Michele Fioravera

Developing problem solving competences through the resolution of contextualized problems with an Advanced Computing Environment

The paper shows how problem solving competences can be developed by solving contextualized problems using an Advanced Computing Environment (ACE). An ACE is a computer system which enables its user to perform numeric and symbolic computations, graphical representations in two and three dimensions, insert embedded components and create interactive worksheet, all in the same user-friendly environment. An ACE allows students to approach a problematic situation in the way that most suits their thinking, to use different types of representations according to the chosen strategy and to display the whole reasoning together with verbal explanation in the same page: in other words, they can fulfill all the processes that problem solving involves. This paper analyzes a problem solving activity with an ACE proposed by the XXX of the ZZZ, and clarifies, also through examples, how the use of the ACE makes it possible to solve real and relevant problems, facilitates the comprehension of the situation and of the Mathematics laying behind and enhance critical thinking.

Ontology Development for Competence Assessment in Virtual Communities of Practice

This paper presents an ontological model for defining competency paths in STEM education, designed for the implementation of an adaptive system integrated in virtual communities. The model is applied for clustering materials for automatic assessment and the results are discussed.

Alignment of Content, Prerequisites and Educational Objectives: Towards Automated Mapping of Digital Learning Resources

The emergence of Technology Enhanced Learning environments has led to the continual growth of the availability of digital educational resources. In this paper, the potential of enabling their reuse into student-centric services – such as recommender systems or adaptive tutoring tools – is discussed through the proposal and comparison of procedures for automatically detecting the mutual relatedness among learning objects. Since the choice of the similarity measure is fundamental for clustering digital materials, this paper addresses the investigation on two distinct approaches: the content-based semantic similarity, compared to the closeness measure on natural language descriptions of metadata – namely prerequisites and educational objectives. The analysis is conducted on a collection of mathematical problems, equipped with metadata which facilitate their retrieval in Virtual Learning Environments, created by Secondary School teachers with the support of University experts. Natural Language Processing techniques are exploited for extracting relevant information from the metadata, while the developments in the emergent field of Mathematical Language Processing are proposed for the treatment of mathematical expressions included in the resources. The distinct similarity measures presented are examined considering the compared results, and their correlation is evaluated. This study is intended to be the first step towards the definition of a model for structuring shared materials available in disciplinary repositories of virtual communities. This model will be used for implementing a system for the delivery of learning objects trajectories on a digital map automatically generated. The system’s efficacy will be tested through its integration to a Learning Management System hosting secondary school classrooms’ courses. The research is part of a PhD in Pure and Applied Mathematics in apprenticeship, conducted in partnership with leading providers of software based on Computer Algebra System engine.

Self-Paced Approach in Synergistic Model for Supporting and Testing Students

This paper shows the model developed by the University of Turin to support students that must face the transition from the last year of secondary school to the first year of University. Integrations that are specifically designed for Learning Management Systems help sustain three effective actions conducted in synergy: increase students’ awareness in the choice of the future course of study, support them in taking the admission tests and the first-year exams, allow the autonomous administration of admission tests led by the University. The methodological strategies adopted are presented and discussed based on the analysis of the data of the years 2015 and 2016.

Teacher training: a model for introducing innovative digital Methodologies for learning Mathematics.

This paper shows a model of teacher training developed by the Department of Mathematics of the University of Turin, aimed at introducing teachers to the use of innovative methodologies for learning Mathematics and for developing disciplinary and cross-cutting competences. The learning methodologies proposed are mainly based on Problem Posing and Problem Solving, the use of an Advanced Computing Environment, of a Virtual Learning Environment and of an Automated Assessment System. The training model, designed in blended modality, mainly relies on the creation of an online community of practice, where teachers, supported by tutors, collaborate in the creation of interactive learning materials for their classes. They acquire competences not only in the use of learning technologies, but also on sharing and collaborating in virtual environments; they learn how to develop self-tailored didactic methodologies. The key strengths of this model are highlighted and the results, achieved after the experimentation in several projects, are discussed, showing the effectiveness of the model.

Open Platform of self-paced MOOCs for the continual improvement of Academic Guidance and Knowledge Strengthening in Tertiary Education

In the academic year 2014/2015, University of XXX started the Project Orient@mente , aimed to support students in the transition from high school to university. Several Massive Open Online Courses have been developed to support three main actions: guidance to the University offer, automated self-testing of basic knowledge, self-paced review of fundamental disciplinary concepts learned in high school; all of them are useful to help students successfully attend scientific courses of the first year of University. A key feature of the Project is the continuous open-access to the platform. Contents are built according to educational models grown thanks to the experience and the research in e-learning carried out by the University, especially in the use of an accessible learning management system integrated with an advanced computing environment, an automated assessment system and a web conference system to enhance teaching and learning. In this paper, the adopted methodologies are discussed, the obtained results are presented and future developments are proposed in light of relevant data collected from the platform usage and feedback received by users.