Personal information
Andrea Franceschini, Ing. PhD
Nationality: Italian
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Professional experience
November 2022 — current
Assegnista di ricerca (tipo b)
Centro di Sonologia Computazionale
Università di Padova, Italy
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship investigating the development and role of entertainment video games as educational interventions.
- 🌐 EduGames project: project website, research journal, and repository of all the material created during the project.
- 👾 Cash or Card?: and educational puzzle-simulation video games on the costs and opportunities of cash vs electronic payments in everyday life.
October 2023 — September 2024
Cultore della Materia (Subject Expert)
Università di Padova, Italy
Course: Sound Design and Music Technology
July 2021 — September 2021
Visiting Fellow
Centro di Sonologia Computazionale
Università di Padova, Italy
Research and development for ArTracker, an IoT platform for tracking and monitoring artworks and cultural heritage.
January 2016 — October 2022
Post Doctoral Research Associate
Department of Computer Science and Technology
University of Cambridge, UK
Research and development for Isaac Computer Science (now Ada Computer Science) and Isaac Physics.
- Development: a graphical, web-based entry system for symbolic formulas (maths, boolean logic, physical chemistry). Research on usability and impact on problem solving skills and physics learning.
- Research: analysis of impact based on DfE exam results and development of strategies to improve impact and engagement; learning outcome of different question formats; training and technical support for ASI Data Science Fellows working on various projects
- Other: maintenance and infrastructure development
November 2016 — present
Post Doctoral Research Associate
Robinson College
University of Cambridge, UK
Teaching Supervisor, Computer Science tripos
2006 — present
Freelance developer (iOS, Android, web)
- Web sites, mostly for clients in the classical music industry
- Mobile applications, small- to mid-sized applications ranging from exhibition guides to citizen engagement, from interactive books to casual games
Some technologies: iOS (Swift, Objective-C), Android (Java, Kotlin), Cinder (C++), Processing, Arduino, Drupal, Ruby on Rails, Vue.js, Nuxt.js, React
Education
April 2012 — February 2016
PhD in Computing (HCI, Music Computing)
Andrea Franceschini
supervisors: Dr Robin Laney, Mr Chris Dobbyn
December 2006 — June 2010
Laurea Magistrale (MSc) in Computer Science and Engineering
📘 A practical approach to music theory on the Reactable
Andrea Franceschini
advisor: Prof. Giovanni De Poli
October 2008 — March 2009
Erasmus, thesis research and development work on the Reactable
supervisor: Dr Sergi Jordà
October 2002 — December 2006
Laurea (BSc) in Computer Science and Engineering
📘 Schematizzazione di uno scheduler ciclico statico per applicazioni embedded in ambiente Windows CE
Andrea Franceschini
advisor: Dr Michele Moro
Grants and awards
July 2022
MSCA 2021 Individual Fellowship (EduGames)
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, European Commission
An investigation into the role of entertainment video games in education. I also have a project website.
May 2022
MSCA 2021 Seal of Excellence
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, European Commission
The Seal of Excellence is awarded to applications that rank more than 85% and but cannot be funded in the first instance due to budget constraints. My application ranked 92.8% with a funding threshold of 93.6% and was subsequently funded from the reserve list.
July 2021
ArTracker Visiting Fellowship
Supported by Regione del Veneto, POR FSE 2014-2020, project number 2105-0051-1463-2019.
April 2015
Full-time Research studentship (PhD) extension
Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology (MCT)
Teaching
Courses
October 2016 — June 2023
Teaching Supervisor at Computer Laboratory
University of Cambridge, UK
Courses:
January 2019 — March 2019
Teaching Assistant at Computer Laboratory
University of Cambridge, UK
October 2011 — November 2011
Full-time teacher at Istituto di Istruzione Superiore di Lonigo
Course: A035, Electrical Engineering and Applications
October 2002 — June 2010
Private tutor for high school and university students
Subjects: Mathematics, Computer Science, Electronics, Electrical Engineering
Students
March 2024 — December 2024
Nikoo Fayyaz, University of Padova
Virtual Reality Re-Activation of an Immersive Audio Art Installation from 1999
Master's dissertation, ICT for Internet and Multimedia
March 2024 — July 2024
Samet Can Ozturk, University of Padova
Development of a Handwriting Sonification Tablet Application to Improve Handwriting
Master's dissertation, ICT for Internet and Multimedia
September 2023 — December 2024
Berkcan Ozturk, University of Padova
Development of an Educational Video Game to Learn Critical Thinking Skills Against Disinformation
Master's dissertation, ICT for Internet and Multimedia
October 2019 — May 2020
Sam Williams, Clare College, University of Cambridge
A Drum Rhythm Processing System to complement Sonic Pi
Part II (3rd year) dissertation, CompSci Tripos
October 2018 — May 2019
Charles J. Y. Yoon, King's College, University of Cambridge
Musical Style Transfer using Neural Networks
Part II (3rd year) dissertation, CompSci Tripos
Publications
Refereed papers
- A. Franceschini, A. Rodà (2024), Learn to Play: lessons learned developing video games for entertainment and education. In 2024 IEEE Conference on Games (CoG), Milan, Italy.
- A. Russo, A. Franceschini, A. Rodà, S. Canazza (2024), Revitalizing Multimedia Art: Restoration and Re-Activation of an Audiovisual Installation in Virtual Reality. In Proceedings of the Sound and Music Computing Conference 2024 (SMC2024), Porto, Portugal.
- A. Russo, A. Franceschini, A. Rodà, S. Canazza (2024), Virtual recreation of an interactive multimedia art installation from 1977. In Proceedings of the Workshop on Advanced Visual Interfaces and Interactions in Cultural Heritage (AVICH 2024), June 4th, 2024, co-located with the 17th ACM Conference on Advanced Visual Interfaces, Arenzano (Genoa), Italy.
- A. Franceschini, A. Rodà (2023), Play to Learn: from serious games to just games. In ACM International Conference on Information Technology for Social Good (GoodIT '23), 6-8 September 2023, Lisbon, Portugal. ACM, New York, NY, USA. (Scopus)
- A. Franceschini, R. Laney (2022 [2021]), Sketching Music together: mixed groups exploring melodic similarity and contrast using a Digital Tabletop. In Journal of Music, Technology & Education, Volume 14, Number 2-3. (Scopus)
- T. Battistin, N. Dalla Pozza, S. Trentin, G. Volpin, A. Franceschini, A. Rodà (2022), Co-designed mini-games for children with visual impairment: a pilot study on their usability. In Multimedia Tools and Applications (2022). (Scopus)
- J. Waite, A. Franceschini, S. Sentance, M. Patterson, J. Sharkey (2021), An online platform for teaching Upper Secondary school Computer Science. In Proceedings of the United Kingdom and Ireland Computing Education Research (UKICER 2021) Conference. (Scopus)
- A. Franceschini, R. Laney, C. Dobbyn (2020) Sketching Music: Exploring melodic similarity and contrast using a Digital Tabletop. In Journal of Music, Technology & Education, Volume 13, Number 1. (Scopus)
- A. Franceschini, J. P. Sharkey, A. R. Beresford (2020) Effective use of mathematical equations in an online learning environment. In Proceedings of the Cambridge Computing Education Research Symposium 2020, Cambridge, UK.
- A. Franceschini, J. P. Sharkey, A. R. Beresford (2019) Inequality: multi-modal equation entry on the web. In Proceedings of Learning @ Scale 2019, Chicago, IL, USA. (Scopus)
- A. Franceschini, R. Laney, C. Dobbyn (2016) Sketching music: making music through exploring art. In Proceedings of Sempre: Music, Education, Technology (MET2016), London, UK.
- A. Franceschini, R. Laney, C. Dobbyn (2014) Learning Musical Contour on a Tabletop. In Proceedings of the 40th International Computer Music Conference and 11th Sound and Music Computing Conference (ICMC-SMC), Athens, Greece. (Scopus)
- A. Franceschini (2010) Towards a practical approach to music theory on the Reactable. In Proceedings of the 7th Sound and Music Computing Conference (SMC), Barcelona, Spain. (Scopus)
Posters
- A. Russo, A. Franceschini, A. Rodà, S. Canazza (2024), Revitalizing Multimedia Art: Restoration and Re-Activation of an Audiovisual Installation in Virtual Reality. In Proceedings of the Sound and Music Computing Conference 2024 (SMC2024), Porto, Portugal.
- A. Franceschini, J. P. Sharkey, A. R. Beresford (2020) Effective use of mathematical equations in an online learning environment. In Proceedings of the Cambridge Computing Education Research Symposium 2020, Cambridge, UK.
- A. Franceschini, R. Laney, C. Dobbyn (2014) Sketching Music. ICMC-SMC, Athens, Greece.
- A. Franceschini, R. Laney, C. Dobbyn (2013) A study of contour in music using digital tabletop musical instruments. DMRN+8, London, UK.
Talks and lectures
- Interfaces. Guest lecture for the course “Computer Engineering for Music and Multimedia”, 19 May 2024, University of Padova, Italy.
- Technologies and practices to “uncomplicate” music. CSMC, September 2017, The Open University, UK.
- Qualitative Data Analysis. Workshop, ESSD-HCI seminar series, March 2015, The Open University, UK.
- Music lessons on a tabletop. Invited seminar, 26 September 2014, Experimental Music Lab, Università di Trento, Italy.
Panels
Magazine articles
- A. Franceschini (2011) Estendere Drupal: scrivere moduli personalizzati. In Linux&C, 75. Piscopo Editore.
- A. Franceschini (2011) Creare temi e pagine personalizzate per Drupal. In Linux&C, 74. Piscopo Editore.
- A. Franceschini (2011) Drupal: web content manager potente e flessibile. In Linux&C, 73. Piscopo Editore.
- A. Franceschini (2009) Inkscape: impariamo a dominare tracciati e colori. In Linux&C, 67. Piscopo Editore.
- A. Franceschini (2008) Inkscape: fare grafica vettoriale con Linux. In Linux&C, 65. Piscopo Editore.