Ana Afonso

Background

About Ana Afonso

I'm currently working at the Universidade Aberta, as an Assistant Professor for the Department of Distance Education and Teaching (DEED). I'm also an Integrated Researcher at Laboratory of Distance Education and eLearning (LE@D, Universidade Aberta) and a Collaborating Researcher at Centre for Informatics and Systems of the University of Coimbra (CISUC, Universidade De Coimbra). In the last 15 years I’ve been researching, publishing, lecturing, and training about the strategic role of distance and open learning for educational institutions (and training companies). I've designed, developed, and facilitated on-demand teachers' training to develop and promote digital competencies and know-how about effective methodologies, practices, and tools for e-learning and blended learning, for Portuguese higher and non-higher education institutions. I’ve also gathered experience as a technical-pedagogical advisor in the field of distance education and e-learning by providing technical reports or integrating governmental evaluation commissions. I’m also involved in European-funded research projects concerning the development of training programs for the development of digital competencies for teachers and facilitators of learning in virtual contexts. Although I’ve got a PhD in Educational Sciences (Educational Technologies), my close relation to CISUC, as a researcher of the Informations Systems Group, has provided me with a global view of the production cycle and the ability to deal with the theoretical conception, design, and technological implementation of learning solutions integrating the stakeholders’ needs.