Dimakos Ioannis

Ioannis Dimakos is an Assistant Professor of School Psychology with the Department of Educational Sciences and Social Work, at the University of Patras. His research interests concern the provision of psychological services in schoo communities and the investigation of the psychological processes in the writing of primary school students.

1998: PhD in Psychology. Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse NY, USA. Doctoral Dissertation: “Teacher Assessment of Student Writing Skills”.

1993: Master of Arts Degree in Psycholgy. Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse NY, USA. Master’s Thesis: “Predicting Phonemic Awareness Skills: An attempt to focus on individual differences”.

1990: Bachelor Degree in Education. Department of Educational Sciences and Social Work, University of Patras, Patras Greece. Bachelor’s Thesis: “The development of language (oral and written) production of descriptive and expository type information in primary school children”.

Tenured Assistant Professof of School Psychology with emphasis on the Psychology of Written Language.

My research interests focus in two thematic areas:
1) The provision of psychological and counseling services in schools for the prevention of behavior problems and the development of psychological resilience in students;

2) The investigation of the written expression of primary school students (theoretical models, evaluation and assessment of writing, learning disabilities, educational interventions).

August 2013 – present: Tenured Assistant Professor of School Psychology

2008 – 2013: Assistant Professor of School Psychology

2000 – 2007: Lecturer of School Psychology

I have been involved in the following research projects during my tenure at the University of Patras:

1. Erasmus+ KA2: Using Collaborative Virtual Environments (CVE) to train teachers how to manage challenging student behavior, VIRTUOUS (Οκτώβριος 2020 – Ιανουάριος 2023)
Scientist in charge of the Project. The purpose of the project is to develop a collaborative virtual environment and a training curriculum for training teachers in the identification and management of challenging behaviors in the classroom (http://virtuous.upatras.gr/).

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2. GATEBULL – Using a GAmes approach to TEach children about discriminatory BULLying (2018-2020)

The purpose of the project was to create a video game in order to teach children aboud prejudice and discriminatory bullying.

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3. COST IS1401-ELN: European Literacy Network (Dec. 2014 – present)

I am a member of the ELN and also member of its Management Committee. The focus of the ELN is on the investigation of various aspects of literacy.

4. Preparation of student material and classroom teaching plans for school bullying – Centre for European Constitutional Law (Nov. 2014 – July 2015).

I was part of the scientific team of the CECL and participated in creating information booklets and teaching plans for countering school violence and bullying in schools.

5. Diagnostic Investigation of the Development of Writing Skills in Normally Achieving and Learning Disabled Students (2007 – 2010).

Scientist in charge for the program funded by the Research Committee of the University of Patras under the Constantine Caratheodory program of the University. The project involved the production of written texts by normally achieving and learning disabled elmentary school students.

6. Reading difficulties and second language training: The effects of orthographic (non) transparency (2006-2009).

Scientist in charge for the program funded by the EU (FP-6-2004-Mobility-6). The program involved the investigation of reading and spelling skills of students with average and low achievement in L1 nd L2 language.

7. Construction and Standardization of 12 diagnostic investigative tools (criteria) for Learning Disabilities (2006-2008).

Member of the scientific team for the program co-funded by the European Union. The program involved the development of 12 diagnostic tests for LD students which were developed in cooperation with other universities in Greece. The Department of Psychology developed a Test of the Investigation of Reading Difficulties in Kindergarten and in grades 1 and 2 of elementary school and a Diagnostic Test for Writing Difficulties for grades 3 through 6.

8. Prevention of School Violence via the Improvement of School – Family Relations (2003-2005).

Scientist in Charge for the Greek participation in the European Program Comenius 2.1, Nr. 94399 – CP-1-2001-DE-Comenius C 21. The program involved schools and universities from Germany, France, Poland, Denmark and Greece.

School Psychology

Year of Study: 1st, Semester: 2nd

The aim of the class is to discuss various issues in the provision of psychological and counseling services in the school communities and to present select topics of special educational needs, such as:

• Learning Disabilities
• Behavioral and Emotional Difficulties
• Autistic Spectrum Disorder
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder & Conduct Disorder
• Mental Retardation
• ADHD

1. Research Methods in the Social Sciences
The course introduces students to the concepts and procedures of social science research and prepares them for designing, implementing, and presenting a research project.

2. School Psychology
The course introduces students to the field of School Psychology, the roles of school psychologists and the roles additional school personnel (such as teachers and social workers) play in the provision of psychological and counseling services within schools.

3. Psychopathology of Children & Adolescents

The course presents and analyzes issues concerning specific problems of learning and behavior in the school. The following topics are covered: Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Loss and Grief.

4. Psychology of Writing
The course presents and analyzes the cognitive processes students complete when writing. In addition, the course presents issues in the theoretical development of writing, writing disabilities, assessment of writing and new assistive technologies.