Research and teaching innovation

In an effort to improve teaching quality and personalized feedback of the activities that students perform, we have developed different innovative projects about new assessment methodologies. These methodologies have been applied to the automatic correction assignments by quizzes, free text assessment or circuits verification.

• SELL: Learning Logic Monitorin
   
• Automatic evaluation of tests of open questions
   
• Supportive environment for self-learning in the design of digital circuits
   
• Introducción a las matemáticas 
   
• κῦδος: Learning Network Platform (K-PAX)

Our students use a set of special characters with their own meaning and also a related problem in virtual learning environments: mathematical notation. Our lecturers have developed different tools for writing formulae in our forums and email, facilitating their learning and knowing the correct locution.

• HANDMATH: Handwriting math recognition
   
• Automatic verbalisation of mathematical formulae
   
• ROLFO: Open repository of mathematical formulae locutions (ROLFO)

Virtual studies have associated a number of problems and also offer a number of advantages that enable a collaborative and asynchronous communication that can facilitate the learning process. In this context, we have developed different projects that allow embedding new tools in workspaces, such as classrooms, forums and teaching materials, of our University.

• BioWave: Using Web 2.0 tools to foster interdisciplinary collaboration between biomedical and biotechnological Masters
   
• UOCLET: Integration of contents and communication by means of a web annotation tool
   
• Workspace Group Web 2.0 on the campus of UOC
   
• Microblogging in the Virtual Classroom.
   
• RECRE: RCollect, Tag and Share Educational Resources
   
• Foro de Discusión: Knowledge management-based collaborative work tool

Some of our courses require using specific software to perform their functions, or learning how to operate specific hardware that it is difficult to have at home, or network infrastructure hard to reproduce. In this context we have developed ad hoc projects for subjects with these special needs. Some examples are: simulating a sound mixer, the development of a virtual room to present final projects, or the use of boards to practice with embedded systems.

• PlanetLab@UOC: Internet-scale distributed systems Practices.
   
• PRESENT@: Virtual Degrees Hall
   
• Virtualization of an audio mixer
   
• ARP@: Realistic Training for Embedded Systems Programming @ Home
   
• Online laboratory for the development of applications and games on mobile devices (phones and tablets).

Virtual learning environments progressively generate a lot of quality content. These files must be stored and properly labeled in order to be reused in the future. The lecturers of our Faculty have developed different tools to design customized multimedia educational resources that meet student needs, as well as suitable repositories for their storage.

• Creation of a Statistics learning objects repository
   
• Podcasting
   
• Custom audiovisual learning resource 
   
• Creation and editing of educational materials in the Cloud

Our lecturers have participated in different project competitive calls in Spain and Europe to participate in the development of virtual learning environments, which are expected to be used in the near future.

• Free Technology Academy
   
• ALICE: Adaptive Learning via Intuitive/Interactive, Collaborative and Emotional Systems.