Metafora System: Learning to learn together during explorations with microworlds

Nikoleta Yiannoutsou, Foteini Moustaki, Marios Xenos nyiannoutsou@ppp.uoa.gr, fotmous@ppp.uoa.gr, mariosxenos@gmail.com

Educational Technology Lab, University of Athens

Manolis Mavrikis, m.mavrikis@lkl.ac.uk

London Knowledge Lab, Institute of Education, University of London

Rotem Abdu, rotem_abdu@yahoo.com

Dept of cognitive sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

Description and Workshop Objectives

This workshop is about an on-line System, called Metafora, which integrates microworlds with two shared workspaces: one for planning and reflecting??? (Planning Tool) and one for discussing and exchanging ideas (LASAD). The Metafora System also provides intelligent support to teachers and students on issues related to the concepts they negotiate in the microworld, to the plan they create and to the discussion they engage. Workshop participants will use the Metafora System undertaking the role of teachers or students. They will be asked to collaborate and discuss with other participants through the Metafora System, engage in short tasks in mathematics, environmental education and physics and reflect in the learning to learn together skills supported by the tools and the intelligent support provided by the System.

Outline

§  Presentation of short tasks in mathematics, science and environmental education: Participants are expected to choose one task

§  Assigning different roles to participants (students, teachers)

§  Plan the course of action to address the task selected (Planning Tool)

§  Enact the plan working with the microworlds

§  Use the shared discussion space (LASAD) to ask for help or discuss ideas and constructions

§  Reflection with participants about learning to learn together with the Metafora System

Expected outcome

Familiarization with the Metafora System, analysis and reflection on learning to learn together with the Metafora System, discussion for the potential of the system to be implemented in the classroom.

Keywords

Learning to learn together, planning, collaboration, experimentation, intelligent support, referable objects, microworlds.