Search Results (37)

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education offers novel opportunities to enhance critical thinking while also posing challenges to independent cognitive development. In particular, Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HCAI) in education aims to enhance human experience by providing a supportive and collaborative learning environment. Rather than replacing the educator, HCAI serves as a tool that empowers both students and teachers, fostering critical thinking and autonomy in learning. This study investigates the potential for AI to become a collaborative partner that assists learning and enriches academic engagement. The research was conducted during the 2024–2025 winter semester within the Pedagogical and Teaching Sufficiency Program offered by the Audio and Visual Arts Department, Ionian University, Corfu, Greece. The research employs a hybrid ethnographic methodology that blends digital interactions—where students use AI tools to create artistic representations—with physical classroom engagement. Data was collected through student projects, reflective journals, and questionnaires, revealing that structured dialog with AI not only facilitates deeper critical inquiry and analytical reasoning but also induces a state of flow, characterized by intense focus and heightened creativity. The findings highlight a dialectic between individual agency and collaborative co-agency, demonstrating that while automated AI responses may diminish active cognitive engagement, meaningful interactions can transform AI into an intellectual partner that enriches the learning experience. These insights suggest promising directions for future pedagogical strategies that balance digital innovation with traditional teaching methods, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of education. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of integrating reflective practices and adaptive frameworks to support evolving student needs, ensuring a sustainable model. Full article

Occupational safety and health (OSH) training plays a crucial role in preventing workplace accidents, ensuring compliance with legislation, and fostering a safety-oriented culture across all sectors. This article compares traditional OSH training methods with innovative approaches that incorporate interactive elements and virtual reality (VR) technologies, with a particular emphasis on their contributions to sustainability. The study analyzes feedback from training participants across various occupational roles and age groups, focusing on the effectiveness, engagement, and perception of each method. The results demonstrate that interactive training and VR-based training not only enhance participant engagement and improve comprehension of safety procedures but also promote sustainable training practices by reducing the need for physical materials, minimizing travel, and decreasing reliance on extensive on-site infrastructure. These advancements contribute to environmental sustainability within safety training programs. The paper further explores the benefits, challenges, and economic considerations associated with implementing sustainable, technologically enhanced training approaches. The findings suggest that integrating modern, sustainable educational technologies into OSH training leads to more effective knowledge transfer, better preparedness of employees for emergency situations, and a reduction in environmental impact, aligning safety training practices with broader sustainability goals. Full article

Integrating bioinspired design and additive manufacturing into engineering education fosters innovation to meet the growing demand for accessible, personalized assistive technologies. This paper presents the outcomes of an international course, “3D Prosthetics and Orthotics”, offered to undergraduate students in the Biomimetic program at Westfälische Hochschule (Germany), in collaboration with the 3D Orthotics and Prosthetics Laboratory at the Federal University of São Paulo—UNIFESP (Brazil). The course combined theoretical and hands-on modules covering digital modeling (CAD), simulation (CAE), and fabrication (CAM), enabling students to develop bioinspired assistive devices through a Project-based learning approach. Working in interdisciplinary teams, students addressed real-world rehabilitation challenges by translating biological mechanisms into engineered solutions using additive manufacturing. Resulting prototypes included a hand prosthesis based on the Fin Ray effect, a modular finger prosthesis inspired by tendon–muscle antagonism, and a cervical orthosis designed based on stingray morphology. Each device was digitally modeled, mechanically analyzed, and physically fabricated using open-source and low-cost methods. This initiative illustrates how biomimetic mechanisms and design can be integrated into education to generate functional outcomes and socially impactful health technologies. Grounded in the Mao3D open-source methodology, this experience demonstrates the value of combining nature-inspired principles, digital fabrication, Design Thinking, and international collaboration to advance inclusive, low-cost innovations in assistive technology. Full article

The physical inactivity of adolescents and their sedentary lifestyle with profuse usage of screens has been a growing issue for the last few years. In contrast, there is some evidence that videogame-based exercising improves cognitive abilities and psychological well-being during growth and maturation. Therefore, there is a need for the wider exploration of innovation tools in physical education (PE) and extracurricular activities for schoolchildren. The aim of this study was to determine the change in psychological well-being and cognitive skills of adolescents when exercising is supplemented with videogame-based activity. The short-term physical activity (PA) program, initiated by in-service PE teachers (n = 3), involved 13–15-year-old adolescents (n = 63, of them 20 were boys) from one of biggest cities in Lithuania. The research subjects were participants of extracurricular exercise groups on a regular basis, attending their respective three-times-a-week sessions for 1 month. The first intervention group engaged in a 60 min functional training program (FT group, n = 31). The second group had 30 min of FT followed by 30 min of video-based dance class (FT + Just Dance group, n = 32). The Trail-Making test (part A and B), the Visual Digit Span test, and the Stroop test were performed to investigate students’ cognitive abilities. In addition, the WHO-5 questionnaire was used to analyse the respondents’ psychological well-being. When comparing pre- and post-intervention results, no changes were observed in the psychological state, visual–executive skills, and short-term visual memory in both groups. Reaction time improved significantly in both groups (p < 0.05). The working memory significantly improved in the FT + Just Dance group (p < 0.05). The implementation of videogame-based training, Just Dance, improved adolescents’ working memory, but had no effect on subjectively perceived psychological well-being. Full article

Long-term intensive agricultural management practices have led to a continuous decline in farmland soil quality, posing a serious threat to food security and agricultural sustainability. Green manure, as a natural, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly cover crop, plays a significant role in enhancing soil quality, ensuring food security, and promoting sustainable agricultural development. The improvement of soil quality by green manure is primarily manifested in the enhancement of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Specifically, it increases soil organic matter content, optimizes soil structure, enhances nutrient cycling, and improves microbial community composition and metabolic activity. The integration of green manure with agronomic practices such as intercropping, crop rotation, conservation tillage, reduced fertilizer application, and organic material incorporation demonstrates its potential in addressing agricultural development challenges, particularly through its contributions to soil quality improvement, crop yield stabilization, water and nutrient use efficiency enhancement, fertilizer input reduction, and agricultural greenhouse gas emission mitigation. However, despite substantial evidence from both research and practical applications confirming the benefits of green manure, its large-scale adoption faces numerous challenges, including regional variability in application effectiveness, low farmer acceptance, and insufficient extension technologies. Future research should further clarify the synergistic mechanism between green manure and agronomic measures such as intercropping, crop rotation, conservation tillage, reduced fertilization and organic material return to field. This will help explore the role of green manure in addressing the challenges of soil degradation, climate change and food security, develop green manure varieties adapted to different ecological conditions, and optimize green manure planting and management technologies. Governments should comprehensively promote the implementation of green manure technologies through economic incentives, technology extension, and educational training programs. The integration of scientific research, policy support, and technological innovation is expected to establish green manure as a crucial driving force for facilitating the global transition towards sustainable agriculture. Full article

To address the challenges of dynamic adversarial scenario modeling distortion, insufficient cross-institutional data privacy protection, and simplistic evaluation systems in collegiate basketball tactical education, this study proposes and validates an immersive instructional system integrating digital twin and federated learning technologies. The four-tier architecture (sensing layer, digital twin layer, federated layer, and interaction layer) synthesizes multimodal data (motion trajectories and physiological signals) with Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL) to enable virtual–physical integrated tactical simulation and real-time error correction. Experimental results demonstrate that the experimental group achieved 35.2% higher tactical execution accuracy (TEA) (p < 0.01), 1.8 s faster decision making (p < 0.05), and 47% improved team coordination efficiency compared to the controls. The hierarchical federated learning framework (trajectory ε = 0.8; physiology ε = 0.3) maintained model precision loss at 2.4% while optimizing communication efficiency by 23%, ensuring privacy preservation. A novel three-dimensional “Skill–Creativity–Load” evaluation system revealed a 22% increase in unconventional tactical applications (p = 0.013) through the Tactical Creativity Index (TCI). By implementing lightweight federated architecture with dynamic cognitive offloading mechanisms, the system enables resource-constrained institutions to achieve 87% of the pedagogical effectiveness observed in elite programs, offering an innovative solution to reconcile educational equity with technological ethics. Future research should focus on long-term skill transfer, multimodal adaptive learning, and ethical framework development to advance intelligent sports education from efficiency-oriented paradigms to competency-based transformation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Active gamification, which incorporates game elements with physical interaction, is presented as an innovative strategy to address anxiety problems and sleep quality in children. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an active gamification program on the aforementioned variables in children in primary education. Methods: This study utilized a randomized, controlled trial with 120 children between 8 and 11 years of age, divided into an experimental group, which participated in a 12-week gamified program, and a control group, which continued with traditional physical education classes. Results: The main findings indicate that the intervention had a significant impact on reducing anxiety, with improvements in most of the subscales evaluated except for the obsessive-compulsive disorder subscale. Significant improvements were also found in sleep quality, with reductions in bedtime resistance, nighttime awakenings, parasomnias, and sleep-disordered breathing, although no significant changes were noted in sleep-onset delay, sleep duration, sleep anxiety, and daytime sleepiness. Conclusions: The gamification intervention in physical exercise showed positive effects in reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality in primary school children, highlighting its potential as an intervention strategy in primary education classrooms. Full article

(1) Background: Gamification has emerged as an innovative strategy in education and involves integrating game elements into pedagogical activities to enhance motivation and the development of cognitive and social skills. The aim was to analyze the effects of active gamification on the emotional well-being and social skills of primary school students. (2) Methods: A total of 120 children with a mean age of 9.40 ± 0.98 years were divided into an experimental group (EG) that carried out a program based on gamification in physical exercise and a control group (CG). (3) Results: The EG improved significantly in self-concept compared to the CG, as did the levels of personal self-esteem, which increased significantly. Likewise, improvements were found in all the subdomains of social skills, except in the subdomain of jealousy/loneliness. (4) Conclusions: The introduction of gamification into Physical Education classes is recommended as an effective tool to improve self-esteem, self-concept, and social skills in primary education. Full article

Developing balance and coordination skills is essential for children, especially those aged 4–8, but limited Health and Physical Education (HPE) programs in schools hinder effective training. Game-based learning and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies offer promising ways to enhance these skills by providing immersive HPE experiences. An AR exercise-game prototype was developed to train children’s balance and coordination, with 19 children aged 4 to 9 testing the prototype. Post-activity surveys revealed high engagement and interactivity ratings. The difficultly of the current prototype was found to be appropriately challenging for 4- to 6-year-olds. Feedback emphasized a preference for interactive, challenging elements, suggesting improvements in difficulty customization, visuals, and technical stability. Competitive play between multiple children testing the prototype encouraged repeated attempts, but also highlighted the need for improved tracking solutions and lab setup. Overall, the innovative design shows educational potential but requires further large-scale testing on a refined version to assess its effectiveness in balance and coordination training. Full article

Gender inequalities continue to pose a significant issue across various aspects of life, adversely impacting the well-being of both females and males. These disparities often stem from the ingrained gender stereotypes passed down to young individuals through parental guidance, educational systems, and media portrayal. For this reason, within the psycho-pedagogical field, various intervention models have been developed in recent years, leveraging digital tools to combat stereotypes and enhance well-being among adolescents. The aim of this systematic review is, therefore, to identify studies employing digital tools, particularly serious games, to promote well-being from a gender perspective. The review was conducted using the PRISMA guidelines and collected articles from four databases: Scopus, the Web of Science, PubMed, and PsycInfo. The screening process culminated in the selection of 15 articles. The findings reveal a proliferation of platforms, applications, and programs aimed at promoting well-being by addressing emotional, cognitive (or mental), physical, and sexual health dimensions. Some contributions emphasize nurturing positive attributes within individuals or fostering empowerment as a precursor to well-being. Additionally, certain articles delve into the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of young men and women; in particular, the authors investigated the effect of using an app to improve well-being before and after the pandemic. This systematic review aims to expand the knowledge base on technology-based interventions for social change. It endeavors to empower educators and advance the creation of innovative, evidence-based digital tools that can enhance positive mental health, promote gender equality education, and foster the well-being of young people. Full article

In this implementation, an innovative and automated measurement and educational-demonstrative resource is proposed that estimates Brewster’s angle and the index of refraction of semitransparent materials. The apparatus, built and programmed with LEGO Mindstorms model Ev3, utilizes a micro:bit board and a machine vision camera (Huskylens cam). This camera detects the intensity extinction of a reflected laser beam at the polarization angle. The Ev3 connection cables and general input/output electronic interfaces have been modified to establish communication with the intelligent brick. Upon completion, the Brewster’s angle and the index of refraction are displayed on the intelligent brick screen. It will also be shown that the percentage error corresponding to the measurement of the refractive index of a glass and acrylic sample is 1.92% and 0.47%, respectively. According to its characteristics, this resource is suitable for use in undergraduate or graduate physics and engineering laboratories/courses. Full article

The purpose of this study was to determine Turkish physical education (PE) teachers’ level of technological innovation use and attitudes regarding their applications and diffusion. This study consisted of 678 Turkish PE teachers. In total, 265 (39.1%) of the PE teachers were female, and 413 (60.9%) were male. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was used in this study. “The Applying and Diffusing Technological Innovations Scale for Teachers” was used for data collection. The results showed that the main obstacles the PE teachers face in using technological innovations were the cost of products; security and privacy problems; the need for new versions and technical support; the lack of time; the lack of interest; difficulty in accessing technology; and the lack of understanding. Moreover, there was a significant difference in the tendency to apply and diffuse technological innovations in terms of gender, school type, and school level. We found that the “ability to use innovations” sub-dimension affects the PE teachers’ tendencies to apply and diffuse technology. As a result, we recommend providing various training programs on technological innovations to the older/longer-serving PE teachers, especially those working in public schools and secondary schools. Full article

Nutrition plays a fundamental role in preventing chronic non-communicable diseases and promoting overall health. In response to the absence of official dietary recommendations in the Slovak Republic, a collective of authors collaborated with state health institutions develop Food-based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs) for adults, focusing on food groups and scientifically based information about nutrition concerning individual requirements, with consideration for the basic characteristics of the health status of the Slovak population. The FBDGs were submitted in 2021–2022, divided into two parts (general and special—Štandardný postup na výkon prevencie: “Odporúčania pre stravu a výživu u dospelých”, “Odporúčania pre stravovanie a výživu u dospelých—špeciálna časť”), and were approved by the Ministry of Health SR and integrated into standard procedures for implementing prevention, supported by a grant from the Human Resources operational program of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, and Families (Development of the new and innovative guidelines for prevention and their implementation into medical practice). The FBDGs were methodologically prepared following the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) recommendations, adapting European and non-European FBDGs to local Slovakia’s conditions. The proposal for Slovak FBDGs was the result of the consensus of the standard’s authors. The guidelines cover scientific information about various food groups, such as vegetables and fruits, starchy foods, protein-containing foods, and fats, deal with drinking regimens, and contain evidence about recommended food patterns, food hygiene, and food labelling. The recommendations emphasize the protective effects of a properly set lifestyle throughout an individual’s life, including the significance of regular and reasonably intense physical activity, stress management, proper sleeping characteristics, absence of abuses, and limiting a sedentary lifestyle. In 2023, the authors plan to prepare a third part for the recommendations as an educational publication with visual aids to enhance the food and nutritional literacy of the public. This effort aims to support individual and population health and prevent diseases in Slovakia. The guidelines will serve as a resource for health professionals, policymakers, institutions, and media, enabling the protection of health, preventive and nutritional policies and programs, and advice to improve the population’s health. By providing comprehensive guidelines, the FBDGs will contribute to reducing the occurrence and consequences of chronic non-communicable diseases in the Slovak Republic. Full article

During COVID-19, the traditional educational landscape witnessed the rapid and unprecedented adoption of modern communication methods to facilitate remote learning and academic interactions. Various online education platforms have enriched content deliveries, paved the way for learners across the globe, and enriched the learning environment for learners and facilitators who design, deliver, and try their best to make it exciting and engaging. Apart from this, even the traditional mode of education encourages the use of blended and hybrid learning so that deliverables are improved. Advancement in the usage of hybrid, innovative smart classes is encouraged by higher educational institutions. This study delves into the paradigm shift in higher education brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, explicitly focusing on the transformation of communication methods. It also focuses on the various effective communication methods (online and physical classes) that higher education institutions adopt. This study considers secondary data and argues on online learning skills, classroom learning/flipped classroom method, problem-based learning, cooperative learning, assessment evaluation techniques, the four-quadrant approach, and outcome-based teaching–learning pedagogy for all higher education programs. Furthermore, the research considers the long-term impact of these modern communication methods on the future of higher education. It explores whether adopting these technologies will persist or evolve as institutions transition back to in-person learning and whether a blended approach to education will emerge. In conclusion, this research provides a timely assessment of the transformation of communication methods in higher education post-COVID-19, shedding light on the opportunities, challenges, and potential pathways for the sustainable integration of modern communication methods in the academic realm. Full article

The collection and examination of student data, encompassing academic achievements, awards, and certifications, assume an essential function within the field of education as a means of showing students’ capabilities. Nevertheless, it is crucial to note that regular paper-based records are vulnerable to both physical destruction and the act of fabrication, while standard databases can have security holes. Moreover, the process of manually gathering physical papers from centralized organizations is both laborious and complicated. To address the concerns above and foster sustainability in the field of education, this study first suggests using Scorechain. This innovative solution integrates blockchain technology into a comprehensive data-management system for managing all student-related data. Secondly, by utilizing the inherent security features of blockchain technology, Scorechain develops a stable multi-role hierarchy, increasing the integrity and reliability of data. This also facilitates the efficient transfer of information among various stakeholders, including parents, recruiters, and educational institutions, thus fostering transparency and accountability. Lastly, the Scorechain system facilitates collaboration and data exchange among universities inside a shared network. Scorechain was constructed using the Rust programming language and is based on the Substrate blockchain architecture. It underwent careful development, testing, and analysis to ensure operational efficiency. The feasibility and long-term viability of Scorechain in genuine educational contexts are highlighted as blockchain technology facilitates seamless integration into the education sector. Full article