Academic Innovation and Cultural Immersion: the Second DigiFLEd Benchmarking Visit in Kastoria, Greece
The second Benchmarking Visit of DigiFLEd took place in the picturesque town of Kastoria, Greece, from June 24-28, 2024. Hosted by the University of Western Macedonia, this event brought together 24 Ukrainian and European academics on-site and 29 online, creating a dynamic and collaborative environment. The visit was meticulously organized by the Department of Communication and Digital Media, ensuring a rich and stimulating experience for all participants.
The week commenced with a warm welcome from Professor Eleni Griva, Vice Rector for International Relations, Global engagement and Student Affairs and the vice-Head of the Department of Communication and Digital Media and University’s DigiFLEd Lead Professor Domna Michail who provided an overview of the week’s activities.
During the morning training session of the first day, Associate Professor Alexandros Kleftodimos offered an introductory course on Multimedia Content Creation for Education and Theories & Principles of Multimedia Learning. He also guided the trainees in exploring the principles of Multimedia Learning, Creating Interactive apps with PowerPoint, Working with Images and much more. The afternoon AI tour in the old town of Kastoria was a fascinating experience and gave the trainees lots of information on local architecture and culture of the town.
In the afternoon session, Assistant Professor Michailis Vrigkas introduced the trainees to the world of Virtual and Augmented Reality, showing them how to create captivating Live Books. This first day ended in a very nice way with the reception dinner at the old town of Kastoria.
The second day’s morning session was dedicated to Multimedia Content Creation for Education and Theories & Principles of Multimedia Learning (Creating Interactive content with H5P, Working with Images) and the Supporting University Virtual Centers by Michalis Vrigkas and Georgios Lappas. During the afternoon session, Michalis went on with Virtual and Augmented Reality -Creating Interactive Virtual Worlds and the day was concluded with a Visit to the Aquarium which was enriched with a tour with mobile apps.
The third day began with sessions on Digital storytelling and Creative Narrations under the skillfull supervision of the Assistant Professor Maria Matsiola, focusing on sound and video editing. Later during the morning session, PhD student Chrysa Markou delivered an introduction to the use of digital games as teaching tools. The afternoon session was also devoted to Digital storytelling and Creative Narrations and gave the opportunity for additional practice on the subject.
Cultural activities combined with digital applications on the field took place during the fourth day, with visits to the Byzantine and Archeological Museums and Byzantine Churches, the Dragon’s Cave and the Limnaion prehistoric settlement where the participants had the opportunity to play educational games especially designed for this unique location. The day ended with a memorable Greek party at a local taverna.
The final day featured with inspiring lecture on the basics of VR and AR at work at the Immersive lab by Michailis Vrigkas. Participants enjoyed the opportunity to experience VR and AR at the lab and enjoyed AI tours designed to inform the guests about the history, geography, culture and natural beauties of the area. The boat ride around the penislula of Kastoria in the afternoon was fascinating. This tour provided spectacular views of the peninsula and the town of Kastoria.
The 2nd Benchmarking Visit of DigiFLEd in Kastoria was absolutely astonishing blending academic expertise, unique cultural context, and pleasant socializing. Participants left with fascinating experiences, strengthened networks, and unforgettable memories of their time in Kastoria, Greece.
