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Faculty of Education and Language Studies > People Profiles > Maria Perez Cavana

Maria Perez Cavana

Lecturer in Education (PGCE MFL)

The Open University Faculty of Education and Language Studies Department of Education


Teaching Interests

I have been chairing the Level 3 course L314 "A buen puerto" and  I have been also contributing to the German level 3 "Variationen". I am currently chairing the German intermediate course L130 "Auftakt".
I have been involved in the development of an electronic European Language Portfolio for adults.

Research Interests

Learner autonomy, European Language Portfolio, self-assessment, eportfolios

I am currently involved in an European Erasmus project: Modularising Multilingual and Multicultural Academic Communication Competence  MAGICC http://www.unil.ch/magicc  I am coordinating the team of reasearchers of the Department of Languages who work for this project.

Within the field of learner autonomy, I have worked on how learning styles and strategies can be integrated in teaching and learning in higher education, for example using the European Language Portfolio. I am currently involved in a project :‘Supporting Local Networks of Users of the European Language Portfolio through an E-Platform’ to the Targeted Support for ECML members (European Centre for Languages Centre/Graz, Austria)  2012-15 Programme: Learning Through Languages

I am also interested in constructivism, from a theoretical and practical point of view.
Before joining the Open University  my research focus was in Philosophy:  the German Enlightenment, the work of the philosophers J.Ortega y Gasset and G.Simmel and  feminist epistemology.

Current Research

I am currently involved in an European Erasmus project: Modularising Multilingual and Multicultural Academic Communication Competence  MAGICC http://www.unil.ch/magicc  I am coordinating the team of reasearchers of the Department of Languages who work for this project.

Within the field of learner autonomy, I have worked on how learning styles and strategies can be integrated in teaching and learning in higher education, for example using the European Language Portfolio. I am currently involved in a project :‘Supporting Local Networks of Users of the European Language Portfolio through an E-Platform’ to the Targeted Support for ECML members (European Centre for Languages Centre/Graz, Austria)  2012-15 Programme: Learning Through Languages

Publications

Book Chapter
Perez Cavana, Maria-Luisa (2012). Fostering strategic, self-regulated learning: the case for a “soft” ELP. In: K?hn, Bärbel and Perez-Cavana, Maria eds. Perspectives from the European Language Portfolio: Learner Autonomy and Self-Assessment. Oxford, UK: Routledge.
Pérez Cavana, Maria Luisa (2009). Closing the circle: from Dewey to Web 2.0. In: Payne, Carla R ed. Information Technology and Constructivism in Higher Education: Progressive Learning Frameworks. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, pp. 1–13.
Perez Cavana, Maria (2004). La relacion instrumentalizadora con la Naturaleza. In: Perez Cavana, Maria Luisa; Puleo, Alicia H. and Segura, Cristina eds. Mujeres y Ecologia: Historia, Pensamiento, Sociedad [Women and Ecology: History, Theory, Society]. Coleccio?n Laya (25). Madrid: Al-Mudayna.
Perez Cavana, Maria (2000). Feminismo y psicoanalisis. In: Amorós, Celia and Agra Romero, María José eds. Feminismo y Filosofía. Síntesis Filosofía : Thémata (10). Madrid: Editorial Síntesis.
Conference Item
Edwards, Chris and Perez Cavana, Maria Luisa (2012). Developing approaches to enhancing the orientation and success of language learning in higher education. In: 17th Annual Conference of the Education, Learning, Styles, Individuals Differences Network, 26-28 June 2012, Cardiff, Wales.
Perez Cavana, M. (2010). Assessing learning styles within the European Language Protfolio (ELP). In: The 15th Annual Conference of the European Learning Styles Information Network (ELSIN): Exploring Styles to Enhance Learning and Teaching in Diverse Contexts, 28-30 Jun 2010, Univesidade de Aveiro, Portugal.
Alvarez, I.; Beaven, T. and Perez Cavana, M. (2009). Enhancing the ELP for the 21st Century. In: CercleS, 'The role of the CEF and the ELP', 2009, Padua University.
Perez Cavana, M. (2007). Improving language learning through knowledge of personal language learning style. In: 41st International Annual IATEFL Conference and Exhibition, 18-22 Apr 2007, Aberdeen.
Perez Cavana, Maria (2007). Integrating learning styles awareness in the ELP. In: CercleS Conference, 'The European Language Portfolio: Its role and Potential in University Language Learning', Applied Language Centre, 07-09 Jun 2007, University College, Dublin.
Journal Article
Peréz Cavana, Maria Luisa (2012). Autonomy and self-assessment of individual learning styles using the European Language Portfolio (ELP). Language Learning in Higher Education. Journal of the European Confederation of Language Centres in Higher Education (CercleS), 1(1), pp. 211–228.