Socio-Educational Research and Innovation

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The Socio-Educational Research and Innovation (SERI) conducts research in areas of educational and social innovation with particular focus on the aspects of gender, STEM, ICT and leadership in education. The scope of activity is on research for modelling and the building of understanding of the emerging social, pedagogical/training and policy trends in Europe. The underlying concern is the identification of methods, which can foster effectiveness in social cohesion and learning for responsible decision-making, and improvement of education as well as structural changes to embed gender perspective in research and teaching. This is achieved through the design and implementation of awareness development activities with the actors of the educational and research communities, the carrying out of applied research and policy analyses and the conduct of programme evaluations. The Group’s research and evaluation activity is addressed under the scope of policy comprehensiveness and coherence within and across the sector of education and related sectors from a socio-cultural and learning tradition perspectives.Over the years, the Group has developed conceptual tools to facilitate policy and tangible outputs to direct self-reflection for practitioners/organisations on matters pertinent to education and the strengthening of research agendas. The Group members have in the past collaborated with International and EU Structures on fostering change in the school sector and have demonstrated ability on networking and collaborative work methods. This led to a networking capacity with schools, the administration of education services, and with learning and research institutions across Europe.

The areas of experience of the SERI Group include: Technology assessment, Design, implementation and evaluation of training schemes. Formulation of policy imperatives on pertinent socio-economic aspects related to education, in-depth research in regulatory frameworks and micro-pedagogical arrangements, formative, summative, ex-ante and post-ante evaluation studies, dissemination and exploitation of project results, including initiation of knowledge sharing fora on pertinent education matters. More recently the research concerns have been shifted towards Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) approaches for enhancing understanding of and for Science and its impact on/for Society.

 

The focus is in research for modelling purposes and the development of understanding of the emerging pedagogical / training trends in Europe. The underlying concerns are:

• the identification of pedagogical methods which with the support of technological tools can foster effectiveness in learning and consequently improvement of work conditions; and
• in the investigation of the socio-economic conditions that foster or impeded upon innovation and equity in learning from an organizational point of view.

Research and Innovation in selected aspects of innovation in teaching / learning constitutes a priority area. Custom made, hands-on approach based training provisions are organized for diverse groups such as: primary and secondary school teachers, teacher educators, parents, volunteer groups, supporters and facilitators and members of the business community. The Group’s training facilities constitute a friendly learning environment and trainers are selected from the Group’s pool of trainers.

The focus of the training activity is in the area of teachers’ professional development on the pedagogical use of ICT. A cascade design is applied as it allows for a multiplying affect to the provided training. The focus of research activities is (usually) on the consequences / implications of the use of new technology for the individual (learner) and for the organization. The research activities are guided by both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. In the case of the former participative and reflective methodologies are applied. Evaluation is considered from a Decision Management Oriented Approach. Principles of Cluster Evaluation often guide the Group’s evaluation activities.

COMPLETED PROJECTS

ClimaTEPD (Coordinator): Towards a new model of Teachers’ Professional Competence Development on Climate Change. ClimaTePD aims at: (1) the creation of an open access online platform for in-service teachers’ training; (2) the development of a Guideline Handbook for teachers’ good practices on climate change education; (3) the development of a digital repository on climate change education consisting of digital scenarios and other educational activities and resources and; (4) the development of a set of policy proposals related to policy and curricula design.
Erasmus+, KA2 – Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices, April 2021 – March 2023

Parenting Together: The main objective of this project is to improve quality of life of PWID by empowering family members and especially parents of PWID and offering them an awareness of how better to support the needs of children and young adults with ID. The project aims to achieve this goal by developing an e-learning platform that will provide interactive educational modules that will cover the main areas identified that families of PWID need training, awareness raising and/or attitude change. The modules will cover issues posing main challenges in the lives of families with PWID, with special focus on younger children. Another way of improving the life of PWID and supporting their inclusion is by making the overall environment more inclusive, thus the project is aiming to raise awareness and help to improve their inclusiveness.
Erasmus+, KA204 – Strategic Partnerships for adult education, September 2020 – February 2023

CS Track: The aim of CS Track is to broaden our knowledge about Citizen Science (CS) and the impact Citizen Science activities can have. CS Track will do this by investigating a large and diverse set of Citizen Science activities, disseminating good practices and formulating knowledge-based policy recommendations in order to maximise the potential benefit of Citizen Science activities on individual citizens, organisations, and society at large.
Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation action, 01.12.2019 – 30.11.2022

   ELPIDA (Coordinator): The ELPIDA project is aiming at providing family members and parents with the necessary skills and knowledge in order to better support their children with ID, Erasmus+ KA204, 2017 – 2019

   ELITe (Coordinator): The overall goal of the ELITe project is to support teachers’ professional learning for competence development, targeting specifically in-service educators in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) domain, Erasmus+ KA201, 2016-2018

     CaseWORK: The CaseWORK project supports voluntary helpers working with refugees and asylum seekers by offering a flexible online training seminar comprising three learning modules, Erasmus+ KA204, 2017 – 2019

    DoCENT DoCENT intends to develop innovative tools for integrating digital creativity into EU Teacher Education, Erasmus+ KA203, 2017 – 2019

Puzzle (Coordinator): Developing easy to read formats for people with intellectual disabilities. Erasmus+ K2 Strategic Partnerships for adult education, 2015 – 2017

   Wings4Success: Work Based Intergenerational learning in SME – a Key Factor for Success. Erasmus+ KA2, 2014 – 2017

  ENGAGE: Equipping the Next Generation for Active Engagement in Science. FP7- SiS.2013.2.2.1-1, 2014 – 2017

    TTT Net: Teamwork, Training and Technology Network. LLP – COMENIUS Multilateral networks, 2014 – 2016

    MASCiL: Mathematics and science for life! FP7-SiS.2012.2.2.1-1, 2013 – 2016
S-PLAY: LEGO Serious Play Learning for SMEs. Leonardo da Vinci Transfer of innovation, 2013 – 2014

INSTEM: Innovative Networks for Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics education. LLP – COMENIUS Multilateral networks, 2012 – 2015

    weSPOT: Working Environment with Social and Personal Open Tools for inquiry based learning. FP7-ICT-2011-8 (ICT Call8) STREP, 2012 – 2015

 INPROFOOD: Towards inclusive research programming for sustainable food innovations. P7 –SiS.2011.1.0-1, 2011 – 2014

  MASON (Coordinator):  Mainstream SocioCultural Dynamics to enhance NLLLS. Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013, Support for European Cooperation in Education and Training (ECET). Transversal programme Key Activity 1: Policy Cooperation & Innovation, 2011 – 2013

  STENCIL: Science Teaching European Network for Creativity and Innovation in Learning. LLL COMENIUS Network, 2011 – 2013

EPNoSL (Coordinator): European Policy Network on School Leadership. Lifelong Learning Programme Call EAC/42/2010, 2011 – 2015

NTSE: Nano Technology for Science Education. LLP Transversal Programme KA3-ICT, 2011 – 2013

 

RESEARCHERS

• Katerina Kikis-Papadakis,
  Research Director
• Marinos Anastasakis,
  Collaborating Researcher

TECHNICAL STAFF

• George Androulakis

For any information regarding the group please contact:Socio-Educational Research and Innovation Group,
Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics,
Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas
Nikolaou Plastira 100, Vassilika Vouton,
GR 700 13 Heraklion, Crete, GREECE

Tel: +30 2810 391800
E-mail: mariapap.iacm.forth.gr (Mrs. Maria Papadaki)

Tel.: +30 2810 391805
E-mail: yiota@iacm.forth.gr (Mrs. Yiota Rigopoulou)