at providing a theoretical framework for the development of mobile environments for distance math class. In doing so, we refer to the Community of Inquiry (CoI) model and e-pedagogy to deduce design requirements for online learning environments. Secondly, the ASYMPTOTE system is introduced. Based on the theoretical considerations and the discussed Covid-19 experiences, necessary further developments and requirements for the project are identified.
Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing
Seeking a systematic combination of the pedagogical model of m-learning with the Realistic Mathem... more Seeking a systematic combination of the pedagogical model of m-learning with the Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) approach, this study concerns the use of math trail as a learning activity model that can take the advantages of mobile computing devices for the design of effective learning experiences in an authentic context. The paper presents the design and the study of the first pilot implementation of a math trail, using mobile devices for primary school students. In this math trail, the students are guided, through a digital map, to a sequence of preselected sites of a park where they solve specially designed math problems using data from the environmental context. The students measure real objects’ dimensions either with conventional instruments or by measurement applications of their tablet. According to the findings of the study, students solved the puzzles by applying mathematical knowledge, discussion and collaboration. The students applied and reinforced their knowledge through an effective and engaging learning activity. Moreover, the students were puzzled about the differences of the measurements by conventional and digital instruments and this confusion triggered social negotiation. Further research is needed for a grounded theory development about m-learning design for RME.
The International Journal for Technology in Mathematics Education, 2020
Scheduling ying crews of airline companies is a hard combinatorial problem, taken the complexity ... more Scheduling ying crews of airline companies is a hard combinatorial problem, taken the complexity of constraints that have to be satissed. Constraint-based programming techniques is a new method, apart to the traditional Operations Research-based techniques used so far for the solution of the problem. The presentation will discuss the ndings and results of applying constraint-based programming techniques and associated tools for the solution of the crew scheduling problem in the context of the ESPRIT HPCN project PARACHUTE, a project that combines constraint programming with parallel computing.
Aiming to contribute to the disambiguation of Computational Thinking (CT) concept the present wor... more Aiming to contribute to the disambiguation of Computational Thinking (CT) concept the present work explores the conceptual interpretation of CT in widely known institutional and programmatic curricula. The paper explores the understanding of CT by the teachers as this is depicted in the pedagogical translation of the curricula into learning activities. More specifically, a directed qualitative content analysis was conducted on the set of learning activities of selected curricula, using a complex coding scheme, based on current theoretical conceptions of CT. The outcomes promote the understanding of CT’s educational meaning, by unveiling the current content theory of CT formation as a school subject, as it is implicated in curricula proposed so far. The paper helps a more precise mapping of the general educational potential of CS, in comparison to CT, in K12 as well as the definition of relevant future research directions.
Review of Science, Mathematics and ICT Education, 2019
Over the past decade, the assessment of the general educational value of computer programming and... more Over the past decade, the assessment of the general educational value of computer programming and computational thinking has been constantly increasing and, as a result, they are introduced to increasingly younger ages. In parallel, educational programming environments are significantly progressing, providing a variety of options for different ages. This paper presents an overview of the modern learning programming environments for primary education and proposes a classification system with categories corresponding to the technological and educational dimensions of the area. The paper aims to support teachers in learning design for the interdisciplinary approach of programming and the development of computational thinking.
In recent decades, several studies about creative thinking are focused on its development through... more In recent decades, several studies about creative thinking are focused on its development through teamwork activities, using creativity techniques. Collaborative learning as an instructional method provides suitable conditions for the implementation of such activities. Social interaction and communication are the common ground of collaborative learning and the development of creativity. Moreover, both creative thinking and collaborative learning are facilitated and supported through the use of appropriate Information and Communication Technology (ICT). In addition, the need to study the possibility of applying creativity techniques in cases of Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) has arisen. The research may concern existing or new creativity techniques, specially designed for the case of CSCL and also examine whether these affect the process and the outcome of CSCL. This paper presents a study of two, equivalent effectiveness, groups of university students (Group A – GA and Group B - GB), who developed branching stories according to a CSCL scenario. Creativity techniques were provided to GA, in contrast to GB. Both groups worked exclusively through an electronic environment. The groups were compared in terms of their interaction throughout the process of collaboration as well as on the base of their final product. Drawing a comparison between the two groups, regarding the creativity, significant difference is observed in the fluency of ideas during the second half of the story development process. More specifically, using the creativity techniques, GA has generated significantly more ideas than the GB. Additionally, GA shows better and more extensive elaboration of its ideas, throughout the development of the story. Finally, there was a non-statistically significant greater flexibility in the first stage of the story development process by GA. The research findings support the hypothesis that creativity techniques are not only feasible in CSCL environments but in addition they can foster creativity dimensions such as fluency, elaboration and flexibility. The present research contributes in the investigation of the relation among creativity and CSCL as well as in the design of creative learning activities and scenarios. Future directions of the research could concern the invention and validation of new creativity development techniques especially adapted for CSCL environments.
This paper presents empirical research results about the impact of Interaction Analysis (IA) grap... more This paper presents empirical research results about the impact of Interaction Analysis (IA) graphs to groups of students collaborating through online blogging according to a “learning by design” scenario. The IA graphs used are of two categories, the first category summarizes quantitatively the activity of the users for each blog permitting the comparison of students’ activity level in a group while the second category permits the comparison among different groups. The statistical analysis of the students’ interactions shows significant impact of the graphs presence to the number of posts and comments produced by the groups. Furthermore the graphs of the first category (intra-group IA) have stronger consequences than the graphs of the second (intergroup IA). The results support the general claim that interaction analysis is an important component for self regulation in computer supported collaborative learning environments.
The purpose of this paper is the study of kindergarten children’s capabilities while they engaged... more The purpose of this paper is the study of kindergarten children’s capabilities while they engaged in problem solving concerning the production of combinations of one or two from a set of four objects with repetition. Two groups of children initially solved the problem using two microworlds without and with feedback and scaffolding mechanisms correspondingly. Finally, all children solved an equivalent problem using manipulatives. Video recordings of the children activity have been analysed in order to understand the effects of microworlds features in their performance.
Lecture Notes in Social Networks, 2021
Social media nowadays are linked almost with every aspect of our lives. They can and have been us... more Social media nowadays are linked almost with every aspect of our lives. They can and have been used to explain social relations, human behaviors, political affections, product preference, just to mention a few applications of social network analysis. Moreover, there are cases in which social media surveillance can be proved valuable for saving human lives as the case which is studied in this book chapter. More specifically, we attempt to test how information collected from social media can improve the ability of a Search and Rescue (SAR) crew to detect people in need using visual search. For the purposes of the study, we simulated a SAR mission in a 3D virtual environment and we asked the study participants to locate refuges needing assistance in different areas of an island. The initial information provided to the volunteers was differentiated and the experiments showed that volunteers who were searching for clues based on input from local social media posts were able to track all ...
Computational Thinking in the STEM Disciplines, 2018
The high impact of computer science (CS) in science, economy, and society has increased the inter... more The high impact of computer science (CS) in science, economy, and society has increased the international dialogue about the role of computational thinking (CT) in education. No sooner had this discussion come to a closing than several curricula developed, in the framework of various initiatives for the promotion of CT in K-12 education. In the meantime, concerns that CT is neither a unique and distinctive nor an adequate characterization of CS (Denning, Commun ACM 52:28–30, 2009), and thus supports a limited view of the role of CS in general education, were expressed. This chapter explores the conceptual interpretation of CT in widely known K-12 curricula. Furthermore, the paper explores the understanding of CT by the teachers as this is depicted in the pedagogical translation (Deng, J Curriculum Stud 41:585–604, 2009) of the curricula into learning activities. More specifically, directed qualitative content analysis on sets of learning activities of the selected curricula was conducted, using a complex coding scheme, based on current theoretical conceptions of CT, the fundamental principles of computing, and selected educational dimensions. The goals of the analysis include (a) to promote CT conceptual disambiguation, (b) to deductively confirm that CT concerns the application of CS to other school subjects and gain a better understanding of the nature of this relation, and (c) to search for evidence supporting Denning’s (Commun ACM 52:28–30, 2009) view according to which, while CT is one of the key practices of CS, it is not adequate to cover all the principles and practices of the discipline. The outcomes promote the understanding of CT’s educational meaning, by unveiling the current content theory of CT’s formation as a school subject.
Informatics in Education, 2019
The role of teachers is very important for the educational utilization of Computational Thinking ... more The role of teachers is very important for the educational utilization of Computational Thinking (CT) and its integration in education. As with any innovation, CTs' successful integration considerably depends on the perceptions, beliefs and attitudes of the teachers who will be asked to implement it. The study of these characteristics, concerning Computer Science (CS) teachers in Greece, was the objective of a survey research, theoretically supported by the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Findings reveal intense interest of participants on CT and their willingness to participate in professional development programs. Participants also reveal misconceptions of CT and negative attitudes toward its integration in education, that require further study and discussion. The researchers propose directions for the design and implementation of appropriate teachers training programs, while the findings can be exploited to support any effort of inte...
International Journal of Engineering Pedagogy (iJEP), 2018
Seeking a systematic combination of the pedagogical model of m-learning with the Realistic Mathem... more Seeking a systematic combination of the pedagogical model of m-learning with the Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) approach, this study concerns the use of math trail as a learning activity model that can take the advantages of mobile computing devices for the design of effective learning experiences in an authentic context. The paper presents the design and the case study of the first pilot implementation of a math trail, using mobile devices for primary school students. In this math trail, the students are guided, through a digital map, to a sequence of preselected sites of a park where they solve specially designed math problems using data from the environmental context. The students measure real objects’ dimensions either with conventional instruments or by measurement applications of their tablet. According to the findings of the study, students solved the puzzles by applying mathematical knowledge, discussion and collaboration. The students applied and reinforced their kno...