Short Bio: Georgia Yfantidou is an Associate Professor specializing in Organization and Management of Sport Tourism and Recreation at the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH). She serves as the Institutional Coordinator for Student Internship Programs at DUTH. She holds a PhD in Sport Tourism and two Master’s degrees, one in International Hospitality and Tourism and another in Physical Activity and Recreation. Her research record includes 74 international publications (37 indexed in Scopus) and 43 national publications. She is also an active member of the Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Committee of DUTH, with a strong presence in actions supporting inclusion, coexistence, and equality. Furthermore, she has participated in numerous research and development projects across the European Union. Her research interests include tourist behavior, sport tourism, sport technology, sustainability, innovation, safety management in sport events, internships, sport management, and the organization of sport services in municipal organizations.
Title: Educational Tourism Design and Teacher Collaboration in Practice: Linking Theory with Experiential Learning
Abstract: The book Teacher Collaboration in Practice highlights the importance of collaboration among educators as a key factor in improving educational quality, fostering innovation, and developing meaningful learning experiences. Collaboration serves as a foundation for the design and implementation of interdisciplinary and experiential educational activities, including educational tourism and recreation programs. Educational tourism represents a form of experiential learning that combines travel with education, contributing to the development of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and lifelong learning. Through participation in educational visits, cultural and sport activities, and recreation programs, students engage in interactive learning environments that promote personal growth, social interaction, and knowledge acquisition. Educational tourism integrates education with real-life experiences and enhances student engagement, interaction, and understanding of different cultures and environments. This presentation connects the principles of teacher collaboration, as presented in the book, with the design and implementation of educational tourism programs within the course “Educational Tourism and Recreation” at DPESS DUTh. Εmphasis is placed on the role of collaboration in educational planning, interdisciplinary program development, and the creation of innovative and experiential learning environments. Furthermore, collaboration facilitates networking between educational institutions, communities, and tourism stakeholders, supporting the development of sustainable and pedagogically effective programs. Teacher collaboration is therefore essential for the successful design and delivery of educational tourism initiatives that enhance student learning and engagement through experiential and cooperative educational practices.
Short Bio: Ioannis Karras is a professor of applied linguistics and intercultural communication at the Department of Foreign Languages, Translation and Interpreting at Ionian University, Greece. Ioannis holds a B.A. in English and a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Calgary, Canada; an M.Ed. in TEFL from the Hellenic Open University (HOU), Greece, an M.Sc. in Intercultural Communication from the University of Warwick, the UK and a PhD in Applied Linguistics from The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
Ioannis has lectured as a visiting professor/invited speaker at various universities around the world. He has extensive experience teaching Applied Linguistics, EFL Teaching Methodology, and Intercultural Communication at all levels (Undergraduate, Masters, PhD). He has delivered numerous talks at international conferences and has conducted seminars and workshops with national and international audiences. Ioannis has (co)-authored several books, book chapters and articles in international journals and conference proceedings in the areas of his specialization.
Title: Creative Integration of English in Preschool: Collaborative Teaching Models and Pedagogical Practices
Abstract: This book presentation focuses on the collective volume “Teacher Collaboration in Practice: Examples of Creative Integration of English in Preschool”, which highlights contemporary educational and pedagogical approaches to the introduction of English in early childhood education. The book presents the theoretical and methodological framework of early foreign language learning, emphasizing the linguistic, cognitive, socio-cultural, and emotional benefits associated with children’s exposure to a second language at preschool age. The volume also includes educational scenarios co-created by English language teachers and preschool teachers, reflecting collaboration in practice within the preschool classroom setting and highlighting the importance of documenting and disseminating pedagogical practices developed by the educators themselves. Particular emphasis is placed on the innovative collaborative teaching model between preschool teachers and English language teachers, as well as on the interdisciplinary learning approach through educational scenarios inspired by CLIL methodology. Through a range of practical examples and thematic activities, the volume illustrates how English can be meaningfully and creatively integrated into the daily preschool curriculum, supporting children’s holistic development and fostering communication skills, collaboration skills, and intercultural awareness. The presentation will highlight the contribution of this publication to supporting educators in early childhood education and underline the importance of collaboration and child-centered pedagogy in creating meaningful learning experiences for preschool children.
As part of the book presentation, a workshop titled: ‘A Trip to Europe’ in Practice: Teacher collaboration, challenges, adaptations, and ‘children’ voices” in the preschool classroom, will also take place.