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The project
aims at exploring the development of intercultural identities
starting from the analysis of the self sharing processes that
happen within specific educational environments. In particular,
we assume that the digital virtual environments can favour the
sharing of meanings and cultural values and collaboration in
the construction of intercultural artefacts. Recent studies
have, in fact, shown that collaborative virtual environments
allow both the redefinition of participants’ identity,
and the construction of new cultural artefacts. The ultimate
scope of the project is the identification of new possible didactic
methodologies that can enhance cultural exchanges through practical
activities, respecting the socio-cultural dimension of identity.
With identity we intend: a) the (mediated) dialogical dimension
of positioning, b) identity as role covered into the educational
context (I as a student, as a teacher, as an expert, as a apprentice,
as an evaluator), c) cultural (values, believes, practices,
opinions), d) gender.
Moreover, this project could stimulate research about new and
more complete learning assessment methods Particular reference
will be kept to the formation of e-portfolio. In fact, one of
the goals of this project is to enrich the e-portfolio by including
also dimensions connected to digital identity and cultural awareness
as fundamental moments of learning.
The virtual community that will arise from this project (teachers,
students, researchers) should contribute to the development
of didactical and assessment materials, concerning digital and
intercultural identity.
To this project can participate classrooms from any nationality,
from compulsory grades (from kindergarten to high school), to
which will be proposed to build a virtual world aimed at “containing”
and valorising identity aspects. For those who have no knowledge
of the software used an on-line training will be offered.
Starting with a collective brainstorming, both in classrooms
and in the virtual environment, goals and working strategies
will be defined collaratively. Each classroom will put in practice
the general goals – defined as guide-lines - in a “situated”
way, keeping up with its specific needs, interests, constrains
and potentialities.
For example, they could start by reading and discussing in classroom
books about the considered themes (“The invisible cities”,
by Calvino; “The 60 tails” by Buzzati; “Il Milione”
by Marco Polo, choosing the book depending upon students’
skills and age). Later they could plan and build three-dimensional
objects with a strong cultural value. For example, objects addressed
to them selves as adults and/or to their friends as adults –
as gifts; or objects representing in a meaningful way their
own or some else social, cultural, religious, family values.
At the moment the following classrooms are involved:
- two classrooms from Bari (Italy) – medium expertise with
technology - II and IV grade.
They already had brainstorming in the classroom and a few small
group discussions.
- One kindergarten classroom from Latina (Italy) - technologically
advanced.
Three pieces of software are used:
1. Active Words. Is a three-dimensional world that can be downloaded
from this site:
http://www.activeworlds.com/edu/awedu_download.asp
The virtual
world of Icity is already running (select Show -> tabs) and
tourists are welcome to visit it. The University of Bari has
purchased 20 citizenships and they will be distributed to the
participants to the project.
Main goal of Icity is to develop a virtual community focused
on building cultural objects related to identity and multicultural
values. Icity is structured along different types of building
areas:
- Personal
buildings: each participant can build virtual houses according
to specific needs. These buildings are free and built without
any guideline from the research group.
- Who
am I: this is a space where each student will display material
to represent who they are. These buildings are guided by the
research group.
- Who
I will be: this is a space where students will build their
expected identity in the future. These buildings are guided
by the research group.
- How
the others see me: this space is devoted to the social construction
of the identity. These buildings are guided by the research
group.
2. Synergeia.
Is a web based platform developed by a European research group
http://bscl.gmd.de/bscl2/
Synergeia is integrated into Icity and it is meant as a space
for students and teachers where to up-load and down load classroom
projects, proposals, material of any type (photos, websites,
documents) and where to have asynchronous communication. Synergeia
is freely accessible but logins and passwords have to be required
to the coordinator of the project.
3. Knowledge
Forum. Is a web-based forum designed by a Canadian research
group leaded by Scardamalia and Bereiter http://www.knowledgeforum.com/
This virtual space is used by teachers and research to keep
a link between research aims and didactical practices.
Results gathered will allow us to:
1. better understand the processes of intercultural identity
construction and the processes of “repositioning”
of personal identity;
2. provide indications about teaching/learning and didactic
assessment keeping up with identity and intercultural matters.
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