Franco+Di+Cataldo

Dr. Franco Di Cataldo Curriculum Vitae: a short summary E-mail: dicata.f@gmail.com

In 1972 I got a degree in Mathematics at Padua University (Italy). From 1972 to 1986 I taught Mathematics and Physics in Higher Secondary Schools and in 1976 I got the teaching qualification for mathematics and physics then continuing researching on teaching methods from 1979 to 1982 publishing articles in the Scuola Democratica Review.

In 1980 I started to work with the Gruppo di Didattica delle Scienze (the team researching on teaching sciences) at Ca’Foscari University in Venice organising training courses and events for the Higher Secondary School teachers. Also I organised a good number of conferences where I talked about teaching methods for Mathematics and Physics, the talks were published in the Conference Acts.

From 1986 to 1999 I worked as a researcher and coordinator for IRRSAE Veneto (now IRRE Veneto). At the Institute I worked in a team to implement PNI in Higher Secondary Schools ( The National Plan to Introduce ICT in Further Education). I organised training events, workshops and seminars and was responsible for the publication of numerous research works concerning teaching methods in Sciences.

Between 1988 and 1990 I was the co-ordinator of a research on teaching methods carried out by IRRSAE Veneto and Venice University called “ Historical and Epistemologic Aspects of Science in the 19th Century: Genesis and Development of the Molecular Theory”. I organised two seminars and was in charge of the Documents publication. The research results are also published in the Documents of the IV Convegno Nazionale (the IV National Conference) on “ History and Principles of Chemistry” of the National Science Academy”.

In 1993 I worked with CIRED ( Interfaculty Centre for Research in Education and Teaching Methods ) of Ca’ Foscari University (Venice) to produce an ipertext Telerilevamento. Later on (1996) I worked at the same Centre and produced teaching software aiming at first year students as to help them to learn the mathematics they were supposed to know to attend the course efficiently.

I have worked with CEDE ( European Centre for Education now called INVALSI) as the co-ordinator for the whole Veneto Region in the organisation of the international survey IEA TIMSS relating to the learning of mathematics and science in the primary, secondary and higher secondary schools. From 1995 at IRRSAE I was responsible for the teaching documents starting also the Institute Internet website.

I have participated in various European Projects ( ARION, COMENIUS 3.1 and 3.2 ) developing many contacts with different European Schools. I was the co-ordinator of numerous events DEURE ( EURopean Dimension of Education) within the Region.

With BDP (Biblioteca di Documentazione Pedagogica in Florence, now called ANSAS) From 1998 to 2000 I participated in the National Team working on the Documentation of School Autonomy coordinated by BDP. On the subject of School Autonomy I have written a specific essay at the item “ ICT Communication Net” of “The Critical Dictionary of School Autonomy” edited by Luigi Ruggiu ( published by Carocci, Rome 2000). From 1998 I am a member of the editing group of the magazine “Periplo” where I have published several articles and edited a special supplement on the New People in ICT ( The Teaching ICT person).

<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In 1999 I went back to teaching at the Liceo Artistico in Venice and continued to work with CEDE ( now INVALSI Project SERIS on learning mathematics and science) and with BDP for the development of the teaching Documentation of School Autonomy.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I continued to work with IRRSAE to organise:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">the European Project SYNTHESY on the idea of European Citizenship- For this project I produced the Internet website;
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">QWERTY Project for the introduction of the multimedia in teaching-I was a member of the Board in the Competition and I gave several talks in the seminars organised in the various events;
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">FAD Project on long distance learning;

<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In 2000 I was part of the research team working in a survey of the quality of long distance learning carried out in 10 schools in the Veneto Region, commissioned by the Ministry of Education to IRRE. <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">From 2003 to 2006 at the Liceo Artistico in Venice I was the co-ordinator of the European Project Big Picture Network (Comenius 3) and was in charge of the Internet website. <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In the same network is developing the website of the Dialogue project (Comenius 2) coordinated by Liverpool Hope University.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In 2004 – 2005 I was a facilitator in various training courses FORTIC (B) working with the Punto Edu platform of Indire. For the same agency I have produced teaching material for long distance training courses on the usage of new ICT technologies in teaching mathematics and physics.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">During 2006 and 2007 I was pedagogical referent for in Etwinning project in the Veneto region. During that period I participated to Seminars (Desenzano and Lecce November 2007) as an expert for Etwinning platform and for teaching science using ICT.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">From 2007 I am involved in the Dialogue project (Comenius) with the responsibility of the website. <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">From 2005 I have been working with ANSAS (National Agency for European projects) as regional referent (Veneto region) for European project e-Twinning project and to develop distance learning activities with mathematics teachers (DIGIschool project).

<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">From 2007 I am involved in DIGIscuola project as tutor on line to support teaching math ICT, a project coordinated from ANSAS. In the same platform I am following from 2008 laboratories for students (SOSstudenti) to support them in studying mathematics.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">With the University of Venice I am involved in teachers training to develop the use ICT teaching scientific subjects.