Research-action Methodology between Computer Science and Educational Psychology: a Multidisciplinary Approach

Computer science studies possess a strong multidisciplinary aptitude since most graduates do their professional work outside of a computing environment, in close collaboration with professionals from many different areas. However, the training offered in computer science studies lacks that multidisciplinary factor, focusing more on purely technical aspects. In this paper we present a novel experience where computer studies and educational psychology find a common ground and realistic working through laboratory practices. Specifically, the work enables students of computer science education the development of diagnosis support systems, with artificial intelligence techniques, which could then be used for future educational psychologists. The applications developed by computer science students are the creation of a model for the diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), sometimes also commonly called the autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The complexity of this diagnosis, not only by the exclusive characteristics of every person who suffers from it, but also by the large numbers of variables involved in it, requires very strong and close interdisciplinary participation. This work demonstrates that it is possible to intervene in a curricular perspective, in the university, to promote the development of interpersonal skills. What can be shown, in this way, is a methodology for interdisciplinary practices design and a guide for monitoring and evaluation. The results are very encouraging since we obtained significant differences in academic achievement between students who attended a course using the new methodology and those who did not use it.

Educational Systems for Maximizing Learning Online and in the Classroom

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Digital anthropology and educational eGames: learning through behavioural patterns in digital, game-based contexts

The selected publications are focused on the relations between users, eGames and the educational context, and how they interact together, so that both learning and user performance are improved through feedback provision. A key part of this analysis is the identification of behavioural, anthropological patterns, so that users can be clustered based on their actions, and the steps taken in the system (e.g. social network, online community, or virtual campus). In doing so, we can analyse large data sets of information made by a broad user sample,which will provide more accurate statistical reports and readings. Furthermore, this research is focused on how users can be clustered based on individual and group behaviour, so that a personalized support through feedback is provided, and the personal learning process is improved as well as the group interaction. We take inputs from every person and from the group they belong to, cluster the contributions, find behavioural patterns and provide personalized feedback to the individual and the group, based on personal and group findings. And we do all this in the context of educational games integrated in learning communities and learning management systems. To carry out this research we design a set of research questions along the 10-year published work presented in this thesis. We ask if the users can be clustered together based on the inputs provided by them and their groups; if and how these data are useful to improve the learner performance and the group interaction; if and how feedback becomes a useful tool for such pedagogical goal; if and how eGames become a powerful context to deploy the pedagogical methodology and the various research methods and activities that make use of that feedback to encourage learning and interaction; if and how a game design and a learning design must be defined and implemented to achieve these objectives, and to facilitate the productive authoring and integration of eGames in pedagogical contexts and frameworks. We conclude that educational games are a resourceful tool to provide a user experience towards a better personalized learning performance and an enhance group interaction along the way. To do so, eGames, while integrated in an educational context, must follow a specific set of user and technical requirements, so that the playful context supports the pedagogical model underneath. We also conclude that, while playing, users can be clustered based on their personal behaviour and interaction with others, thanks to the pattern identification. Based on this information, a set of recommendations are provided Digital Anthropology and educational eGames 6 /216 to the user and the group in the form of personalized feedback, timely managed for an optimum impact on learning performance and group interaction level. In this research, Digital Anthropology is introduced as a concept at a late stage to provide a backbone across various academic fields including: Social Science, Cognitive Science, Behavioural Science, Educational games and, of course, Technology-enhance learning. Although just recently described as an evolution of traditional anthropology, this approach to digital behaviour and social structure facilitates the understanding amongst fields and a comprehensive view towards a combined approach. This research takes forward the already existing work and published research onusers and eGames for learning, and turns the focus onto the next step — the clustering of users based on their behaviour and offering proper, personalized feedback to the user based on that clustering, rather than just on isolated inputs from every user. Indeed, this pattern recognition in the described context of eGames in educational contexts, and towards the presented aim of personalized counselling to the user and the group through feedback, is something that has not been accomplished before.

Revista Brasileira de Estudos Pedagógicos: mapeamento e problematização do conceito de ciência na pesquisa educacional (1944-1971)

Nos primeiros anos em que a pesquisa educacional foi sistematizada, a Revista Brasileira de Estudos Pedagógicos foi o principal meio de divulgação do campo educacional e um importante instrumento de debate sobre a política em torno da ciência, da pesquisa educacional e da prática educativa. A revista continua sendo um órgão oficial do governo federal e de divulgação das ações de um instituto criado com o objetivo de difundir pesquisas: o Instituto Nacional de Estudos Pedagógicos (Inep). Naquele primeiro momento o Inep esteve a cargo de dois importantes educadores: Manuel Bergström Lourenço Filho e Anísio Spínola Teixeira, que orientaram o desenvolvimento da pesquisa em educação. Estes personagens se envolveram numa bandeira política e epistemológica e os artigos da revista ressaltavam suas ideias. O objetivo desta dissertação é identificar qual conceito de ciência estava presente quando a pesquisa educacional brasileira antes da criação dos cursos de pós-graduação. Foram selecionados 37 artigos entre os anos de 1944 e 1971. Estes artigos foram analisados com base nas concepções epistemológicas e diante da linha teórica da história dos conceitos. Como resultado desta pesquisa foi verificado que não houve dominância de nenhuma concepção epistemológica, mas a maior parte foi considerada dentro da perspectiva historicista. Diferentemente do que era esperado, nos artigos que trouxeram um panorama sobre pesquisa e ciência, houve opiniões divergentes a dos diretores da revista, mas o pensamento deles é destacado, inclusive, justificando muitas das ações realizadas pelo instituto. Foram observados diversos aspectos associados ao conceito de ciência, entre eles a eleição de prioridades e a ênfase na pesquisa prática, com alguns autores buscando um caráter mais imediatista e metodológico e outros defendendo a prática com embasamento teórico, sob a perspectiva social. Além do empenho para que a produção de pesquisas fosse realizada nas universidades, com o aporte de condições necessárias e da discussão sobre cientificidade da pesquisa educacional. Após 1964, o periódico publicou artigos que abordavam a educação como investimento, inseridas na tendência tecnicista, onde a função da pesquisa seria detectar de que forma otimizar os custos e qual seria a forma de propaganda mais eficaz para aumentar o número de matrículas. Porém, a revista ainda contava com influência de Anísio Teixeira e mesmo durante a ditadura militar realizou críticas às ações de repressão aos institutos e centros de pesquisa. A publicação do pensamento destes pesquisadores na RBEP permitiu que muitas destas questões fossem ampliadas, alcançando um impacto maior na sociedade. A maior parte dos artigos expôs a opinião de cientistas renomados e dos principais funcionários do Inep sobre quais deveriam ser as prioridades da pesquisa educacional em prol do progresso do país. Muitas das reivindicações publicadas se tornaram conquistas mantidas atualmente