Learning Process in Teaching and Bio-pedagogical Knowledge Building

Bio-pedagogy is built on praxis, i.e. the interrelationship between reflection and innovative action where these two merge in the construction of senses to generate knowledge. Then, the following question arises: How is teaching understood? How can practice be renovated from the action-reflection-action in a recurring manner and in life itself? A way to search for those answers is the systematization of experiences –a modality of qualitative research. It promotes the transformation of a common practice, based on knowledge building by holistic approaches to the educational process complexity. The systematization of bio-pedagogical experiences involves self-organization, joy, uncertainty and passion; it respects freedom and autonomy, and generates relational spaces, which promote creative processes in learning.

Strategies to Promote Research and Logical Reasoning in the Teaching of Mathematics in the Schools

The purpose of this paper is to raise a debate on the urgent need for teachers to generate innovative situations in the teaching-learning process, in the field of Mathematics, as a way for students to develop logical reasoning and research skills applicable to everyday situations. It includes some statistical data and possible reasons for the poor performance and dissatisfaction of students towards Mathematics. Since teachers are called to offer meaningful and functional learning experiences to students, in order to promote the pleasure of learning, teacher training should include experiences that can be put into practice by teachers in the education centers. This paper includes a work proposal for Mathematics Teaching to generate discussion, curiosity and logical reasoning in students, together with the Mathematical problem solving study.

Relevant Aspects on Teaching Probability and Statistics in Basic General Education

Probability and Statistics were included in the Basic General Education curricula by the Ministry of Public Education (Costa Rica), since 1995. To analyze the teaching reality in these fields, a research was conducted in two educational regions of the country: Heredia and Pérez Zeledón. The survey included university training and updating processes of teachers teaching Statistics and Probability in the schools. The research demonstrated the limited university training in these fields, the dissatisfaction of teachers about it, and the poor support of training institutions to their professional exercise.

“Constructive Paranoia” Applied to Education (The Case of English Language Teaching)

This paper analyzes the concept of constructive paranoia stated by journalist and author Andrés Oppenheimer to promote development in Latin America. Based on that concept, this paper discusses the effectiveness of current English Language Teaching, particularly, as well as what should be done in order to obtain better results. As a conclusion, a re-structure of approach, curriculum and methodology in teaching the language is proposed.

Professional Autonomy. Key Competence for Teachers in Commercial Education

The way in which the teaching autonomy is materialized, considered as part of the path traveled by the teaching community on their way to become owners of the disciplinary knowledge and the required pedagogical competencies to practice their role has motivated this paper.  For success, Commercial Education requires the urgent transformation of the teaching role and the development of key competences to promote interdisciplinary integration, academic and administrative leadership and the use of contemporary pedagogies.  The level of awareness reached by the teaching group about the impact of the learning that is promoted within the educational context will allow the empowerment of the knowledge that comes from the relationship between theory and practice-key element for professional autonomy.

An Analysis from a Socio-critical Approach

This paper analyzes the political and ideological dimensions of disability, from a socio-critical approach, in order to identify key structural processes underlying the educational policies concerning disability. The paper compares the ideas and approaches of various authors, and points out the relevance of the topic to promote inclusive education in higher education.

The Butterfly Effect on Peace Education

The objective of this paper on peace education is to generate a reflection, through the metaphor of the butterfly effect, on the importance of educating for peace during the change process of human beings and society.  It proposes education for peace as a human right, an experience and learning process that is put into practice by human beings.  It aims at changing attitudes and actions to create harmonious relationships based on the respect and recognition of human rights, and the freedom and dignity of every person.

Education with Ecological Roots

This paper explains how modernity develops its own form of education to achieve its objective of conquering nature, and the related environmental consequences.  In this context, this paper proposes a new education nurtured from ecological knowledge, leaving behind the fragmentary and mechanic mission of the world –a characteristic of modernity– to promote an alternative awareness focused on a new way of relationships with our natural environment and other individuals.

Construction of the Cognitive Dimension of the Scientific Literacy in the Students through the Costa Rican Biological Sciences Olympics

This research recognizes the cognitive contributions to the students participating in the Third Costa Rican Biological Sciences Olympics that will define the advancement and strengthening in the construction of its conceptual dimension in the scientific literacy.  This paper is based, mainly, on qualitative approach techniques (ethnographic design:  case study); however, some data are interpreted through quantitative methodologies (descriptive design with an explanatory and exploratory touch) for the analysis of a sample of 54 high school students, finalists in the category A of the Olympics, through the use of tools such as a documentary study and a survey, in July 2009.  The information generated was analyzed using elements of inferential and descriptive statistics, figures and histograms.  It was proved that there is a better cognitive management in the topics assessed, an increase in the students’ academic performance as the tests are applied, a commitment for the academic update supported by the development of several tasks for previous preparation, curriculum contributions unprecedented based on our sample, a consent to optimize student’s knowledge about Biology, which will allow the application of scientific notions to diversify and renew the knowledge, according to what is established in the principles of scientific literacy.

The Dyad School Success/Failure in the Academic Development of the Working Class Women from Mendoza

The notion of academic performance renders account of the results achieved by the students during their school education.  Internally, there are two opposed phenomena:  school success and school failure.  Sociology of education has contributed to the discussion of both notions revealing their social nature closely related to the institutional and socio-cultural contexts in which education is developed.  This paper is the result of a research project conducted for our doctoral thesis.  Its purpose is to contribute to enlighten the scopes of this discussion, by analyzing the school development of a group of working class women from Mendoza. We were interested, in the first place, in knowing the reasons why they quit school when they were young girls or adolescents.  Subsequently, we have approached the opportunities they had to access the system again during their adulthood, the obstacles they had to face and the resources to be able to complete the medium level.

Diagnosis of Student’s Attitudes towards Mathematics in the First Year of Three Graduate Programs in Business Administration

The objective of this research was to determine the student’s attitudes towards Mathematics at the beginning of their graduate studies in Business Administration. The study used an exploratory, non-experimental, cross-sectional design. The instrument used was a questionnaire based on willingness, confidence, utility, motivation and anxiety with Likert questions. The study concluded that students have a negative attitude towards Mathematics; it is considered as a useful but difficult discipline and, for that reason, students show anxiety and lack of confidence when applying mathematical procedures.

Masculinidad y feminidad: ¿De qué estamos hablando?

Recibido 15 de marzo de 2012 • Corregido 04 de octubre de 2012 • Aceptado 07 de noviembre de 2012A continuación se presentan diversas ideas creadas alrededor del tema de la masculinidad y feminidad. El objetivo es esclarecer dichos conceptos desde un punto de vista crítico y de género sensitivo, en un lenguaje sencillo. El fin es que la información sea accesible a una mayor cantidad de personas; eso, sin menoscabar la importancia de transmitir las ideas desde un carácter académico y científico. Por tanto, se busca aclarar el carácter de ambos conceptos en la construcción de su identidad, principalmente para el hombre que cimienta su identidad a partir del rechazo de lo que es femenino. Se trata de mostrar cómo dichas construcciones son atravesadas por diversos mandatos sociales que se expresan según la cultura en la que se desarrollen; además, se plantea el reto de la educación para deconstruir estereotipos ligados a los géneros.

¡Mamá, que pereza ir al cole…!

Recibido 15 de marzo de 2012 • Corregido 17 de setiembre de 2012 • Aceptado 07 de noviembre de 2012Este artículo, presentado en forma de ensayo, propone en su temática un acercamiento a la realidad que se vive en el sistema educativo a nivel de secundaria; visualiza algunas debilidades en el proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje, con el objetivo de analizar el rumbo que se pretende dar a la educación costarricense. El planteamiento conceptual se elabora a través de preguntas generadoras, mediante las cuales se repasa la situación actual de los centros de enseñanza, el rumbo por el cual se está llevando a cabo el proceso, la imperante búsqueda de equidad e inclusión en educación, así como la exposición de algunas propuestas para el mejoramiento. Se concluye con una reflexión sobre la necesidad de cambiar el modelo educativo tradicional por un modelo educativo transformador, para la emancipación y liberación de los seres humanos que participan en este proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje.

El vínculo de pareja: Una posibilidad afectiva para crecer

Recibido 15 de marzo de 2012 •  Corregido 22 de octubre de 2012 • Aceptado 07 de noviembre de 2012El  vínculo de pareja se constituye en uno de los más importantes que construyen las personas en sus vidas. Tal relevancia implica, por un lado, la revisión de esquemas personales, sobre el concepto que se ha creado sobre este y, por otro, la disposición de aprender cosas nuevas y, con estas, asumir actitudes que tienen que ver con varios aspectos. Dentro de estos, podrían mencionarse los siguientes: i) aceptar a la persona tal cual es, en tanto algunos rasgos no atenten contra la dignidad de la otra, ii) mantener apertura constante a la comunicación, en particular, en momentos de crisis, iii) conocerse y valorarse a sí mismos, antes de conocer y valorar al otro, iv) mantener o crear detalles que, de antemano, se sabe producen  gratificación en la pareja, v) respetar compromisos adquiridos y vi) tratar de vivenciar cosas, a través del movimiento de roles como una de las estrategias. Cada uno de esos elementos, debidamente desarrollados, se constituye, a  su vez, en recomendaciones que, de ser adecuadamente implementadas, facilitan la creación de vínculos más saludables y duraderos. Desde este marco, el artículo pretende fomentar la revisión de ideas y conductas propias, en relación con el vínculo de pareja. Invertir tiempo en desarrollar actitudes y conductas  pareciera ser el camino que debe seguirse, para la construcción de un vínculo de pareja placentero, dentro en un ambiente de crecimiento  mutuo.

Hacia una lectura de la violencia en la formación de la subjetividad

Recibido 18 de junio de 2012 •  Corregido 29 de setiembre de 2012 • Aceptado 07 de noviembre de 2012Este ensayo presenta un recorrido general en la construcción de la subjetividad de los sujetos; desde una perspectiva analítico vincular, plantea cómo la intrasubjetividad de cada uno es un producto del interjuego de lo intersubjetivo y transubjetivo, y cómo el estar inmerso en grupos violentos, tanto familiares como escolares, produce que la violencia forme parte de la identidad de los infantes, y los convierte, así, en futuros reproductores de tramas vinculares violentas.