Ritella’s dissertation takes a socio-cultural perspective: he studies cognition and learning as phenomena that are distributed through a community, and examines time and space as co-dependent social constructs. The dissertation examines the physical, social and virtual spaces of learning and analys s how the participants (students or teachers) themselves understand time and space in their technology-mediated learning methods.
Based on the results of the dissertation, research into the organisation of time and space seems to be generating fascinating insights into technology-mediated collaborative learning.
– Understanding how participants position themselves and each other in time and space helps us design learning environments which promote co-coordination and collaborative processes among the participants. Students can receive support in organising space and managing time in ways that support deep learning and help them attain the learning objectives set by the teacher, Ritella says.
Ritella, who will defend his doctoral dissertation at the Faculty of Educational Sciences on 13 January, has a background in communication and occupational psychology. Originally from Italy, Ritella wrote his Master’s thesis at the University of Bari on educational psychology, after which he became interested in technology-mediated collaborative learning. In 2010, he was accepted into the CRADLE doctoral school of the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Educational Sciences.
Ritella is an experienced teacher trainer in computer-based teaching and in technology-enhanced learning. He is also a corporate consultant and is involved in several national and international research projects in both Finland and Italy.
Giuseppe Ritella will defend his doctoral dissertation entitled Chronotope: an investigation of the spatial and temporal organization in technology-mediated collaborative learning on 13 January 2018 at 12.15.The public defence will be held in lecture room 6 of the University of Helsinki’s Main Building, Fabianinkatu 33. The dissertation is also available in an electronic format through the E-thesis service.
Contact details of the doctoral candidate
Guiseppe Ritella, puh. 03 935 221 336, s-posti gritella@gmail.com