Browsing by Author "Costa, Maria Cristina"
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- Design of a Mobile Augmented Reality Platform with Game-Based Learning PurposesPublication . Costa, Maria Cristina; Manso, António; Patrício, JoãoAugmented reality (AR) is an emergent technology that overlays virtual objects into the real environment. Lately, AR is gaining prominence in education because of its increasing affordability through computers or mobile technologies. In addition, research sustaining the benefits of AR to promote student’s engagement to learn is increasing every day. However, the literature identifies lack of studies about the use of AR in education, namely, studies focused on the development of AR games designed over specific learning objectives (game-based learning). This paper presents a mobile augmented reality platform with learning purposes. The platform includes a mobile application that consists of a location-based game targeted to promote learning about the universe. Furthermore, it includes a back-office that allows teachers to introduce information about celestial bodies and also develop a set of multiple-choice questions to assess student’s learning about the subject matters they teach. The mobile application provides the users with physical movement and social interaction in the real world, while playing the game and for this reason it is included in the pervasive games’ paradigm. Besides engaging the students to play the game, we argue that this platform may be used as a resource to be implemented in informal and formal learning environments.
- Physics of Sound to Raise Awareness for Sustainable Development Goals in the Context of STEM Hands-On ActivitiesPublication . Costa, Maria Cristina; Ferreira, Carlos; Pinho, Henrique J. O.This paper aims to present an interdisciplinary approach intended to raise awareness for Sustainable Development Goals in the context of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) hands-on activities targeted to elementary and secondary school. In particular, contents related to the physics of sound are used to warn about the dangers of noise pollution and its consequences for health, well-being, and productivity. Therefore, it is crucial to inform and raise community awareness on this issue, as well as on the measures needed to prevent its consequences. This research is inserted in a broader pedagogical project that includes primary school and secondary school teachers’ professional development and visits to schools to perform several hands-on activities in class aiming to provide students with 21st-century skills related to STEM education. Based on the literature, questionnaires, and participant observation, an empirical study was conducted with teachers who participated in a professional development programme. It is concluded that teachers and students understood the dangers of noise pollution and the measures to be taken to prevent them. Therefore, higher education institutions have a crucial role in the community, namely, through partnerships with schools and teachers’ training centres to raise awareness and disseminate and increase Sustainable Development practices in the community.
- Promoting Education for Sustainable Development: A Collaborative Project Between a Higher Education Institution and the Surrounding School CommunityPublication . Mateus, D. M. R.; Costa, Maria Cristina; Gomes, Marcela M. M. S.; Pinho, Henrique J. O.This chapter describes good practices developed by a higher education institution from Portugal in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). In addition to discussing the role of higher education in society, it also focuses on an intervention project on the local school community aimed at raising awareness and disseminating good attitudes related to Sustainable Development (SD). The intervention project results from a partnership between a higher education institution, a teachers training centre and schools. In this context, several hands-on experiments were developed by higher education teachers, researchers and students, and implemented in a teachers’ professional development programme. Based on questionnaires (N = 63) and participant observation, an empirical study was conducted. Besides increasing their knowledge about SDG, teachers recognized the role of schools in raising awareness to promote SD practices, and valued the role of higher education in supporting them in these initiatives. It is concluded on the importance of developing collaborative partnerships with schools and other stakeholders to raise awareness, disseminate and increase SD practices in the community. The experience developed in the field may interest researchers, policymakers, and anyone interested in promoting Sustainable Development initiatives.
- ProSTEAM – Promover o Ensino das STEAM no âmbito de um projeto Erasmus+Publication . Costa, Maria Cristina; Peixoto, Francisco; Ferreira, Nádia; Silva, José Castro; Monteiro, Vera
- Raising Awareness for Sustainable Development Goals Through Hands-On ExperimentsPublication . Costa, Maria Cristina; Mateus, D. M. R.; Pinho, Henrique J. O.With the aim of protecting our planet, the United Nations defined 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which requires the involvement of all countries to make an endeavour to achieve better living conditions. In this regard, stakeholders such as governments, regional and international organizations, and civil society need to work together to make efforts to meet these objectives. In addition, Higher Education Institutions have a crucial role, not only in developing research and disseminating SDG practices but also in intervening in society. This paper presents a collaborative project led by a Higher Education Institute and targeted to the school community. With the objective of strengthening consciousness for the development of good practices related to SDG, a workshop was prepared and implemented with primary school teachers. Besides providing knowledge about SDG, several hands-on experiments were presented to teachers to be reproduced with their students. Based on participant observation and enquiry forms applied to teachers and students, it was verified that the project was effective in enhancing recognition of teachers and students about the importance of providing good practices related to SDG. It is concluded that collaboration between higher education institutions and schools can trigger the implementation of sustainable development practices in the community.