Informatics
Having won the bet of distance learning through directness, creativity and integrated organization at all levels, the Department of Informatics of our School is constantly enriched with modern methods based on the latest models of Informatics and Technology, in order to meet the needs of students, teachers and parents.
…at a glance
Since the establishment of the Department of Informatics in 1983 until this day, we have utilized, implemented and evaluated innovative ideas, technologies, methodologies and projects. From the first Spectrum microcomputer to today’s personal supercomputers, from the first pilot efforts to integrate IT into education to the interactive whiteboards, the modern personalized learning and the 1: 1 curriculum. Our work in the field of Informatics extends on four axes: Education, Infrastructure – Methodologies, Activities, Research-Development.
Education
- Digital skills (Coding – Robotics)
One of the key skills of the 21st century is digital literacy: the child learns how to search, evaluate, process and disclose information, use environments for management of any kind of digital material, operate word processing, presentations, images, tables, databases tools, use communication and cooperation tools as well as web applications. At the same time, through teamworking activities, each student sets and implements individual or group goals, undertakes and implements initiatives, explores and solves problems using technological means, collaborates in a team spirit (at school and remotely).
In this context, students use ICT "tools" (applications appropriately selected to meet learning objectives that are systematically enriched), creating integrated digital projects, which are related to everyday reality and modern orientations. In particular, students from Kindergarten to Senior High School develop and understand mathematical, linguistic, environmental and other concepts in order to engage in creative cross-thematic activities. They come in contact with basic programming structures, Algorithm concepts, as well as robotic structures that they set in motion. The course "Digital skills (Coding - Robotics)" is based on the current Curriculum (Interdisciplinary Unified Curriculum Framework), enriched with additional topics such as construction of modern crafts, synthetic projects, safe and creative use of the internet, games of logic, algorithms, animation programming. In the Technology course, students start with a simple mechanical structure, completing more complex mechanisms. We are progressively integrating the utilization of network technologies to support the learning process, in all the cognitive subjects of the Curriculum.
Infrastructures – Methodologies
- Digital Material
- "1: 1 Educational Computing" Methodology
- Student Computer
The multimedia material that we develop in collaboration with our teachers, exceeds 120 GB in total. Includes "enriched" digital books and dictionaries, thematic videos, experimental simulations, interactive microcosms, presentations around thematic units, self-assessment tools, open creation environments, programming environments, concept map creation applications, educational creative games, interactive maps, multimedia processing applications and Student Computer maintenance "tools".
"1:1 educational computing" is this practice in which students from 3rd grade of Primary School have an individual student computer, with which they participate in learning activities. This practice highlights, as it evolves, the many benefits it offers:
- the student becomes a participant in his/her personal learning and educational events, creating his/her "crafts";
- the teacher becomes a partner and mentor, organizes, inspires and creates experiential activities, cultivates initiative, responsibility, critical thinking;
- with the various tools of the Student Computer teaching is individualized, multiple representations are enhanced, research and the quest for information are promoted.
For this project, our School received an award in 2011 for "Excellence and promotion of good practices in Primary and Secondary Education" by the Ministry of Education.
The Student Computer does not compete and does not cancel the established ways of teaching, but it complements them. It is a highly valued tool and a highly effective means of learning, teaching and teamwork with multiple benefits. Specifically:
- it constitutes an excellent simulation of the notebook;
- it turns its flat surface into a multi-parametric simulation and experimentation laboratory;
- it is a powerful tool for creative expression (with text, sound, image);
- it enhances research and effective information retrieval;
- it can carry out any form of evaluation.
To organize all the digital material used in the educational process, we designed and developed a Desktop for Student. Our goal was to simplify the work of students, so that they have direct access to any learning object or any open and closed application and to facilitate teachers in matters of organization and presentation of their work. This user-friendly interface contains rich digital interactive material. Students, Teachers and Parents are provided with technical support by our technical team.
Activities
- Website Design and Implementation
- Preparation for the Panhellenic Informatics Competition
- Preparation for the Panhellenic Robotics Competition
- Innovation Days
- Educational Technology Conferences
- Web-based Panhellenic Student Competition "LYSIAS"
- Partnership with Universities
- Research and development
Websites of our School (apart from our official websites) that we support: G-E-News: (Online High School Newspaper), Euanagnoston: (High School Online Newspaper), Research Papers, Workshops and Conferences.
After the end of our core program and until 4:00 pm, the Programming Team, with coding lessons for High School and Senior High School students, prepares them in order to participate in the Panhellenic Informatics Competition, the Balkan Olympiad in Informatics and the Informatics Olympiad.
After the end of our core program and until 4:00 pm, the Robotics Team for High School and Senior High School students, prepares them for participation with serious chances of being distinguished, in the Panhellenic Educational Robotics Competition organized by WRO Hellas.
Education and training are essential for innovation and innovation is essential for improving education systems. In this context, we have established the "Innovation Days", during which our teachers are updated about the innovations and good practices applied by their colleagues of all levels every day in the classroom.
Our School has organized the 1st Conference on Educational Informatics, in Athens, in November 1991, the 2nd Conference on Educational Informatics, in Athens, in November 1994, the conference entitled "The School of the Future & the Future of the School", in Athens, in April 2008, the STREAM Conference, in 2018.
LYSIAS is a web-based Panhellenic Student Competition, which has been organized every year since 1997 under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, by Doukas School, Microsoft Hellas and COSMOTE, in collaboration with schools, educational bodies, institutes, institutions and universities. Through an online search and strategy game, students from 4th grade of Primary School to 3rd grade of Senior High School participate by answering questions hidden in "microcosms" in order to score the highest possible score. LYSIAS also has the character of a social offer. With its motto "I play and help", it supports the Association of Friends of Children with Cancer "ELPIDA".
In collaboration with the University of the Aegean and the University of Piraeus, we systematically investigated the integration and utilization of the Student Computer in the educational process. The results of both surveys have been very encouraging and confirm that we are moving towards the right direction of the 21st century skills. At the same time, we collaborate with Athens University Schools for their students’ internship in the Department of Informatics.
Research and development is an important area of our activity. We participate in research programs, organize conferences, workshops, seminars for the training of teachers of our school and of other schools, we study the international literature, visit international model educational organizations and carry out research on educational innovations.