IFIP WG3.1 and WG3.2 Open Conference "Dortmund 2002" - "Social, ethical and cognitive issues of informatics and ICT - SECIII" - University of Dortmund in Germany

July 22nd to 26th, 2002.

http://ddi.cs.uni-dortmund.de/dortmund2002

Paper title: PARADIGM SHIFT ON EDUCATION THROUGH THEMATIC MODELING UNDER OBJECT ORIENTED TOOL SUPPORT

Clara Amelia de Oliveira

Informatics Department- INE

Technological Center CTC

Santa Catarina University – UFSC

Cx. P. 476 – Cep. 88040-900- Florianopolis- SC-Brazil

Abstract - Informatics knowledge domain has been played two different, and important, roles on Education, especially on globalization context. The first and obvious one has been as a techno tool. The second role has been as a theoretical tool, supporting knowledge modeling, through software engineering development systems. This paper enhances this second informatics role. An overlook on civilization paradigmatic crisis can be an interesting starting point towards an Educational Paradigm Shift discussion. Complexity, on human life, emphasizes necessity of reinforcing a link between Social, Ethics, and Humanistic values with ICT ones. ABET and UNESCO recent educational guidelines also look to those interdisciplinary aspects. On this direction, it is presented a Thematic Oriented Educational Methodology, witch is direct supported by the Object Oriented Computer Modeling tool. The Complex Thematic approach justifies educational methodologies that have been practiced, all over the world, under the generic name of Project Oriented Methodology. This proposal is, in practice, independent from instrumental pedagogic implementations, but includes media, e- learning, and all other kinds of instrument, as pedagogical options.

Conclusions points out that, Informatics domain has itself a theoretical tool, ready to support thematic modeling under complex approach - the Object Oriented Modeling Tool. Another conclusive point is that Informatics can participate, adequate way, on Human development, not only with accelerate rates of information interchange, but, also, as a theoretical knowledge tool, to face complexity. This way, Object Oriented tool unified with Complex Thematic Oriented methodology, contributes to paradigm shift on education towards Knowledge Society. This is, just the zero step, preceding all teaching implementations, also instrumental ones. Any way, this methodology do not exclude instrumental proposals, but, is placed, first of all, as a generic background from where it can emerge the right, and harmonic, place for desired educational software tools under complex educational approach.

Key – Words: Thematic Modeling, Object Oriented Modeling, Complex Educational Approach, Info Tools.