I am Professor in Geography Department , University of the Aegean. My specialty and research interest is on Teaching Geography, use of ICT in education and Application of GIS in Education. I am also co-author of Greek Geography Curricula and text books for compulsory education and scientific and pedagogical head of the team for the creation of digital learning objects for environmental studies and geography for digital school in Greece, which are uploaded on Greek digital repository "photodentro". I participate in several European projects related to spatial thinking and students geography performance in primary and secondary education, as well as with the use of mobile and collaborative learning in several subject in school.
In Greece, the school subject of geography is used as a tool to integrate Disaster Risk Reduction... more In Greece, the school subject of geography is used as a tool to integrate Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the national school curriculum. In order to investigate the content development of DRR in the Greek school geography curricula, this study analyzed the primary and secondary geography curricula from 2003 to 2023, using the five dimensions of the DRR learning system (knowledge, reaction , action, participation and integration) as platforms and conceptual assumptions. Qualitative content analysis indicated the following: (a) the DRR-relevant content in the geography curricula used for analysis underwent minimal changes from 2003 to 2023; (b) the changes in the DRR-relevant content in the primary and secondary school curricula presented almost identical characteristics. Therefore, should the geography curriculum be revised in the future, it is necessary to understand that the term "disaster" does not only describe the natural event per se but also its impact on and the consequences for infrastructure and society. Such revisions in the school geography curriculum are bound to add more DRR-relevant content that belongs to the "action" and "participation" dimensions, and as they should systematically incorporate the DRR-relevant content of the "integration" dimension.
Internationally, curriculums emphasize the importance of spatial abilities development in school,... more Internationally, curriculums emphasize the importance of spatial abilities development in school, and it has been proven that teaching geography can help improve spatial thinking. The main goal of this study was to investigate the spatial thinking of Secondary Education students. The research sample was 474 Junior High school students (246 students from the 7th grade and 248 students from the 8th grade), aged 13-14 years, coming from 49 different public schools all over Greece. A questionnaire was distributed to students that included questions based on the categories of spatial thinking of Gersmehl and Gersmehl (2011). The findings of the research have identified a weakness in the students’ spatial perception, with satisfactory performances only in the floor plans. There is no statistical difference between boys and girls, but the total score in most questions was low.
The development of spatial abilities in young children leads to better achievement in STEAM educa... more The development of spatial abilities in young children leads to better achievement in STEAM education and in their daily lives. Early interventions have been shown to be highly effective in developing spatial abilities. In this study, the spatial abilities curriculum of the Greek kindergarten is described, and the use of maps is recommended for inclusion in the curriculum. This study examines kindergarten pupils’ spatial abilities at the end of two consecutive preschool years and determines whether attending kindergarten for one or two years succeeded in developing the participating pupils’ spatial abilities and achieving the goals set by the curriculum. Furthermore, it investigates which spatial abilities can be developed to the greatest and lowest degree and whether there is a statistical difference in achievement between age (1 or 2 years of study) and gender. The research sample consisted of 90 pupils from 5 different kindergarten classes; these pupils had attended kindergarten ...
Review of International Geographical Education Online, 2016
In the 21st century, the age of information and technology, there is an increasing importance to ... more In the 21st century, the age of information and technology, there is an increasing importance to statistical literacy for everyday life. In addition, education innovation and globalisation in the past decade in Europe has resulted in a new perceived complexity of reality that affected the curriculum and statistics education, with a shift from content knowledge to competences. Moreover, the amount of data that can today be accessed on the Internet suggests that students can choose nearly any topic of interest to them for their work on, which can increase their motivation. Furthermore, new location-based technologies actively promote the power of digital spatial representation and geo-communication opportunities. So, the aim of this paper is to present an application of 3D visualization of statistical data in conjunction with regional spatial data from Greece, using the www services and applications in real time. This has been accomplished by modifying the code of an open source of educational software: the online platform i-Use, in particular. Nowadays, there has been a clear shift towards Free Software/Open Source Software (FOSS) from users worldwide. FOSS has begun to play an important and decisive role in Greek education, as well. The examples which are taken from Greece are related to statistical data from various sectors of modern life. The spatial background used is the 13 Administrative regions of Greece. All functions and modifications implemented were made with FOSS.
Statistical literacy is gaining recognition as something that people should have in order to func... more Statistical literacy is gaining recognition as something that people should have in order to function fully in 21st century's society. On a daily basis an enormous volume of data are available through the Web; making the best of it demands possession of a high level of statistical training. In this paper we present a new technology-augmented teaching scenario, implemented in a way that it may be fully utilized by both teachers and students. Using the features of the web-based platform statistics4schoola free online educational tool for statistical analysis in the Greek languageit paths a teaching method that can be readily facilitated in the classroom. The presented worksheet allows students to have an interdisciplinary approach and be actively involved in the learning process through the exploratory teaching method. In this manner we maintain they will be able to correctly comprehend the goals of the teaching scenario, as they progressively develop their statistical, optical, and digital literacy.
Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science, 2022
Statistical literacy is of the utmost importance in modern societies traversing the era of Big Da... more Statistical literacy is of the utmost importance in modern societies traversing the era of Big Data, where virtually everyone has access to a tremendous volume of information but, at the same time, only a very limited percentage possess the ability to process and comprehend. There is no doubt that it is challenging to collect and use up-to-date statistical information in problem-solving when dealing with complex datasets. Moreover, cannot talk about statistical and data literacy without mentioning spatial thinking development and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) use. So in the paper we present the web-based platform, statistics4school.eu which designed and implemented to bridge the gap that there are neither any free online educational tools for statistical analysis available for the Greek language nor are there any that can produce visualized messages based on the geography of individual Greek regions and sub-regions, in a way that can be readily facilitated in the classroom.
This article presents a geocaching educational system called RouteQuizer that consists of an Andr... more This article presents a geocaching educational system called RouteQuizer that consists of an Android application, a web application and an online database. It motivates students to visit various geographic points of interest and answer site-related questions of multiple choice type. The android application used by the students, takes advantage of the navigation (GPS) and internet connectivity features of their smartphones. The web application is used by tutors, to create dynamic location-based educational games for their students. The database stores data such as site information and coordinates, questions and answers regarding the area of interest, as well as students' performance results. There are no geographical restrictions and no limits regarding the number of destinations, thus making the application usable from everyone everywhere.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitude of teachers and students towards the su... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitude of teachers and students towards the subject of geography, and whether it affects the students’ performance. The sample comprised 600 6th-grade primary school students from various areas of Greece, and their 33 teachers. The following findings were made: a) the largest part of the teachers and students shows a medium or poor attitude towards the subject of geography; b) teachers’ reeducation did not seem to improve either the attitude of teachers or the attitude and performance of their students; c) prior working experience of teachers did not appear to affect attitude, but it does affect performance of their students in geography; d) the teaching method (traditional or with the use of technologies) did not appear to differentiate the students’ attitude towards geography.
This study aims to present an ICT-based teaching scenario, which was implemented in 21 students (... more This study aims to present an ICT-based teaching scenario, which was implemented in 21 students (10 boys and 11 girls) of the 7th grade of a Junior High School on Lesvos Island, Greece. Intervention was applied to the Geography course, and it lasted 8 hours. The main characteristic of this class was that one-third of the students were non-native Greek speaking. Teaching tools used were: simulations, online quiz, movie maker software, QGIS software and power point for students activities. To check the effectiveness of this intervention, tools were distributed to students through 2 (pre-and post) questionnaires that were anonymous, but they had a code to identify and compare the same students’ answers to pre-and postintervention. Main results showed that all students had better achievements after the intervention was completed, and the greatest difference laid in those students who were not native speakers of Greek. The students’ creations also indicated that they changed or completed...
This study focused on the analysis of Grade-12 (Senior) students' sociocultural constructivis... more This study focused on the analysis of Grade-12 (Senior) students' sociocultural constructivist interactions using Web 2.0 applications during a geographical research process. In the study methodology context, a transdisciplinary case study (TdCS) with ethnographic and research action data was designed, implemented and analyzed in real teaching conditions for this study. The goal of the research process was students to integrate into authentic activities that that relate to their experiences and create a learning community, developing cognitive geographic knowledge. The study reveals a need to: a) design and implement transdisciplinary actions to create more learning incentives, exchange ideas and collaborate, for the geographical science issues study, b) shape new ways of interacting and operating social structures in the context of geographical research process, c) promote the skills that students need in real life, as participatory interaction, interpersonal communication, spa...
In Greece, the school subject of geography is used as a tool to integrate Disaster Risk Reduction... more In Greece, the school subject of geography is used as a tool to integrate Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the national school curriculum. In order to investigate the content development of DRR in the Greek school geography curricula, this study analyzed the primary and secondary geography curricula from 2003 to 2023, using the five dimensions of the DRR learning system (knowledge, reaction , action, participation and integration) as platforms and conceptual assumptions. Qualitative content analysis indicated the following: (a) the DRR-relevant content in the geography curricula used for analysis underwent minimal changes from 2003 to 2023; (b) the changes in the DRR-relevant content in the primary and secondary school curricula presented almost identical characteristics. Therefore, should the geography curriculum be revised in the future, it is necessary to understand that the term "disaster" does not only describe the natural event per se but also its impact on and the consequences for infrastructure and society. Such revisions in the school geography curriculum are bound to add more DRR-relevant content that belongs to the "action" and "participation" dimensions, and as they should systematically incorporate the DRR-relevant content of the "integration" dimension.
Internationally, curriculums emphasize the importance of spatial abilities development in school,... more Internationally, curriculums emphasize the importance of spatial abilities development in school, and it has been proven that teaching geography can help improve spatial thinking. The main goal of this study was to investigate the spatial thinking of Secondary Education students. The research sample was 474 Junior High school students (246 students from the 7th grade and 248 students from the 8th grade), aged 13-14 years, coming from 49 different public schools all over Greece. A questionnaire was distributed to students that included questions based on the categories of spatial thinking of Gersmehl and Gersmehl (2011). The findings of the research have identified a weakness in the students’ spatial perception, with satisfactory performances only in the floor plans. There is no statistical difference between boys and girls, but the total score in most questions was low.
The development of spatial abilities in young children leads to better achievement in STEAM educa... more The development of spatial abilities in young children leads to better achievement in STEAM education and in their daily lives. Early interventions have been shown to be highly effective in developing spatial abilities. In this study, the spatial abilities curriculum of the Greek kindergarten is described, and the use of maps is recommended for inclusion in the curriculum. This study examines kindergarten pupils’ spatial abilities at the end of two consecutive preschool years and determines whether attending kindergarten for one or two years succeeded in developing the participating pupils’ spatial abilities and achieving the goals set by the curriculum. Furthermore, it investigates which spatial abilities can be developed to the greatest and lowest degree and whether there is a statistical difference in achievement between age (1 or 2 years of study) and gender. The research sample consisted of 90 pupils from 5 different kindergarten classes; these pupils had attended kindergarten ...
Review of International Geographical Education Online, 2016
In the 21st century, the age of information and technology, there is an increasing importance to ... more In the 21st century, the age of information and technology, there is an increasing importance to statistical literacy for everyday life. In addition, education innovation and globalisation in the past decade in Europe has resulted in a new perceived complexity of reality that affected the curriculum and statistics education, with a shift from content knowledge to competences. Moreover, the amount of data that can today be accessed on the Internet suggests that students can choose nearly any topic of interest to them for their work on, which can increase their motivation. Furthermore, new location-based technologies actively promote the power of digital spatial representation and geo-communication opportunities. So, the aim of this paper is to present an application of 3D visualization of statistical data in conjunction with regional spatial data from Greece, using the www services and applications in real time. This has been accomplished by modifying the code of an open source of educational software: the online platform i-Use, in particular. Nowadays, there has been a clear shift towards Free Software/Open Source Software (FOSS) from users worldwide. FOSS has begun to play an important and decisive role in Greek education, as well. The examples which are taken from Greece are related to statistical data from various sectors of modern life. The spatial background used is the 13 Administrative regions of Greece. All functions and modifications implemented were made with FOSS.
Statistical literacy is gaining recognition as something that people should have in order to func... more Statistical literacy is gaining recognition as something that people should have in order to function fully in 21st century's society. On a daily basis an enormous volume of data are available through the Web; making the best of it demands possession of a high level of statistical training. In this paper we present a new technology-augmented teaching scenario, implemented in a way that it may be fully utilized by both teachers and students. Using the features of the web-based platform statistics4schoola free online educational tool for statistical analysis in the Greek languageit paths a teaching method that can be readily facilitated in the classroom. The presented worksheet allows students to have an interdisciplinary approach and be actively involved in the learning process through the exploratory teaching method. In this manner we maintain they will be able to correctly comprehend the goals of the teaching scenario, as they progressively develop their statistical, optical, and digital literacy.
Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science, 2022
Statistical literacy is of the utmost importance in modern societies traversing the era of Big Da... more Statistical literacy is of the utmost importance in modern societies traversing the era of Big Data, where virtually everyone has access to a tremendous volume of information but, at the same time, only a very limited percentage possess the ability to process and comprehend. There is no doubt that it is challenging to collect and use up-to-date statistical information in problem-solving when dealing with complex datasets. Moreover, cannot talk about statistical and data literacy without mentioning spatial thinking development and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) use. So in the paper we present the web-based platform, statistics4school.eu which designed and implemented to bridge the gap that there are neither any free online educational tools for statistical analysis available for the Greek language nor are there any that can produce visualized messages based on the geography of individual Greek regions and sub-regions, in a way that can be readily facilitated in the classroom.
This article presents a geocaching educational system called RouteQuizer that consists of an Andr... more This article presents a geocaching educational system called RouteQuizer that consists of an Android application, a web application and an online database. It motivates students to visit various geographic points of interest and answer site-related questions of multiple choice type. The android application used by the students, takes advantage of the navigation (GPS) and internet connectivity features of their smartphones. The web application is used by tutors, to create dynamic location-based educational games for their students. The database stores data such as site information and coordinates, questions and answers regarding the area of interest, as well as students' performance results. There are no geographical restrictions and no limits regarding the number of destinations, thus making the application usable from everyone everywhere.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitude of teachers and students towards the su... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitude of teachers and students towards the subject of geography, and whether it affects the students’ performance. The sample comprised 600 6th-grade primary school students from various areas of Greece, and their 33 teachers. The following findings were made: a) the largest part of the teachers and students shows a medium or poor attitude towards the subject of geography; b) teachers’ reeducation did not seem to improve either the attitude of teachers or the attitude and performance of their students; c) prior working experience of teachers did not appear to affect attitude, but it does affect performance of their students in geography; d) the teaching method (traditional or with the use of technologies) did not appear to differentiate the students’ attitude towards geography.
This study aims to present an ICT-based teaching scenario, which was implemented in 21 students (... more This study aims to present an ICT-based teaching scenario, which was implemented in 21 students (10 boys and 11 girls) of the 7th grade of a Junior High School on Lesvos Island, Greece. Intervention was applied to the Geography course, and it lasted 8 hours. The main characteristic of this class was that one-third of the students were non-native Greek speaking. Teaching tools used were: simulations, online quiz, movie maker software, QGIS software and power point for students activities. To check the effectiveness of this intervention, tools were distributed to students through 2 (pre-and post) questionnaires that were anonymous, but they had a code to identify and compare the same students’ answers to pre-and postintervention. Main results showed that all students had better achievements after the intervention was completed, and the greatest difference laid in those students who were not native speakers of Greek. The students’ creations also indicated that they changed or completed...
This study focused on the analysis of Grade-12 (Senior) students' sociocultural constructivis... more This study focused on the analysis of Grade-12 (Senior) students' sociocultural constructivist interactions using Web 2.0 applications during a geographical research process. In the study methodology context, a transdisciplinary case study (TdCS) with ethnographic and research action data was designed, implemented and analyzed in real teaching conditions for this study. The goal of the research process was students to integrate into authentic activities that that relate to their experiences and create a learning community, developing cognitive geographic knowledge. The study reveals a need to: a) design and implement transdisciplinary actions to create more learning incentives, exchange ideas and collaborate, for the geographical science issues study, b) shape new ways of interacting and operating social structures in the context of geographical research process, c) promote the skills that students need in real life, as participatory interaction, interpersonal communication, spa...
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