The Game Design Summer School starts today

Demola will this week be the venue for the Engage Game Design Summer School. The  international Summer School will tackle issues related to game design as well as how to embed curricular topics in the game design.

It will give designers and creative students insights and knowledge of educational game design e.g. creating educational games for the target group, embedding curricular topics and stealth learning, providing accurate information, consulting on one hand teachers and on the other hand the target group; asking the right questions and embedding these answers into the game.

The Game Design Summer School is organised by the Engage Learning Network and coordinated by Joanneum UAS in Graz, Austria and hosted by the Degree Programme in Media of Tampere UAS (TAMK) and Demola.


Pictured: New Zealander Paul Pivec and Slovenian Maja Pivec are the main organisers of the Summer School

Engage Summer School home
Engage Learning Project
|||

New TAMK launches autumn semester and newly renovated innovative premises

New TAMK has officially started the autumn semester. Within the opening ceremonies in 25th August, the newly renovated I-building opened its doors and welcomed the students to premises with opportunities. Within the renovated laboratories in I-building, a glimpse of TAMK's R&D project ‘OPI ENEMPI’ was presented for the first time. Finland’s Minister for education, Henna Virkkunen, and the deputy Mayor for the city of Tampere, Perttu Pesä, were the first within other guests and members from staff to see not only the newly renovated I-building, but also parts of the innovative learning environment that is enabled by OPI ENEMPI project.

In OPI ENEMPI there will be built renewable energy solutions such as geothermal and air source heat pumps, solar collector panels, two different kinds of wind turbines and comprehensive monitoring system for all the renewable energy created. Also water saving and nutrient recycling toilet solutions are built.

At the moment what could be seen and investigated were the ecological toilet solutions. At the moment there are vacuum, separating low-flush and dry toilets installed. The dry toilets gained lot of interest as they are the first public dry toilets in Finland, installed in two floors. Other equipment are to be installed in the coming months and project OPI ENEMPI will be ready by the end of year 2010.


OPI ENEMPI project is funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
For more information about OPI ENEMPI will be updated to the project's webpages and from project manager Aino-Maija Kyykoski, aino-maija.kyykoski(at)tamk.fi

The Joint Symposium of Tampere University of Applied Sciences and Miyagi University

Challenges to Integrate Nursing Knowledge and Practice

Date and time

Friday 3rd September 2010, 9.00-16.00
Venue: Tampere, Finland
Tampere University of Applied Sciences, Kuntokatu 3, A3-27.

Sub themes of the symposium include

- The Future of the Partnership Between TAMK and MY
- Overview of Nursing Education System in Finland and TAMK
- Overview of Nursing Education System in Japan and MY
- Issues Involved in Linking Nursing Education and Clinical Practice

Program

Moderators: Prof. H. Nagasawa MD. Miyagi University and PhD, Vice President Marja Sutela, TAMK

9.00-9.30
Opening Markku Lahtinen, President, TAMK

The Future of the Partnership between TAMK and MYU
Shoken Mawatari, President, Miyagi University

9.30-10.00
Overview of Nursing Education System in Finland and TAMK
Päivi Karttunen PhD Vice President

10.00-10.30
Overview of Nursing Education System in Japan and MYU
Yoshiko Sekito Ed.D., Professor, School of Nursing, Miyagi University

10.30-10.45 Coffee break


10.45-12.45 Session 1
Issues Involved in Linking Nursing Education and Clinical Practice

Chairpersons: Prof. Yoshiko Sekito Ed.D., Miyagi University and Principal lecturer Jouni Tuomi, RN, PhD, TAMK

1) A Clinical Role and Issue for Cardiovascular Nursing in Japan - from the Aspect of Self Care Sup-ports
Toshiko Yoshida, RN, PHN, PhD, Professor, School of Nursing, Miyagi University

2) About Possibilities to Go over Problems to Integrate Nursing Education and Practice in Curriculum Level
Jouni Tuomi PhD, Principal Lecturer

3) Ways to Integrate Clinical Practice with Theory
Pia Keiski, MNSc, Education Manager (Adults nursing education)

4) Alternative Medicine concerning Music Therapy in Japan - Possibilities and Problems
Akiko Kitaoka, Associate Professor, School of Nursing, Miyagi University

12.45-13.45 Lunch


13.45-15.45 Session 2
Nursing Demands for the Elderly in the Aging Society

Chairpersons: Prof. Toshiko Yoshida, RN, PHN, PhD and Principal lecturer Varpu Lipponen, RN, PhD, TAMK

1) Aging and Elderly Care - Welfare Strategies and Practices in Japan
Haruo Nagasawa MD. Professor, School of Nursing Miyagi University

2) Ederly Care - Challenges to Nursing and Nursing Education
Kaarina And, Lecturer

3) Kinaesthetics in Elderly Health Care Setting
Hiroko Tadaura, Associate Professor, School of Nursing, Miyagi University

4) Active Ageing in Tampere Region: Joint Project between TAMK and Elderly Care Service Providers
Tarja Heinonen, Program Manager, Wellbeing Services and Technology, R&D

Closing

This symposium is open to all. Welcome!

Please register here before 31.8.2010.

For further information concerning the event, contact Liisa Marttila, liisa.marttila (at) tamk.fi.

Cai Melakoski is the staff person of the year 2009 – 2010

The Students' Union of Tampere University of Applied Sciences (Tamko) has chosen Cai Melakoski, the Head of Degree Programme in Media, as the staff person of the academic year 2009 - 2010.

“This is the biggest honor you can get at TAMK”, said Cai Melakoski after he found out he was chosen the staff person of the year. Melakoski started working as the Head of the Degree Programme in Media in autumn 2009, but he has worked at TAMK Art and Media for nearly 20 yeras. His work has included teaching, R&D and marketing. The latest “thing” for Cai has been TAMK’s blogs. He has helped to create not only the Art and Media blog, but also other TAMK blogs - including the one you’re reading right how!

“Blogs let you into the everyday life of students, which is often absent in TAMK’s official publications. The blogs show a more open TAMK which looks like its students.”

Students appreciate Melakoski's efforts to collect feedback from students and put the feedback in use. During the first year of students’ studies, the Head of the Degree programme has organised regular meetings and personal discussions with each student.

In addition to listening to his students, another important reason for selecting Melakoski as the staff person of the year is his hard work in the international field. He has used his extensive international network in e.g. organising the international week in connection with the Tampere Art Factory Event.

Cai Melakoski is the TAMK staff person of the year because he...

• has made sure that there were teachers, students and members from the field of media designing the Degree Programme in Media.
• has systematically collected feedback from the students since the launching of the degree programme.
• posts actively to TAMK Art and Media blogs (- and the international blog, too!)
• is involved in organising the international week and Tampere Art Factory at the Finlayson campus.
• has developed the co-operation between TAMK and Demola.
• is helpful and interested in the students’ projects.
• uses his international network to benefit TAMK and his students.
• has actively improved the collaboration and discussions between the students and the teachers.

The Students’ Union has been nominating the person of the year in TAMK since academic year 2004-2005. The recognition is given to a person who has remarkably developed education, study environment and TAMK community. With the recognition Tamko wants to encourage good practices and motivate the staff of TAMK to continue their good work.



The previous recognitions have been granted to:

• senior lecturer Peter Heath (2004 - 2005)
• principal lecturer Matti Lähteenmäki (2005 - 2006)
• senior lecturer Kirsti Kallio (2006 - 2007)
• co-ordinating study advisor Anne Mustonen (2007 - 2008)
• special skilled worker Timo Niemi (2008 - 2009)

Getting to know Bryan Beamer

Bryan Beamer, an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stout (UW-Stout) is a new acquaintance for many in TAMK. Bryan is here for this academic year on a Fulbright Fellowship and will be teaching, coaching and assisting in the International Business Program. Bryan has been teaching for 6 years in the Master's program for Risk Control at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Bryan has a PhD in Industrial Engineering and he has worked in industry and as a government researcher at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. In USA Bryan lives in Menomonie, Wisconsin. This August he moved to Tampere with his wife and two daughters and they are now living in the city centre.

Bryan`s wife Kate actually has family in Finland. Bryan and his family were visiting Tampere three years ago and met Kate's cousin, Professor Pasi Kuusijärvi. During discussions Bryan and Pasi found out how similar TAMK and UW-Stout are. After the visit in Tampere Bryan arranged for TAMK and UW-Stout to have a Memorandum of Understanding, stating that TAMK students can do studies at UW-Stout and vice versa. After the visit, Bryan also arranged his students from UW-Stout to visit TAMK.

Bryan is really enjoying his stay in Tampere "Tampere is really great. My hometown only has 15,000 people so I really like the size. It is wonderful to be in the city center and go to shops, museums and walk around or have a beer and then be able to walk to your beautiful lakes and parks in a few minutes. Also the people are really helpful and friendly - that makes a big difference!" he says.

The University of Wisconsin-Stout is very similar to TAMK. UW-Stout is also a University of Applied Sciences, with about 9000 students and degree programmes in business, construction, tourism, media graphics, etc.

During the first period Bryan will be teaching Operations Management. He will also be assisting with Advanced Topics in International Business, Area Studies and Market Development, Communication Skills and Professional Development and helping coach for the TAMK Consulting Academy. Bryan hopes he could teach Construction Safety while being at TAMK. "It is one of my favourite courses." he smiles.

Text and photo: Annika Haanpää, Trainee, International Services