LeGroup Research

Here is more or less up to date list of the LeGroup's current and past research projects

SyStem2020: (2018-2022): Through SySTEM 2020’s research-practice approach, new tools will be created and tested to support educators in designing and implementing flexible learning environments that depend on the learner, location and subject. From this, the gap between schools and out of school learning initiatives will be bridged, assisting our future citizens to think more creatively and critically in this changing world. SySTEM 2020 has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement no. 788317.

3D Printing and Robotics in Schools: (2017-2018)

HUMEX: Quantifying Human Experience for Increased Intelligence Within Work Teams and in the Customer Interface (2018-2020). The project is funded by Business Finland.

PARTURE: Promotion of scientific reasoning and computational thinking skills in primary education through art and design practices (2017-2018)
The aim of the project is to examine the promotion of scientific reasoning (SR) and computational thinking (CT) in primary education through art and design practices. It is assumed that art and design contexts can facilitate students’ interest towards CT and SR. The project is funded by the Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation.

Fish video: Video conference for student-driven online learning activities (2017)
In this project, we research, explore and design a video conference platform that enables student-driven activities in online study groups.

iTEC: Designing the Future Classroom (2010-2014)
iTEC is about designing the future classroom. The project, which involves 15 Ministries of Education from across Europe, brings together teachers, policymakers, pedagogical experts, researchers and designers to introduce innovative teaching practices. Within iTEC, educational tools and resources have been piloted in over 2,000 classrooms across 19 European countries with the key objective of providing a sustainable model for fundamentally redesigning teaching and learning.

Learning Layers: Scaling up Technologies for Informal Learning in SME Clusters (2012-2016)
In the Learning Layers Project, we develop technologies that support informal learning in the workplace. Our particularly focus is on Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs). We develop mobile and social technologies that unlock and enable peer production of information and knowledge. The technologies also act as “scaffolds” for the individuals so that they can learn in the right context and at the right time. The research is funded by the European Commission.

LEAD: Learning Design – Designing for Learning (2012-2014)
LEAD brings together design thinking to learning design and design expertise to the development process of technological learning solutions. In LEAD research the learning situations studied vary widely, from classroom to conferences and to more informal learning settings. One thing common to all these is that the learning situation should be planned and prepared: this planning and preparing is closely analogous to design process. The project consortium is combination of Finnish leading universities with major international academic collaboration, active new start-ups and SMEs developing new solutions for educational institutes and organizations for tackling the 21st century information management and learning challenges. The research is funded by Tekes – the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation.

AVO 1 + 2: Openness Accelerating Learning Networks (2008-2014)
In the AVO project we disseminate some of the research results for practitioners in Finland. Within the consortium we generate and strength collaborative, participatory and networked work culture in educational institutions and organizations, and among their stakeholders, support the growth of teachers and expert networks, promote collaborative learning culture in in civil society activities, schools, colleges and office work and increase distance and peer education in public administration and civil society activities. The project is funded by the European Commission.

Doctoral Research (2012 -)
In the Learning Environments research group there are currently six Doctoral Candidates. Some parts of their research is related to the above research projects. We also have Doctoral Candidates doing their dissertation in the fields of education psychology (University of Helsinki) and learning sciences (Indiana University).

Past Research Projects

CALIBRATE and LeMill (2005 – 2008)

ITCOLE and Fle3 (2001 – 2003)
The ITCOLE project Focused on developing innovative pedagogical models, design principles and technology for collaborative knowledge building to be used in European education. The models and technology were tested and disseminated throughout the European education landscape free of charge in order to help in building a coherent and unified network of participants that supports sharing of expertise, content, practices and tools. In the ITCOLE project we developed the Fle3 – Future Learning Environment, an open source knowledge building tool that has been used by thousands of students around the world. We were coordinating the project with 9 European research partners. The research was funded by the European Commission.

Future Learning Environment (1998-2000)
The aim of the FLE -project was to research and develop the use of New Media, especially the Web, in the field of learning. The research and development work was based on the latest results in cognitive science and studies of learning. The FLE-project designed and produced several prototypes of Web application supporting collaborative learning and knowledge building as well as tools to produce web-based multimedia learning material. The project consortium include the Departmenr of Psychology and Department of Teacher Education of the University of Helsinki, Sonera Ltd, Grey Interactive Ltd Apple Computer, Finland and WSOY Ltd. The research was funded by Tekes – the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation.

In addition to the above research projects we have been involved in number of smaller R&D projects:

• KOTEK – Copyright and open content dissemination project in Finland (2010-2012)
• MobilED – Learning environments that are meaningfully enhanced with mobile technologies and services. (2006-2009)
• UNESCO – Art, Design and Technology Master Classes in the Arab States (2005-2006; 2007)
• UNESCO Young Digital Creators Educators Kit (2005-2006)
• Bisociation Tool – Victor Papanek’s “Paper Computer” (2004-2005; 2007)
• UNIVe – Creating network-based e-university model for the small countries in the context of e-learning in Europe (2004-2005)
• Fle2 / NordUnet2 (2000-2001)
• Future Learning Environment / Tekes (1998-2000)

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