Paola Nicolini

Web-ob: an environment for building developmental profiles following the multiple intelligences theory

This paper illustrates the characteristics and functions of an online environment designed to support systematic observation at school. As a qualitative process for data collection in developmental psychology, observation appears to be the best means for designing personal profiles of abilities. Such profiles are of particular importance in the field of disabilities, allowing teachers and educators to work on didactic and educational design and planning.

Self-Assessment: An Important Process in e-Training

This chapter discusses the concept of training as a process that entails a lifelong learning perspective, especially when it involves e-learning and online activities. Training is a complex process involving cognitive, affective, social, and cultural components. The evaluation of training outcomes is especially challenging. We stress the relevance of self-assessment in the context of the Workshop for Observing Children at School, an experience of e-training at the University of Macerata. In the formative design phase, it seems significant to plan for teachers sharing with participants their evaluation criteria. We show the differences, in terms of curricular results, between versions of the same online course. In the first version, we did not share the assessment criteria with participants, instead we gave that information at the end of the course; in the second, we dedicated a special time to the activity of building assessment criteria as one of the required tasks; in the third version, we asked student to construct a list of criteria to assess the required and then to negotiate their list with ours. The analysis of the three versions of the Workshop shows some differences in the outcomes; it is possible to argue that self-assessment is relevant to e-training effectiveness.

Training As Exchange And Negotiation Of Knowledge: An Online And In Presence

We propose a socio-constructivist conception of training, presenting a model of teaching-learning that we have used in traditional and online context at the University of Macerata. In our experiences peer interaction is the main instrument, both in face to face modality and in on line experiences by web forum. We are going to deal with the Workshop for Observing Children in School Context. We aim to show both theoretical assumption and an analysis of the outcomes of the online and in presence versions.