Distance Education in the Professionalization of People with Disability and Prison Inmates

This paper illustrates the impact of the Universidad Estatal a Distancia  (UNED, by its Spanish acronym) in supporting and professionalizing the vulnerable groups of the Costa Rican society, including prison inmates, persons with physical disability, individuals from remote areas, among others.  This study attempts to answer this type of questions: What kind of support has been provided to these sectors?  What are the challenges faced by distance education universities to succeed?  How does UNED have solved these challenges?  What is the impact of the Universidad Estatal a Distancia on the Costa Rican society for the professionalization of its population?  Documentation and statistics have been used in the study; in addition, two people who graduated from UNED were selected to illustrate the type of cases the University serves.(1) Translator’s note: It refers to the “Costa Rican Distance Education State University”.

CHALLENGES OF EDUCATION IN LINE FOR CHALLENGES TO EDUCATION BIBLIOTECÓLOGOS-DOCENTES/ONLINE-TEACHERS LIBRARIANS

This article tries to reflect about skills that librarian or information specialists should develop to design an online course. Define distance education, online education, and collaborative learning. Establish the importance of community sense. Describe the process to design online courses. Finally, compare the Mexican Librarianship and Information Sciences Schools graduate profiles with the skills required to design online courses.

Hypertension in the National University of Distance Education’s personnel

The prevalence of Arterial Hypertension (AHT) has increased worldwide and preventive measures areinsufficient since only one third of the population is being treated. AHT is the primary cause of morbidity andmortality in the world. In this article is presented the first study on hypertension levels of personnel of aDistance Education university based on the analysis of all medical consultations in the Costa Rican StateUniversity for Distance Education (Universidad Estatal a Distancia-UNED) as of December 15, 2007 (1,526medical files). The population studied ranges from 20 to 70 years of age and is comprised of residents of theGreater Metropolitan Area (Costa Rica) with varied socioeconomic and academic levels. The StatgraphicsCenturion XV software and the chi-square test were used to analyze variables such as treatment administered,sex, age, and type of work. Only 45 patients knew that they suffered from hypertension prior to theirconsultation with the university medical service and 136 were treated with Enalapril and Hydrochlorothiazide.The number of hypertensive patients is higher among those who have worked at the institution for more than 20years, especially in those holding higher positions. No marked differences were found between men andwomen. It is concluded that the existence of a university medical service has permitted faculty and staff tosatisfactorily control their blood pressure.

DIDÁCTICA DE LA GEOGRAFÍA Y DIDÁCTICA SUPERIOR

El artículo reflexiona sobre el aporte de la didáctica en el proceso de enseñanza – aprendizaje, enfatizando en su carácter teórico – práctica.  Diferencia entre una didáctica general y una didáctica específica.La Didáctica Crítica propone al profesor en Geografía como un maestro en el  saber y actuar, en el cumplimiento de sus deberes, responsabilidades y habilidades.  La enseñanza de la Geografía precisadel apoyo de numerosos instrumentos de alta tecnología, que constituyen valiosos aportes didácticos, la  incorporación de  las Tecnologías de  Información y Comunicación  (TICʼs)    es una necesidad. La formación a nivel universitario debe ofrecer las destrezas  y habilidades en la creación y composiciónde medios audiovisuales para la enseñanza  de la Geografía.  La Geografía contribuye eficazmente al desarrollo de capacidades, actitudes y competencias genéricas esenciales sobre las que ha de basarse la formación ciudadana y la educación de valores.Palabras claves: Geografía, didáctica de  la Geografía, saber geográfico, metodología de enseñanza, método didáctico.AbstractThe article reflects on the contribution from didactics in the process of teaching-learning, emphasizing in its theoretical character – practice. It differentiates between general didactics and specific didactics. Critical didactics suggests that the Geography professor, as an expert, knows and acts according to his or her duties, responsibilities and abilities.The teaching of the Geography draws upon the support of high-tech tools, which constitute valuable didactic contributions, so that incorporation of the Technology Information and Communication (TICʼs) is a necessity to be the mode of communication. Formation at the university level ought to offer talents and abilities in the creation and composition of audio-visual media in the teaching of geography. Geography effectively contributes to development of capabilities, attitudes and competencies generic essential for citizen formation and the education of values.Key Words: Geography,  didactics  of Geography,  geographical  knowledge,  teaching methodology, didactic method

Morbidity and temporary cycles for the outpatient service at Universidad Estatal a Distancia in Costa Rica

No data has apparently been published on morbidity and outpatient service of faculty and staff of a distance university.  This report presents such data from the Universidad Estatal a Distancia (Costa Rican State University for Distance Education). The participants in this study were the employees who were outpatients between January 15, 2004 and December 15, 2006.  Instead of using a sample, the entire population was studied with a total of 1,526 medical records. Procedure: During the first stage all of the medical records were read and the morbidity data was tabulated.  Subsequently, this information was statistically analyzed using Statgraphics Centurion XV. The main findings were that 50% of the patients used the outpatient service only once during the study period and that most of them were between 20 and 50 years of age.  The days with the most consultations were Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.  The number of consultations was relatively stable throughout the year, with a slight increase in June. The three main causes for visiting the service were: upper respiratory tract diseases, muscular-skeletal disorders, and irritated digestive system problems. Main conclusions: Most of the consultations were from the departments with the more faculty and staff members; however, some departments had extremely high or low consultation rates per capita, maybe due to factors such as pathologies that require periodic control, geographical proximity, and psycho-social issues of patients who create a vicious circle due to the somatization of such problems.  The hypothesis that this population’s morbidity rate would differ from the national average because of its high educational level was rejected.  Nevertheless, the hypothesis that there are weekly and yearly cycles was maintained.

El grito de Calibán. Del cinematógrafo al proyecto teleSur: la construcción de lo latinoamericano en la comunicación audiovisual regional

This essay analyzes on the importance of TeleSur TV Station (founded in 2005), in the historical context of the development of audio-visual means of communication in Latin America, as well as the debates about the influence of mass media in the process of cultural identity raising-up. It proposes the thesis that the project of Tele- Sur plays a key role in the shaping of a new international order on communication that allows the protection of the cultural diversity of Latin American nations and democratizes the world’s information flows in the neoliberal globalization stage.