Tag: Erasmus

PRAISE Project – 2nd Newsletter Now Available

Posted on by Lito Mixanetzi in News

The second PRAISE Project Newsletter is now available, presenting the latest activities, achievements and upcoming milestones of the project.

A key highlight of this edition is the Learning, Teaching and Training Activity (LTTA) held in Vila-real, Spain, and hosted by Fundación Flors. The week-long training brought together 13 trainers and academic staff from across the consortium. Participants engaged in classroom observations and hands-on pedagogical workshops covering a range of topics, including unplugged activities, educational robotics, computational thinking, conditional logic, machine learning, gesture recognition and avatar generation.

The newsletter also presents the five integrated PRAISE curriculum modules, coordinated by the University of Patras:

  1. Computational Thinking and Algorithmic Foundations – UNIC
  2. Creative Coding: From Visual to Text-Based Languages – University of Patras
  3. Educational Robotics and Physical Computing – Fundación Flors
  4. Digital Making and STEAM Integration – Meraki
  5. Artificial Intelligence Literacy and Ethics – POLITEHNICA Bucharest

Each module integrates principles of responsible AI and environmental sustainability, contributing to the development of innovative and future-oriented educational resources.

What comes next?

The PRAISE project is now entering its pilot implementation and resource creation phase. Upcoming activities include:

  • 🎓 University pilot courses with at least 100 pre-service teachers
  • 📖 Development of an open-access Activity Book featuring 20 classroom-tested exercises
  • 🎥 Creation of 8 video tutorials and delivery of 4 collaborative online workshops
  • 🌐 Development of an open-access platform hosting the project’s educational resources

The new newsletter provides a closer look at these activities and the progress being made across the PRAISE consortium.

Read the 2nd PRAISE Newsletter and follow our journey toward innovative, responsible and sustainable AI education.

P.A.C.E. Project Kick-Off Meeting Held in Paris

Posted on by Lito Mixanetzi in News

The P.A.C.E. project officially kicked off on February 5 & 6 in Paris, France, bringing together project partners from across Europe for the first transnational meeting of the consortium. The event marked the beginning of a promising collaboration focused on achieving the project’s shared goals and establishing a strong foundation for the work ahead.

During the two-day meeting, partners introduced their organizations, shared their expertise, and discussed their roles within the project. The University of Patras (UPatras) was represented by members of our lab, who presented the university and highlighted its research experience, ongoing initiatives, and expected contributions to the P.A.C.E. project.

The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for partners to review the project’s objectives, explore the structure of the work packages, and plan the upcoming activities. Through productive discussions and collaborative sessions, the consortium clarified responsibilities, timelines, and coordination mechanisms that will guide the implementation of the project.

Beyond the formal agenda, the kickoff meeting also strengthened the partnership among the participating organizations. The atmosphere was highly collaborative, with all partners expressing great enthusiasm about the launch of the P.A.C.E. project and the opportunities it offers for innovation and impact.

With the project now underway, the consortium looks forward to the next phases of collaboration, the development of new tools and resources, and the meaningful results that will emerge from this international partnership.

PRAISE Project Officially Launched in Nicosia, Cyprus

Posted on by Lito Mixanetzi in News

The PRAISE project officially kicked off on October 27th in Nicosia, Cyprus, bringing together project partners from across Europe to begin an exciting collaborative journey. The meeting marked the start of a shared effort to advance the project’s goals, establish strong cooperation among partners, and set the foundation for the work ahead.

During the kickoff meeting, representatives from all partner organizations had the opportunity to present their institutions, expertise, and planned contributions to the project. The University of Patras (UPatras) was represented by members of our lab, who delivered a presentation introducing the university, its research activities, and its role within the PRAISE project.

The meeting also served as an important platform for discussing the project’s work packages, timelines, and collaboration strategies. Through productive discussions and interactive sessions, partners aligned on the next steps and clarified the responsibilities that will guide the project’s implementation.

All partners expressed great enthusiasm about launching PRAISE and working together over the coming months and years. The kickoff meeting fostered a strong sense of collaboration and shared vision, with everyone excited about the opportunities and impact that the project aims to achieve.

With the project now officially underway, the PRAISE consortium looks forward to the upcoming activities, joint research efforts, and innovative outcomes that will emerge from this international partnership.

SIMOnS project 2nd Newsletter

Posted on by Lito Mixanetzi in News

📢 Exciting Announcement! 📢

We’re thrilled to share the second newsletter of the SIMOnS project!

Dive into the latest updates, milestones, and future plans of the SIMOnS project!
Here are the key points:
🔹The third project’s face to face meeting was held in Finland on April 3rd and 4th!
🔹We now have a TikTok account where all the educational content is uploaded!
🔹The testing of the SIMOnS app is done, providing us with feedback from the participants and key findings!

🔗 https://www.simonsproject.eu

Stay informed and join us on this incredible journey! 🚀

Exploring the GUESS 3D Virtual World: A New Era in Environmental Education 🌍

Posted on by Lito Mixanetzi in News

We are excited to welcome you to the demonstration of the GUESS 3D Virtual World Learning Environment (VWLE) — a groundbreaking educational platform developed to elevate environmental knowledge and awareness among university students.

Created as part of the Erasmus Plus KA2 project, GUESS (Gamified University Environmental Sustainability Skills) offers an innovative approach to learning by combining immersive virtual environments with real-world sustainability challenges. The platform invites students to explore, engage, and reflect on key environmental issues through a fully interactive and gamified experience.

The goal? To empower the next generation of learners with the mindset and tools needed to build a more sustainable future. From understanding ecological systems to evaluating sustainable practices, GUESS transforms traditional education into a dynamic, digital journey.

This demonstration showcases how virtual reality, educational technology, and sustainability can come together to create powerful learning experiences. It’s not just a tool — it’s a movement toward greener thinking and more conscious action.

🌱 Join us as we explore how GUESS is reshaping environmental education for the better.

SIMOnS project’s third face to face meeting held in Finland

Posted on by Lito Mixanetzi in News

The third Transnational Project Meeting, held in Finland on April 3rd and 4th, was a productive and engaging gathering for all partners involved in the project. The meeting began with presentations from each partner institution, offering updates on progress and contributions across the various work packages.

The agenda included in-depth discussions led by the main partners responsible for the literature review, content production, and the ongoing development of the SIMOnS app, which remains on track for release in mid-2025. The team discussed the user trial results in order to refine or improve the mobile app, marking another important step forward in refining the project’s outputs.

The GUESS Virtual World Is Officially Complete! 🌍

Posted on by Lito Mixanetzi in News

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news — the GUESS Virtual World Learning Environment (VWLE) is now fully developed!

After months of dedicated work, collaboration, and creative energy from our international team, the GUESS project has reached a major milestone. The result is an innovative, 3D immersive platform designed to enhance environmental awareness and sustainability education through gamified learning.

The GUESS VWLE is part of the Erasmus+ KA2 project, aiming to equip university students with essential environmental knowledge in a way that’s interactive, engaging, and impactful. By combining cutting-edge technology with educational best practices, the platform offers learners an opportunity to explore real-world issues in a virtual setting — making the experience both meaningful and memorable.

From interactive missions and dynamic learning spaces to collaborative challenges, every detail of the virtual world has been carefully crafted to spark curiosity and promote action toward a more sustainable future.

As we move into the next phase, we’re excited to start integrating GUESS into educational programs and showcasing its potential across institutions. Stay tuned for updates, pilot testing, and opportunities to experience the platform firsthand!

GUESS Project Meeting Kicks Off a Promising New Year

Posted on by Lito Mixanetzi in News

The Software Quality and Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory started the year with an exciting milestone—the latest GUESS Project Meeting took place on January 14th, bringing together all project partners to exchange updates, evaluate progress, and outline the next steps for this dynamic international collaboration.

Hands-On Testing in the GUESS Virtual World

A key moment of the meeting was a hands-on session in the GUESS virtual world, where partners had the opportunity to test interactive educational games in a simulated environment. This collaborative session offered valuable insights and feedback, supporting the ongoing improvement of the user experience and technical design.

Looking Ahead

As active contributors to the GUESS Project, our lab is proud to support the development of immersive, game-based learning environments. The project reflects our commitment to innovation, interdisciplinary research, and impactful educational technologies. We look forward to continued collaboration and new achievements throughout the year.

SIMOnS project Infographic

Posted on by Lito Mixanetzi in News

Exciting news from the SIMOnS project! Our state-of-the-art report on learning and assessing digital skills is complete, marking a major milestone in our journey.

Now, we’re gearing up for the next phase: Educational Content Production! This step involves gathering innovative learning materials to implement in the SIMOnS app, making digital skills education more accessible and personalized than ever before.

Visit the project’s social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonsproject/
Website: https://www.simonsproject.eu/homepage
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simons-project-0918a02b8/