PhD Description

Aim of the doctorate in "Technologies and methods for university education" is to train the next generation of researchers and experts in the field of designing and developing new educational methodologies and technologies, mainly in the university field, but with a look also to the school environment.
The doctoral course will focus on the innovation of teaching and teaching of various disciplines, based on the most recent international scientific contributions related to adult learning processes, in order to foster growth that provides high levels of mastery and awareness in students with respect to the various disciplines covered in the Degree Programs.
In particular, the doctorate intends to promote and encourage research projects in the field of experimentation and application of innovative methodologies in the teaching of disciplines and in the formulation of methodologies, tools and didactic paths that also provide for the inclusion of students with different abilities. and neurodiversity.

Course objectives

The doctorate aims to represent a national and international reference point in the field of general and disciplinary didactic innovation in higher-education, in the use of teaching methodologies and technologies, in the use of theoretical reference plans related to pedagogy and psychology, and more generally in university training improvement projects, through a network of research groups located in various Italian universities and focused on innovation in disciplinary teaching, in conjunction with the related university structures for the improvement of teaching. Therefore, in addition to teachers from pedagogical and psychological areas, teachers from various scientific fields, with experience in research for disciplinary teaching (in particular both teaching of STEM disciplines, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and humanities: Italian language, Italian literature), experts in teaching technologies and teachers with experience in projects / programs to improve the quality of university education will be involved.
Doctoral students will benefit from an educational offer with cross-sectional teaching, focused on pedagogy, cognitive psychology and teaching technologies, common to the various locations to be held alternately in the associated universities, and on innovation experiences in disciplinary teaching. PhD students will study the neuroscientific basis of learning, the main pedagogical-didactic theories applied to all disciplinary fields, disciplinary innovations, digital design with the aim of developing new technologies, analyzing large-scale educational data, designing new training and docimological methods.. A particular focus will be dedicated to the training of people with disabilities, even mild ones, and neurodiversity.
Students will also develop their specialist knowledge through:
1) participation in relevant national and international research projects involving the universities part of the
doctorate;
2) in-depth knowledge of good practices at national and international level;
3) active involvement in training improvement projects in the involved universities;
4) the possibility of experimenting activities in specific disciplinary fields.
Courses and training activities will benefit from the possible contribution of teachers from international universities and research centers and some will possibly be delivered in English. Doctoral students will be able to carry out part of their activity in foreign structures to expand and
consolidate their training. Participation in some joint training sessions at the sites will be required in order to consolidate relationships with fellow doctoral students and also plan longer periods of stay in the associated sites. PhD students will be invited to experimentation activities that can also allow peer mentoring collaboration between them.
Part of the training activities will take place through project activities that must be carried out jointly between the doctoral students of the various locations. Doctoral students will be evaluated through the publications produced (in conferences and international journals in the fields of didactic and pedagogical innovation or the disciplinary fields in which they will specialize), participation in conferences (also as speakers), participation in research projects and in the activities of the Teaching and Learning Centers of the associated universities.