The aim of this study is to present how reflective writing contributed as a means for teachers’ p... more The aim of this study is to present how reflective writing contributed as a means for teachers’ professional development in the context of an action research project where a group of teachers engaged themselves on approaching diversity issues in their settings. During the preparation phase, participants were systematically involved in a variety of educational activities and workshops in order to approach reflective writing. At the next phase of the research, they were, thus, asked to carefully observe their contexts and their own practice and keep written records both from important “flash-points” they identified in their classroom and from the anti-bias sessions they conducted. As part of the process, they were invited to reflect on and submit copies of their records. Their writings were then discussed and commented on during feedback group meetings, where all participants shared their views and experiences in order to enrich their understandings. The different research data collec...
Communications in computer and information science, 2024
In this paper we are examining the evolving landscape of the implementation of Artificial Intelli... more In this paper we are examining the evolving landscape of the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in early childhood education. We are reviewing journal papers published over the past decade (2012–2023) (Ν = 29) and analyse them descriptively and through thematic analysis. We focus on the learning context and educational content of the AI applications in preschool settings. Research in the field has focused on areas such as the design and development of AI-powered tools and intelligent systems, the interaction of children with AI technologies and their impact on children’s skills and development, while more recently AI is being also viewed as a learning objective in the context of AI education and literacy. Our findings suggest that AI can be leveraged to foster a range of cognitive, social, and emotional skills through appropriate pedagogical frameworks and carefully designed pedagogical practices. The trends identified in the paper suggest the need for multidisciplinary approaches where technology, pedagogy, education, psychology, and policymaking intersect.
The research reported in this paper examines how two different groups, primary schoolchildren and... more The research reported in this paper examines how two different groups, primary schoolchildren and elderly people, could close the generation gap through a digital storytelling-based interaction framework that can result in learning for the younger and intergenerational communication. Yesteryear jobs have been chosen as the theme of this research, based on the premise that, as computers and automated systems increasingly take the jobs humans once held, entire professions become extinct, and some of these endangered professions, from a milkman to an iceman, could become better known to primary school children through storytelling from elderly people. In this respect, the research reported in this paper has combined digital storytelling with techniques as traditional as theatrical games, in order to create a blended framework for intergenerational interactions. The research project was realized in the 15th Primary School of Piraeus, in Athens, Greece during academic years 2011-12 and 2...
Στην παρούσα έρeυνα eπιδιώξαμe να διeρeυνήσουμe και να αναδeίξουμe αντιλήψeις και πρακτικές των e... more Στην παρούσα έρeυνα eπιδιώξαμe να διeρeυνήσουμe και να αναδeίξουμe αντιλήψeις και πρακτικές των eκπαιδeυτικών για την προώθηση του eγγραμματισμού των παιδιών σe ένα πολυπολιτισμικό-πολύγλωσσο πeριβάλλον. Σκοπός της έρeυνας ήταν να συγκριθούν οι δηλωθeίσeς πρακτικές των eκπαιδeυτικών δύο τμημάτων νηπιαγωγeίου του κέντρου της Αθήνας, μe αυτές, που παρατηρήθηκαν να eφαρμόζονται στο σχολικό τους πλαίσιο, για να eντοπιστeί κατά πόσο οι αντιλήψeις, που ασπάζονται, ταυτίζονται ή όχι μe τις μeθόδους που αξιοποιούν και το βαθμό που αυτές προσαρμόζονταν στο συγκeκριμένο eκπαιδeυτικό πλαίσιο. Το θeωρητικό πλαίσιο της έρeυνας, ακολουθeί τις σύγχρονeς παιδαγωγικές αντιλήψeις για την προσέγγιση του eγγραμματισμού. Τα eρeυνητικά eργαλeία ήταν η παρατήρηση μe στόχο την καταγραφή των πρακτικών των eκπαιδeυτικών, οι σχάρeς παρατήρησης, που συμπληρώθηκαν απ’ τις ίδιeς, σχeτικά μe τον προφορικό και το γραπτό λόγο των παιδιών, ώστe να διeρeυνηθeί η γνώση των ιδιαιτeροτήτων του πλαισίου τους και ημιδομημ...
The main role of a dictionary consists in searching the words' meaning, the context in which ... more The main role of a dictionary consists in searching the words' meaning, the context in which this word can appear as well as the syntagmatic and paradigmatic relations that hold between words. Dictionary's use presupposes the acquisition of reading mechanism. This presupposition is not satisfied as far as preschoolers are concerned. Consequently the term dictionary must be 're-defined' when we refer to the use and construction of a dictionary by preschoolers. In this paper we try to answer to the following questions: 1) Why and how can we initiate preschoolers at the use of dictionaries, 2) Which is the dictionary's contribution to the preparation of preschoolers for reading and writing? 3) How can we help preschoolers construct a 'communicative' dictionary in classroom.
The present research examines student teachers’ perceived learning gains from a game activity in ... more The present research examines student teachers’ perceived learning gains from a game activity in which they were involved. During the game-activity, prospective teachers selected, evaluated and designed educational and non-educational digital games. The game-activity’s goal was student teachers to i) develop skills and understanding over digital games-based learning approach and ii) engage experientially in a game-based learning environment. Students reported learning gains concerning both the content (digital games-based learning) and the method (game-based learning) of the activity they engaged in, while their learning experience was influenced by their prior conceptions and experiences with teaching, learning, technology, and games.
La plupart de travaux concernant la comprehension de textes narratifs ont ete effectues a partir ... more La plupart de travaux concernant la comprehension de textes narratifs ont ete effectues a partir de textes courts, construits de maniere ad hoc et ont etudie de maniere cloisonnee chacun des processus impliques dans cette activite. Le but de cette these est de contribuer a l'analyse et a la mise en commun d'un ensemble de processus impliques dans la comprehension d'un texte narratif long, "naturel" et structurellement complexe. 65 enfants (8-11ans) ont produit un resume apres avoir lu le texte propose et ont repondu a dix questions ecrites et a un questionnaire de type metacognitif. Les resumes des enfants ont ete analyses a l'aide de des deux axes: le premier concerne les observables des schemes de segmentation (construction de la macrostructure, gestion de l'importance relative des sequences thematiques et reprise des histoires emboitees), tandis que le deuxieme concerne les observables des schemes de contextualisation (construction des relations entr...
Στην παρούσα έρeυνα eπιδιώξαμe να διeρeυνήσουμe και να αναδeίξουμe αντιλήψeις και πρακτικές των e... more Στην παρούσα έρeυνα eπιδιώξαμe να διeρeυνήσουμe και να αναδeίξουμe αντιλήψeις και πρακτικές των eκπαιδeυτικών για την προώθηση του eγγραμματισμού των παιδιών σe ένα πολυπολιτισμικό-πολύγλωσσο πeριβάλλον. Σκοπός της έρeυνας ήταν να συγκριθούν οι δηλωθeίσeς πρακτικές των eκπαιδeυτικών δύο τμημάτων νηπιαγωγeίου του κέντρου της Αθήνας, μe αυτές, που παρατηρήθηκαν να eφαρμόζονται στο σχολικό τους πλαίσιο, για να eντοπιστeί κατά πόσο οι αντιλήψeις, που ασπάζονται, ταυτίζονται ή όχι μe τις μeθόδους που αξιοποιούν και το βαθμό που αυτές προσαρμόζονταν στο συγκeκριμένο eκπαιδeυτικό πλαίσιο. Το θeωρητικό πλαίσιο της έρeυνας, ακολουθeί τις σύγχρονeς παιδαγωγικές αντιλήψeις για την προσέγγιση του eγγραμματισμού. Τα eρeυνητικά eργαλeία ήταν η παρατήρηση μe στόχο την καταγραφή των πρακτικών των eκπαιδeυτικών, οι σχάρeς παρατήρησης, που συμπληρώθηκαν απ’ τις ίδιeς, σχeτικά μe τον προφορικό και το γραπτό λόγο των παιδιών, ώστe να διeρeυνηθeί η γνώση των ιδιαιτeροτήτων του πλαισίου τους και ημιδομημ...
The aim of this study is to present how reflective writing contributed as a means for teachers’ p... more The aim of this study is to present how reflective writing contributed as a means for teachers’ professional development in the context of an action research project where a group of teachers engaged themselves on approaching diversity issues in their settings. During the preparation phase, participants were systematically involved in a variety of educational activities and workshops in order to approach reflective writing. At the next phase of the research, they were, thus, asked to carefully observe their contexts and their own practice and keep written records both from important “flash-points” they identified in their classroom and from the anti-bias sessions they conducted. As part of the process, they were invited to reflect on and submit copies of their records. Their writings were then discussed and commented on during feedback group meetings, where all participants shared their views and experiences in order to enrich their understandings. The different research data collec...
Communications in computer and information science, 2024
In this paper we are examining the evolving landscape of the implementation of Artificial Intelli... more In this paper we are examining the evolving landscape of the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in early childhood education. We are reviewing journal papers published over the past decade (2012–2023) (Ν = 29) and analyse them descriptively and through thematic analysis. We focus on the learning context and educational content of the AI applications in preschool settings. Research in the field has focused on areas such as the design and development of AI-powered tools and intelligent systems, the interaction of children with AI technologies and their impact on children’s skills and development, while more recently AI is being also viewed as a learning objective in the context of AI education and literacy. Our findings suggest that AI can be leveraged to foster a range of cognitive, social, and emotional skills through appropriate pedagogical frameworks and carefully designed pedagogical practices. The trends identified in the paper suggest the need for multidisciplinary approaches where technology, pedagogy, education, psychology, and policymaking intersect.
The research reported in this paper examines how two different groups, primary schoolchildren and... more The research reported in this paper examines how two different groups, primary schoolchildren and elderly people, could close the generation gap through a digital storytelling-based interaction framework that can result in learning for the younger and intergenerational communication. Yesteryear jobs have been chosen as the theme of this research, based on the premise that, as computers and automated systems increasingly take the jobs humans once held, entire professions become extinct, and some of these endangered professions, from a milkman to an iceman, could become better known to primary school children through storytelling from elderly people. In this respect, the research reported in this paper has combined digital storytelling with techniques as traditional as theatrical games, in order to create a blended framework for intergenerational interactions. The research project was realized in the 15th Primary School of Piraeus, in Athens, Greece during academic years 2011-12 and 2...
Στην παρούσα έρeυνα eπιδιώξαμe να διeρeυνήσουμe και να αναδeίξουμe αντιλήψeις και πρακτικές των e... more Στην παρούσα έρeυνα eπιδιώξαμe να διeρeυνήσουμe και να αναδeίξουμe αντιλήψeις και πρακτικές των eκπαιδeυτικών για την προώθηση του eγγραμματισμού των παιδιών σe ένα πολυπολιτισμικό-πολύγλωσσο πeριβάλλον. Σκοπός της έρeυνας ήταν να συγκριθούν οι δηλωθeίσeς πρακτικές των eκπαιδeυτικών δύο τμημάτων νηπιαγωγeίου του κέντρου της Αθήνας, μe αυτές, που παρατηρήθηκαν να eφαρμόζονται στο σχολικό τους πλαίσιο, για να eντοπιστeί κατά πόσο οι αντιλήψeις, που ασπάζονται, ταυτίζονται ή όχι μe τις μeθόδους που αξιοποιούν και το βαθμό που αυτές προσαρμόζονταν στο συγκeκριμένο eκπαιδeυτικό πλαίσιο. Το θeωρητικό πλαίσιο της έρeυνας, ακολουθeί τις σύγχρονeς παιδαγωγικές αντιλήψeις για την προσέγγιση του eγγραμματισμού. Τα eρeυνητικά eργαλeία ήταν η παρατήρηση μe στόχο την καταγραφή των πρακτικών των eκπαιδeυτικών, οι σχάρeς παρατήρησης, που συμπληρώθηκαν απ’ τις ίδιeς, σχeτικά μe τον προφορικό και το γραπτό λόγο των παιδιών, ώστe να διeρeυνηθeί η γνώση των ιδιαιτeροτήτων του πλαισίου τους και ημιδομημ...
The main role of a dictionary consists in searching the words' meaning, the context in which ... more The main role of a dictionary consists in searching the words' meaning, the context in which this word can appear as well as the syntagmatic and paradigmatic relations that hold between words. Dictionary's use presupposes the acquisition of reading mechanism. This presupposition is not satisfied as far as preschoolers are concerned. Consequently the term dictionary must be 're-defined' when we refer to the use and construction of a dictionary by preschoolers. In this paper we try to answer to the following questions: 1) Why and how can we initiate preschoolers at the use of dictionaries, 2) Which is the dictionary's contribution to the preparation of preschoolers for reading and writing? 3) How can we help preschoolers construct a 'communicative' dictionary in classroom.
The present research examines student teachers’ perceived learning gains from a game activity in ... more The present research examines student teachers’ perceived learning gains from a game activity in which they were involved. During the game-activity, prospective teachers selected, evaluated and designed educational and non-educational digital games. The game-activity’s goal was student teachers to i) develop skills and understanding over digital games-based learning approach and ii) engage experientially in a game-based learning environment. Students reported learning gains concerning both the content (digital games-based learning) and the method (game-based learning) of the activity they engaged in, while their learning experience was influenced by their prior conceptions and experiences with teaching, learning, technology, and games.
La plupart de travaux concernant la comprehension de textes narratifs ont ete effectues a partir ... more La plupart de travaux concernant la comprehension de textes narratifs ont ete effectues a partir de textes courts, construits de maniere ad hoc et ont etudie de maniere cloisonnee chacun des processus impliques dans cette activite. Le but de cette these est de contribuer a l'analyse et a la mise en commun d'un ensemble de processus impliques dans la comprehension d'un texte narratif long, "naturel" et structurellement complexe. 65 enfants (8-11ans) ont produit un resume apres avoir lu le texte propose et ont repondu a dix questions ecrites et a un questionnaire de type metacognitif. Les resumes des enfants ont ete analyses a l'aide de des deux axes: le premier concerne les observables des schemes de segmentation (construction de la macrostructure, gestion de l'importance relative des sequences thematiques et reprise des histoires emboitees), tandis que le deuxieme concerne les observables des schemes de contextualisation (construction des relations entr...
Στην παρούσα έρeυνα eπιδιώξαμe να διeρeυνήσουμe και να αναδeίξουμe αντιλήψeις και πρακτικές των e... more Στην παρούσα έρeυνα eπιδιώξαμe να διeρeυνήσουμe και να αναδeίξουμe αντιλήψeις και πρακτικές των eκπαιδeυτικών για την προώθηση του eγγραμματισμού των παιδιών σe ένα πολυπολιτισμικό-πολύγλωσσο πeριβάλλον. Σκοπός της έρeυνας ήταν να συγκριθούν οι δηλωθeίσeς πρακτικές των eκπαιδeυτικών δύο τμημάτων νηπιαγωγeίου του κέντρου της Αθήνας, μe αυτές, που παρατηρήθηκαν να eφαρμόζονται στο σχολικό τους πλαίσιο, για να eντοπιστeί κατά πόσο οι αντιλήψeις, που ασπάζονται, ταυτίζονται ή όχι μe τις μeθόδους που αξιοποιούν και το βαθμό που αυτές προσαρμόζονταν στο συγκeκριμένο eκπαιδeυτικό πλαίσιο. Το θeωρητικό πλαίσιο της έρeυνας, ακολουθeί τις σύγχρονeς παιδαγωγικές αντιλήψeις για την προσέγγιση του eγγραμματισμού. Τα eρeυνητικά eργαλeία ήταν η παρατήρηση μe στόχο την καταγραφή των πρακτικών των eκπαιδeυτικών, οι σχάρeς παρατήρησης, που συμπληρώθηκαν απ’ τις ίδιeς, σχeτικά μe τον προφορικό και το γραπτό λόγο των παιδιών, ώστe να διeρeυνηθeί η γνώση των ιδιαιτeροτήτων του πλαισίου τους και ημιδομημ...
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