Partnerships
MOST SIGNIFICANT COLLABORATIONS AT THE EUROPEAN LEVEL
The international context, in particular the European one, is stretegically crucial for the educational technology sector (see the Lisbon Agenda and the Declaration of Bologna).
The institute is actively engaged in internaiotnal ersearch programmes, in particular in the European context. Since the early EC programmes, like DELTA, COMETT, ESPRIT IV-V-VI Framework Programmes, ITD has always participated to many EC funded projects and has collaborated with major European centres, also as project leader. Presently ITD is involved in projects within the VII framework programme (IST-Information Technology Society), the e-content Plus Programme, the e-learning Programme and the Leonardo da Vinci Programme.
The participation of ITD in the EC funded networks of Excellence is particularly significant (VI and VII Framework Programme-IST. They promote integration of major European scientific groups operating in the field of Technology Enhanced Learning. The institute has been partner (Core and Steering Group) in the Kaleidoscope network of excellence "Concepts and methods for exploring the future of learning with digital technologies" (2003-2007) and has contributed to the design and promotion of the STELLAR network of excellence "Sustaining Technology Enhanced Learning Large scale multidisciplinary Research" of which it is presently a partner.
Moreover, and through its researchers, the institute participates in many committees and international research groups such as IFP (International Federation for Information Processing) Technical Committee 3 on Computers and Education, the ACM SIGCUE (Computer Uses in Education), the International Forum for Educational Technology and Society (ETS), the ISLS (International Society of the Learning Sciences), etc.
The following list represents the best, earliest and enduring collaborations of the institute within the various research themes.
University of London - Institute of Education - London Knowledge Laboratory (LKL) - UK. This laboratory is one of the principal UK institutions for educational technology research. ITD has a long-term collaboration with it, formalized and consolidated within a ITD - General Form 15 number of European projects: Web-Labs (2001-2004); Kaleidoscope Network of Excellence (2003 2007); European Research Team on Technology Enhanced Learning in Mathematics (TELMA) Kaleidoscope (2003-2007); Joint European Research Project on Mathematical Games Kaleidoscope (2004-2005), REMATH European Project "Representing Mathematics with Digital resources" (2005-2009).
University of Bristol - The Graduate School of Education - Centre for Learning, Knowing and Interactive Technologies - UK. The Graduate School of Education is a large research-based education department, widely considered to be one of the leading departments in the UK. This institution has played a crucial role in the Kaleidoscope network of Excellence establishing a collaboration with ITD in particular in the European Virtual Doctoral School that will continue in the STELLAR network (2009-2012). A specific collaboration has also been established in the mathematics education field.
University of Nottingham - Learning Sciences Research Institute (LSRI) - UK. The LSRI is a UK centre of excellence for research in the learning sciences and in technology enhanced learning. The LSRI was a core partner of the former Kaleidoscope Network of Excellence (2003-2007) and, thus, a strict collaboration with ITD has been established and will be further strengthened within the STELLAR Network of Excellence (2009-2012) where both institutions are core partners.
The Open University - Institute of Educational Technology - UK. The Open University (OU) is the UK's largest university, with more than 200,000 students including nearly 20,000 outside the UK. The Institute of Educational Technology (IET) works collaboratively with leading scholars internationally and in the UK. The ITD collaborates with the OU and IET in research on the mobile learning and the use of mobile technologies for Lifelong Learning projects and in the Network of Excellence STELLAR that OU is coordinating.
CNRS and Universitè Joseph Fourier (Grenoble) - Metah Group (Methods and Technologies for Human Learning) - France. This centre is one of the chief laboratories in France in technology enhanced learning (it coordinated the Kaleidoscope Network of Excellence, is in charge of the TeLearn open archive in technology enhanced learning (TEL) and is leading the European Telearn association in TEL). ITD has a long-term collaboration with the group that has been formalized and consolidated in a number of European projects: Kaleidoscope Network of Excellence (2003-2007) "Concepts and methods for exploring the future of learning with digital technologies"; European Research Team on Technology Enhanced Learning in Mathematics (TELMA) -Kaleidoscope (2003-2007); REMATH European Project "Representing Mathematics with Digital resources" (2005-2009); the new Network of Excellence STELLAR "Sustaining technology enhanced learning large scale multidisciplinary research" (2009-2012).
Oslo University - InterMedia Centre - Norway. InterMedia investigates the intersections between design, communication and learning in digital environments and is one of the most recognized centres in the Norway in this sector (e.g. it coordinated the CSCL European association). Collaboration with ITD was established within the Kaleidoscope network (2004-2007), the Jointly executed Research Project CIEL on Inquiry Learning (2003-2007), Technology enhanced learning in mathematics and Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL).
Open University of the Netherlands - Educational Technology Expertise Centre (OTEC) - The Netherlands. The Open University of the Netherlands is an independent government-funded Institute for distance learning at the university level. The Educational Technology Expertise Centre is responsible for the innovation task of the Open University. Collaboration with ITD dated back to the European Commission Prometheus initiative on learning technologies (1999 - 2002) and is currently enforced in the ShareTech project (2008 - 2011) and in the STELLAR network (2009 2012).
Lisbon University - Portugal. It is the main Portuguese university. Collaboration with ITD concerns the areas of teacher training, self-regulated learning (TELEPEERS project) and the design of patterns for learning (DiPULS project).
Trinity College of Dublin - Department of Computer Science & Education - Ireland. Trinity College is the oldest university in Ireland having a strong reputation in science, engineering, and medical disciplines, but increasingly in the social sciences and ITD - General Form 16 humanities. ITD collaborates with the Trinity College in research about mobile learning and the use of mobile technologies for Lifelong Learning projects.
Universitad Oberta de Catalunya, Barcellona, Spain. It is an Institution dedicated to distance learning university education. Collaboration with ITD has been established within the EC funded project Sloop (2005-2008).
MOST SIGNIFICANT COLLABORATIONS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL
Research work in education and educational technolgy research in particular, need to be strictly connected with problems and needs arising from specific educational contexts. Consequently, the national scope is of special importance.
At a national level the institute has collaborated with the Ministry of Education for twenty years in many joint projects and in various areas of interest (teacher training, online learning, educational software library, educational technology for school at hospital, software accessibility, etc.). ITD has collaborated also with regional and local branches of the Ministry of Education (IRRSAE, Direzioni Regionali) and with INVALSI (Institute for the evaluation of the Italian education and training system), as well as with a number of schools where ITD has often carried out specific experimentations.
Collaboration with universities concern the study of factors of various origin (pedagogical, technological, professional, economical, systemic, cultural. etc.), affecting e-learning sustainability at an academic level and the pre-service teacher training.
At present the institute is also involved in region-funded research projects. It has activated a spin-off for products marketing and promotes training courses in the field of educational technology both for corporate and public institutions.
The following list represents the most important and enduring scientific collaborations:
The Ministry of Education, University and Research with which ITD has been collaborating fot over twenty years and since the first National Programme for computers in education (PNI). Joint projects concern education and training (see FIRB project as to learning, HSH@network-Hospital School Home project, Accessibility of educational software project, Web learning for the quality of human capital and The Science and Technology Centre for ICT education and training projects. Moreover, specific collaborations with branches of the Ministry such as INVALSI-National Institute for Evaluation of the Educational System (Logivali Project) and INDIRE-National Agency fr School utonomy (ForTIC project and Handy Tecno and Interculture Portals.
National Associations, Groups, Commissions to which ITD erzearchs actively participate, sometimes in leading positions.
The Collaborative Knowledge Building Group (CKBG), a national association on computer-supported learning environments supported by Knowledge Forum, an on line environment created by OISE University of Toronto research group.
SIe-L (Italian Society for e-Learning) a scientific association aiming at developing research in the field of e-learning. This society, co-founded in 2003 by the past Director of ITD, is editing the Journal of e-learning and Knowledge Society (Je-LKS) where ITD researchers are members of the editorial board.
The Italian Commission for the Teaching of Mathematics (CIIM) of the Italian Mathematics Union (UMI) with which ITD has collaborated for the design of a new Mathematics curricula (2003). ITD also participated in the scientific organization of its workshops.
The GLIC (the interregional group for digital tools oriented to disabled people). ITD has collaborated with the group since the ASD project (New technology and Disabilities).
National Group for Physics Education with which ITD has collaborated in PRIN projects.
U. Bordoni Foundation - Rome - with which ITD has collaborated within a FIRB project on distance learning.
Universities
In the last six years ITD has been collaborating with the following academic institutions.
University of Genoa (collaborations for research in Mathematics education, FIRB and PRIN 2007 projects, Xanadu and WEL projects, courses, degree and PHD courses and dissertations).
University of Milan (collaborations for research in physics education, educational robotics, ICT and learning, HSH project, SodiLinux project).
University of Turin (collaborations for research in Mathematics education, Xanadu project).
University of Est Piemonte (collaborations for research in Mathematics education, PRIN 2007 project).
University of Florence -Laboratory for learning Technologies - LTE - (collaborations in FIRB 2003-2007 and PRIN 2006 projects).
University of Naples - Federico II (collaborations for educational robotics and projects on e-learning).
University of Palermo - Centre for methods and innovative technologies for education - Metid (collaboration in the SLOOP project).
Regional and local Institutions and schools. ITD has collaborations with several regional and local institutions involved in education and training. Some of them are listed here after.
Province of Genoa (distance learning system and training);
School Directorate of the Alto Adige Region (educational use of open source and web 2.0 resources);
Sicily Region (innovations in the public administration);
Consorzio MED Europe - Sicily Industry Association - (knowledge transfer).
Moreover, ITD has collaborations with a large number of primary ans secondary schools (mainly in Liguria, Sicily, Lombardia, Trentino) for classroom experiments, teachers' education and support to educational innovation.
Institutions dealing with disabilities and learning difficulties
ITD has a strong interest in research studies related with the integration of students/people with special needs and learning difficulties. To this aim, the Institute has established specific collaborations with centres institutionally operaitng in such contexts.
Istituto Sordi di Roma (Rome Institute for the Deaf) for teacher training activities;
Regional Agency for Health (ASL 3 Genovese). Activitiesd with students with learning difficulties, SVITA and Logivali projects;
Institute for the blind Davide Chiossone - Genova, for activities and projects involving blind or low-vision students (ZoomLinux project, ASD project);
ASPHI - Bologna - for educational technologies for disabled students.
Exhibits, Museums and Science Centres. ITD promotes and participates in activities of scientific dissemination and informal learning at museums and exhibitions. SOme examples are listed below.
Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia (MST) Leonardo da Vinci. MST is the largest science and technology museum in Italy. ITD collaborated with it in the "Costruiamo un robot" (Let's build a Robot) and "La bottega dei Robot" (The Robot Shop) projects (2003 - 2007);
Acquario di Genova - Genoa Aquarium (scientific dissemination, Boa ODAS project). Associazione Festival della Scienza - Science Festival Association - Genova, it is the largest Science Festival in Europe. ITD collaborates with the Festival on educational robotics and science education.
CNR - Institutes
Last, but not least, ITD has established many fruitful collaborations with other CNR Institutes. In the period considered the following collaborations can be mentioned:
CNR -URP - CNR Unit devoted to external relationships - (development of a web-based resource dedicated to scientific divulgation of CNR research results);
CNR - IMATI - Institute of Mathematics and Information Technology - (long term collaboration on common research topics: mathematics education, instructional design, learning objects, pedagogical planning, training and education activities in educational technology);
CNR - ISMAR and CNR - ISSIA - Institute for sea technology and Institute for intelligent and automated systems (collaboration within projects of scientific dissemination like the Boa ODAS project);
CNR - ISTC - Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies - (long term collaboration on common research topics: artificial Intelligence; cooperation technologies; robotics and education; emotions and new media; ontologies; deaf children);
CNR - IRAT - Institute for research on tertiary activities - (collaboration within the Med.My.Sea project).
PARTNERSHIPS WITH CORPORATIONS
CLUEB spa: partnership in the context of the EC Sharetec project for production and management of learning contents, E-content plus programme, since 2008;
MBI Srl (Mediterranean Broadband Infrastructure) - Pisa and Lightcomm Srl - Catania: partnership within the Steel FIRB project for the design and implementation of a satellite/terrestrial e-learning platform, since 2007;
DIDAEL,srl, for the marketing of educational software (ARI-LAB and ELSE);
Prompt-G Educational Centre for Informatics - Hungary; CAPDM Ltd - UK; DEKRA
Akademie GmbH - Germany: partnerships established to prepare and carry out the EC project TENEGEN "Connect the TEachers to reach and Teach the NEt GENneration", since 2007.
AICA (Associazione Italiana per Calcolo Automatico): partnership to design and implement the first three versions of the So.di.Linux database, 2003-2007.
Melius srl - ITALY, Enterprise Support Centre - Ostrów Wielkopolski (OCWP) - Poland: partnerships established within the EC project DIOGENES (LLP programme) "Supporting the development of industrial reorganisation areas through self-employment and brokerage activities", since 2007.
Formaper - a company of the Chamber of Commerce of Milan - Italy: partnership established within the EC project SLOOP "Sharing Learning Objects in an Open Perspective", 2005-2008.
CSI Torino: partnership to manage the learning communities FIRE+ of the Piedmont Region, 2004-2005.
Scienter (ricerca e innovazione per la formazione) - Bologna: partnership established within the Networks of Excellence Kaleidoscope and STELLAR, since 2004.
ACME Solutions: partnership for the implementation of the first version of the So.di.Linux database, 2005.
ELEA SpA: partnership for the design and management of master courses on educational technology organized by ELEA for professional trainers, 2002-2004.
Fiera di Genova S.p.A: partnership for the organization of the National conference on educational technologies: TED 2001, TED 2002 and Didamatica 2003.