This research area investigates the various teaching and learning processes that take place in online environments as well as their effects on learner outcomes. Research issues such as how to tailor and fine-tune online teaching to learners’ needs, how learners culturally appropriate knowledge, and the effects of instruction on learners’ performance. Interaction and communication in formal and informal learning scenarios would be the core mechanisms for analysis throughout all kinds of ICT technologies. The results of the teaching and learning processes will search for adaptable decisions and actions that make these processes reliable. The three main areas of research are (but not limited): 1) instructional design of online tasks, materials and tools, 2) e-assessment methods and the provision of effective feedback 3) learning support and efficient student patterns and profiles
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Propostes de tesi |
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Assessment and feedback in online learning environments This research line focuses on:
- Characteristics and nature of feedback and its impact on students’ learning. |
Dra. Anna Espasa, coordinadora Dra. Teresa Guasch, coordinadora |
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Life skills development through learner support A critical aspect of any effective retention and attrition reduction programme in online learning is an efficient learner support strategy. This research area aims to develop an educational framework and corresponding mechanisms for online and distance learning within the context of education for sustainable development (ESD) and global citizenship education (GCE). The framework proposed is inspired in the idea that nowadays students should not only reach excellence in literacy and numeracy, but also should be educated to succeed in work, life and citizenship (21st-century education). Thus, the final objective is to encourage changes in students' behaviours and lifestyles that allow for a more sustainable and just society for all. The main research issues include but are not limited to the following areas: 1) operationalization of non-educational frameworks that promote ESD and GCE for online learning environments; 2) creation of educational quality indices to measure human development in online education; 3) learner support strategies in life skills education as a bridge to human capabilities; and 4) the impact of culture on the development of human capabilities in online education. |
e-DUS Research group | |
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Media competency and Waldorf education Based on a study that examines the way Waldorf education can contribute crucial perspectives for the evolution of a development-oriented media education (http://www.ecswe.net/reader-struwwelpeter-2-0-media-competency-and-waldorf-education), this research topic aims to explore in depth from both a pedagogical and empirical point of view the research questions that have arisen: What does this mean for daily teaching practice? What is the relationship between the new challenges and proven Waldorf traditions? From what age should we deal specifically and consciously with electronic media? How can they be used meaningfully and creatively in lessons? What skills are important in the use of media and at what point does it makes sense to learn to handle certain skills with children in the various fields of media competency? The aim of this research would be to investigate these (and other) research questions in Waldorf schools in one or two specific countries and possibly provide a comparative study with other Waldorf schools or other types of education experiences worldwide. |
Dr. Atanasi Daradoumis | |
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Research in techonology-enhanced language learning This research line focuses on second language teaching and learning in blended and virtual environments using innovative teaching methodologies. Research topics include, but are not limited to:
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RETELL Research Group | |
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Second language acquisition outcomes in computer-assisted language learning environments There are increasingly more technologies that support computer-assisted language learning. While these are necessary developments, there is a need for technological options that go hand-in-hand with pedagogical and psycholinguistic considerations. This line of research investigates the effectiveness of different pedagogical interventions on L2 learning in computer-assisted language environments. For example, task design, types of corrective feedback, and instructional methods. The ultimate goal is to identify those variables that have the greatest impacts on L2 learning in computer-assisted language learning environments. |
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Social-emotional learning and media education This research will involve an experimental study with the aim of developing a new educational paradigm that combines imagination-based pedagogies with an adequate help of technology that can influence the development of students' emotional intelligence. In particular, this project will investigate how teachers can design and apply imagination-based teaching methods which, accompanied by appropriate emotion management abilities and supported by effective technological environments endowed with emotion awareness, as well as emotional and cognitive feedback capabilities, can contribute towards a healthy social-emotional education and media competency. The designed framework will be applied in practice, in specific case studies in Primary or Secondary education settings, providing full and detailed experimentation with all elements that constitute the framework as well as with all the agents involved (teachers, students and technology). |
Dr. Atanasi Daradoumis | |
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Student-centred learning design and co-design This research line is devoted to the study of the processes, methodologies and tools for designing and co-designing learning scenarios and experiences in a broad sense. The objects of study are learner-centred and are therefore aimed at responding to learners’ needs and interests, while at the same time gradually granting learners control of their own learning. |
Dra. Iolanda Garcia | |
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Teachers training in online learning environments and its impact on learning
This thesis proposal includes: |
Dra. Anna Espasa, coordinadora Dra. Teresa Guasch, coordinadora |
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Using learning analytics to redefine the role of tutors and learners for effective feedback and assessment This research line uses data analysis to find and analyse indicators in order to measure the relation between the student's academic achievement and, for instance, the tutor's use of educational interactive (online) tools. We also analyse the influence of the educational personal feedback in the learning process and the relevance, for instance, of the emotional factors in this process. This analysis also includes the study of appropiate personalised feedback tools to formative assessment, specifically in the context of learning by competence like rúbrics and portfolios, among others. This research line has a special interest in analysing the relation between the students profile with the dropout in online courses related with the educational tutors feedback process. |
Dra. Teresa Sancho, coordinadora |