With this in mind the team from TELIT-SA (Technology Enhanced Learning and Innovative Education and Training in South Africa) – a research focus area in the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences in Vanderbijlpark – recently hosted two international experts within the fields of gaming and technologies for education.
Dr Carolina Islas Sedano
Dr Carolina Islas Sedano is a world-renowned gaming expert from the University of Eastern Finland. During her second visit to the campus this year she conducted a follow-up workshop on the development and design of table-top and electronic board games. The aim of the workshop was not only to monitor the progress made by participants thus far, but also to reinforce existing skills in terms of creating innovative and creative teaching and learning strategies. Project management, as a vital part of the development and commercialisation process, was also discussed.
Dr Carolina’s main research interests include using technology innovatively to achieve outcomes or experiences that would otherwise not be possible. She also explores ways of using technology to create meaningful and enjoyable playing-learning experiences that promote self-reflection, increase tacit knowledge and knowledge communication.
Dr Carolina Islas Sedano
Prof Markku Tukiainen
As a professor in the School of Computing at the Joensuu Campus of the University of Eastern Finland, Prof Tukiainen specialises in software engineering and human computer interaction. He is a software engineer by trade and is the current group leader for the Interactive Technologies Research Group.
He has published extensively in the fields of eye-tracking, intelligent interfaces, interactive technologies for inclusion and empirical software engineering. During his visit to the campus he presented an informative seminar on the use of smart technologies for educational purposes. One venture which drew a lot of attention was an eye-tracking research project aimed to assist novel neurosurgeons in learning best practices from more practised and skilful surgeons.
Prof Markku Tukiainen
Using technology to enhance learning
Researchers within the TELIT-SA are hard at work strengthening and expanding its reach and impact. TELIT-SA focuses on the theory and practice of learning technologies across an array of disciplines in higher education. In short, it has a dedicated focus on the practice of technology enhanced learning.
The participants at the recent workshop included staff members from the Serious Games Institute-SA (SGI-SA) and the Apps Factory, both divisions within TELIT-SA, as well as staff from other units within the North-West University.
For more information about TELIT-SA please visit http://natural-sciences.nwu.ac.za/telit-sa
Workshop participants busy developing gaming strategies
