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New Research Project at the University of Limassol: Innovation, Inclusion and Cutting-Edge Technologies in Primary School Mathematics

new research project mathstories en
Can technology give a voice to all pupils, transforming their own stories and experiences into the most engaging mathematical problems?

The University of Limassol announces the launch of the new postdoctoral research project “MathStories-AR” (Augmented Reality and AI-Powered, Culturally Grounded Co-Creation for Inclusive Primary Mathematics), which started in September 2026 and has a total duration of 24 months. The project is implemented by the University’s Department of Education.

MathStories-AR focuses on the teaching of decimal numbers in Grade 5 of primary school. Through organised co-creation workshops, pupils and teachers collaborate to develop authentic mathematical problems inspired by familiar every day and cultural settings in Cyprus. These problems are then transformed, using Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and Augmented Reality (AR) tools, into interactive digital stories and learning experiences on tablets.

The pilot and main implementation phases of the project will take place in school classrooms in Cyprus and Greece, with the aim of strengthening the conceptual understanding of mathematics and ensuring the meaningful and equitable participation of all pupils, including children with learning difficulties. All Augmented Reality (AR) digital objects and teaching guides produced will be made freely available to the education community through Open Access.

The project is implemented under the scientific supervision of Assistant Professor Dr Panagiotis Kosmas, Chair of the Department of Education, with Dr Emmanouil Skordialos serving as Postdoctoral Researcher and Project Coordinator. Administrative and organisational support for its implementation is provided by the UoL Research Centre.

Co-funded by the European Union Republic of Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation MathStories-AR

The project “MathStories-AR /POST-DOC/0925-ROandOther/0102” is implemented under the programme of social cohesion “THALIA 2021-2027” co-funded by the European Union, through the Research and Innovation Foundation in Cyprus. The content reflects the views of the author(s) only. The European Commission and the Managing Authority of THALIA 2021–2027 cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Μπορεί η τεχνολογία να δώσει φωνή σε όλους τους μαθητές, μετατρέποντας τις δικές τους ιστορίες και εμπειρίες στα πιο συναρπαστικά μαθηματικά προβλήματα;

Το Πανεπιστήμιο Λεμεσού ανακοινώνει την έναρξη του νέου μεταδιδακτορικού ερευνητικού έργου MathStories-AR (Augmented Reality and AI-Powered, Culturally Grounded Co-Creation for Inclusive Primary Mathematics), το οποίο ξεκίνησε την 1η Σεπτεμβρίου 2026 κι έχει συνολική διάρκεια 24 μηνών. Το έργο υλοποιείται από το Τμήμα Επιστημών της Αγωγής του Πανεπιστημίου.

Το MathStories-AR εστιάζει στη διδασκαλία των δεκαδικών αριθμών στην Ε΄ τάξη του Δημοτικού Σχολείου. Μέσα από οργανωμένα εργαστήρια συνδημιουργίας, μαθητές και εκπαιδευτικοί συνεργάζονται για τη διαμόρφωση αυθεντικών μαθηματικών προβλημάτων, τα οποία αντλούν έμπνευση από οικεία καθημερινά και πολιτισμικά περιβάλλοντα της Κύπρου. Στη συνέχεια, τα προβλήματα αυτά μετασχηματίζονται με τη χρήση εργαλείων Γενετικής Τεχνητής Νοημοσύνης (GenAI) και Επαυξημένης Πραγματικότητας (AR) σε διαδραστικές ψηφιακές ιστορίες και μαθησιακές εμπειρίες σε tablets.

Η πιλοτική και η κύρια εφαρμογή του έργου θα πραγματοποιηθούν σε σχολικές τάξεις στην Κύπρο και την Ελλάδα, με στόχο την ενίσχυση της εννοιολογικής κατανόησης των μαθηματικών και τη διασφάλιση της ουσιαστικής, ισότιμης συμμετοχής όλων των μαθητών, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των παιδιών με μαθησιακές δυσκολίες. Το σύνολο των ψηφιακών αντικειμένων Επαυξημένης Πραγματικότητας (AR) και των οδηγών διδασκαλίας που θα παραχθούν θα διατεθούν ελεύθερα με ανοικτή πρόσβαση (Open Access) στην εκπαιδευτική κοινότητα.

Το έργο υλοποιείται υπό την επιστημονική εποπτεία του Προέδρου του Τμήματος Επιστημών της Αγωγής, Επίκουρου Καθηγητή Δρ. Παναγιώτη Κοσμά, με Μεταδιδακτορικό Ερευνητή και Συντονιστή του Έργου τον Δρ. Εμμανουήλ Σκορδιαλό. Τη διοικητική και οργανωτική υποστήριξη της υλοποίησής του παρέχει το Ερευνητικό Κέντρο του Πανεπιστημίου Λεμεσού.

Με τη συγχρηματοδότηση της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία IDEK MathStories-AR

Το έργο «MathStories-AR/POST-DOC/0925-ROandOther/0102» υλοποιείται στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος κοινωνικής συνοχής «ΘΑΛΕΙΑ 2021-2027», το οποίο συγχρηματοδοτείται από την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, μέσω του Ιδρύματος Έρευνας και Καινοτομίας. Το περιεχόμενο αντικατοπτρίζει αποκλειστικά τις απόψεις του/των συγγραφέα/-έων. Η Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή και η Διαχειριστική Αρχή του προγράμματος «ΘΑΛΕΙΑ 2021-2027» δεν φέρουν καμία ευθύνη για τυχόν χρήση των πληροφοριών που περιέχονται σε αυτό.

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The project is implemented under the programme of social cohesion “THALIA 2021-2027” co-funded by the European Union, through the Research and Innovation Foundation in Cyprus [Pr. no. EXCELLENCE/0524/0568]. The content reflects the views of the author(s) only. The European Commission and the Managing Authority of THALIA 2021–2027 cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.