870 research outputs found
Reti di cooperazione e innovazione. Analisi e valutazione di una politica regionale europea a sostegno dell’innovazione
Recent developments in innovation theory and policy have led policymakers to assign particular importance to supporting networks of cooperation among heterogeneous economic actors, especially in production systems composed of small and medium enterprises. Such innovative policies call for parallel innovations in policy analysis, monitoring and assessment. Our analysis of a policy experiment aimed at supporting innovation networks in the Italian region of Tuscany intends to address some issues connected with the design, monitoring and evaluation of such interventions. Combining tools from ethnographic research and social networks analysis, we explore the structural elements of the policy programme, its impact on the regional innovation system, and the success of individual networks in attaining their specific objectives. This innovative approach also allows us to derive suggestions for policymakers intending to implement similar programmes.Innovation policy; local development policies; regional development policies; evaluation management
In vivo printing of growth factor-eluting adhesive scaffolds improves wound healing
Acute and chronic wounds affect millions of people around the world, imposing a growing financial burden on patients and hospitals. Despite the application of current wound management strategies, the physiological healing process is disrupted in many cases, resulting in impaired wound healing. Therefore, more efficient and easy-to-use treatment modalities are needed. In this study, we demonstrate the benefit of in vivo printed, growth factor-eluting adhesive scaffolds for the treatment of full-thickness wounds in a porcine model. A custom-made handheld printer is implemented to finely print gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel containing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) into the wounds. In vitro and in vivo results show that the in situ GelMA crosslinking induces a strong scaffold adhesion and enables printing on curved surfaces of wet tissues, without the need for any sutures. The scaffold is further shown to offer a sustained release of VEGF, enhancing the migration of endothelial cells in vitro. Histological analyses demonstrate that the administration of the VEGF-eluting GelMA scaffolds that remain adherent to the wound bed significantly improves the quality of healing in porcine wounds. The introduced in vivo printing strategy for wound healing applications is translational and convenient to use in any place, such as an operating room, and does not require expensive bioprinters or imaging modalities
Politiche per l’innovazione: dalla valutazione alla progettazione
We discuss how the outcomes of policy evaluation processes can provide valuable feedback in order to design more effective policy interventions. We address our analysis to policies directed at promoting innovation by fostering generative relationships among heterogeneous organizations. The empirical background of our paper is a specific policy programme: the Regional Programme of Innovative Actions (PRAI-ITT) implemented in the Italian region of Tuscany in the period 2002-2004. Starting from our policy evaluation and monitoring exercise (Russo and Rossi, 2008), we generate practical guidelines for the design of a new intervention that builds upon the previous programme's strength and overcomes its weaknesses. These guidelines concern how to write a tender that is consistent with the policy's objectives, how to design appropriate tools for the ongoing monitoring of the programme and for its ex post evaluation; how to use network analysis tools in order to represent the interactions among the programme's participants; how to use ethnographic research in the construction of the relevant data and in the interpretation of the results. We discuss what kind of data are relevant for monitoring and evaluation purposes, and what indicators can be used for the evaluation of the individual networks and of the entire programme.Innovation policy; local development policies; regional development policies; evaluation management
Inter-Organizational Learning and Collective Memory in Small Firms Clusters: an Agent-Based Approach
Literature about Industrial Districts has largely emphasized the importance of both economic and social factors in determining the competitiveness of these particular firms\' clusters. For thirty years, the Industrial District productive and organizational model represented an alternative to the integrated model of fordist enterprise. Nowadays, the district model suffers from competitive gaps, largely due to the increase of competitive pressure of globalization. This work aims to analyze, through an agent-based simulation model, the influence of informal socio-cognitive coordination mechanisms on district\'s performances, in relation to different competitive scenarios. The agent-based simulation approach is particularly fit for this purpose as it is able to represent the Industrial District\'s complexity. Furthermore, it permits to develop dynamic analysis of district\'s performances according to different types of environment evolution. The results of this work question the widespread opinion that cooperative districts can answer to environmental changes more effectively that non-cooperative ones. In fact, the results of simulations show that, in the presence of turbulent scenarios, the best performer districts are those in which cooperation and competition, trust and opportunism balance out.Firm Networks, Collective Memory, Agent Based Models, Uncertainty
Apprendimento cooperativo in rete: un possibile approccio metodologico alla conduzione di corsi universitari online
abstract not availabl
Progettazione di un percorso di formazione professionale basato su Open Badge
Nell’era digitale, le istituzioni di istruzione e formazione professionale (IFP) sono emerse come
ambienti di sviluppo trasformativi e flessibili; di conseguenza, è importante sviluppare
opportunitĂ di apprendimento professionale digitale che devono soddisfare i requisiti del
mercato del lavoro europeo. Sono state condotte ricerche in merito a tali opportunitĂ al fine di
trovare nuovi strumenti per pianificare e condurre studi sul continuo sviluppo professionale e
per raggiungere e mantenere le competenze versatili richieste nelle carriere di questi tempi.
Questo studio mira a colmare un vuoto di ricerca riguardante lo sviluppo professionale avanzato
basato sulle competenze, indagando il processo di apprendimento digitale aperto basato su
badge nel contesto della formazione professionale. La domanda di ricerca considera come i
badge digitali aperti strutturano il processo di apprendimento nel continuo sviluppo
professionale delle nuove professioni pre e in servizio.
La ricerca si è posta con l’obiettivo di esplorare le diverse idee, opinioni ed esperienze circa
l’utilizzo di un sistema di badging all’interno di percorsi formativi professionali. Attraverso
questo percorso si è sviluppata una comprensione profonda dei concetti e delle opportunità per
il design di nuove pratiche educative.
La domanda di ricerca ha esplorato il design di un percorso digitale di formazione professionale
basato sull’applicazione delle logiche del gioco e di un sistema di micro-credentials. Ciò che è
stato portato in evidenza è l’introduzione di cambiamenti necessari sia ai sistemi di erogazione,
le piattaforme di e-learning, sia a quelli di gestione e pianificazione delle attivitĂ formative on
line (gli LMS, Learning Management System) sia, infine al modo con cui vengono progettati e
realizzati i corsi.
La semplice sovrapposizione, come plug in, dei badge nelle piattaforme di e-learning, senza un
adeguato progetto di cambiamento radicale del modo di fare formazione digitale, non produrrĂ
i risultati sperati.
La domanda generale di ricerca dello studio è la seguente: quali sono le best practice per il
design di un percorso di formazione professionale basato open badge?
L’entità dell’apprendimento digitale aperto basato su badge comprende materiali di
apprendimento, criteri di badge, badge didattici, impalcature e supporto a tutti i corsisti. Questo
studio offre approfondimenti sulla struttura del processo e la progettazione a piĂą livelli per
l’applicazione dell’approccio basato sulla Design based Research e badge digitali aperti e nello
sviluppo professionale.In the digital age, vocational education and training (VET) institutions emerged as
transformative and flexible development environments; consequently, it is important to develop
digital professional learning opportunities which must meet the requirements of the European
labor market. The research has been conducted into these opportunities, in order to find new
tools for planning and conducting continuing professional development studies and for
achieving and maintaining the versatile skills required in careers these days. This study aims to
fill a research gap regarding advanced skills-based professional development by investigating
the open badge-based digital learning process in the context of vocational training. The research
question considers how open digital badges structure the learning process in the continuous
professional development of new pre and in-service professions.
The research was aimed to explore different ideas, opinions and experiences regarding the use
of a badging system within professional training courses. Through this route we have
developed an understanding wave of concepts and opportunities for the design of new
educational practices.
The research question explored the design of a digital vocational training course based on the
application of the logic of the game and a system of micro-credentials. What has been
highlighted is the introduction of necessary changes both to the delivery systems, the e-learning
platforms, and to those for the management and planning of online training activities (the
LMS, Learning Management System) and, finally, to the way in which the courses are designed
and implemented.
The simple overlapping, as a plug-in, of badges in e-learning platforms, without an adequate
project of radical change in the way of doing digital training, will not produce the desired
results.
The firm's general research question is: “What are the best practices for designing
an open badge- based career path” ?
The entity of digital learning based on open badge includes learning materials, badge criteria,
educational badge, scaffolding and support to all the participants . This study provides insights
into the structure of the process and planning at various levels for the 'application of ' approach
based on Design Research based and digital badge open and professional development
Transparent Roles in Feedback in the Student-Faculty Partnership for Teaching and Learning
Faculty devote effort and energy promoting learner-centered opportunities that reinforce course content. Through the use of varied pedagogical strategies, appreciating the transparency in learning and teaching (TILT) process, faculty-structured learning opportunities can promote students thinking critically about their performance, building a repertoire of skills to advance learning at higher levels. The feedback that faculty provide and the format given can enhance student-faculty partnerships and success in the service-learning or practicum classroom. Feedback considerations for type (verbal, written, or a combination) and time are paramount to promoting faculty and student partnerships. The method of feedback delivery should be taken into consideration to support student learning
Formazione degli insegnanti e competenze nelle tecnologie della comunicazione educativa
La formazione degli insegnanti a nuovi linguaggi audiovisivi e multimediali e alle nuove tecnologie informatiche e telematiche ha avuto in Italia una storia di interventi pubblici ma anche di riflessione pedagogica e didattica, che merita di essere approfondita. L’articolo si propone di dimostrare come la ricerca educativa, l’elaborazione culturale e la sperimentazione universitaria abbia anticipato e sostenuto scientificamente i piani nazionali e le azioni istituzionali per introdurre le tecnologie didattiche nel sistema scolastico.Vengono anche delineate le competenze plurime dell’e-teacher e dell’e-tutor a sostegno dell’innovazione metodologica e tecnologica della comunicazione educativa, che qualifica il nuovo ambiente integrato di apprendimento
Coordination Of Hierarchical Command And Control Services
The purpose of this program is to show emerging information technologies can significantly improve key areas of tactical operations, resulting in the conversion of software developed under the ATO to existing battlefield systems. One such key area is Information Dissemination and Management (ID&M). The key software that will be developed under the ID&M portion requires a collection of agent-based software services that will collaborate during tactical mission planning and execution
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