EL PROCESO DE URBANIZACION EN LA PERIFERIA DEL AREA METROPOLITANA: LOS CASOS DE TURRUCARES Y MONTE DE LA CRUZ

Este avance de investigación pretende ofrecer una visión preliminar de un fenómeno bastante reciente que se está dando en Costa Rica y particularmente en el Valle Central: la urbanización del espacio agrícola. Este proceso se está desarrollando más allá del espacio suburbano y presenta una especialidad diferente, ya que aquí la organización social campesina y las actividades agropecuarias siguen siendo predominantes. Sin embargo, esta extremadamente vinculado con el proceso de metropolizacion que surge en el país. Se está asistiendo, pues, a una reubicación de los espacios residenciales de las clases de mejores ingresos, las cuales influenciadas tal vez por un modelo ideológico importado, buscan poder disfrutar de las ventajas que ofrece el espacio rural pero con la posibilidad de seguir trabajando en la ciudad y seguir gozando de los servicios urbanos. La  rural-urbanización dentro de una estrategia global de estructuración del espacio puede ser considerada como un mecanismo de selección y una apropiación de los mejores lugares donde se dará la futura de expansión urbana. Desde esta perspectiva, resulta interesante llamar la atención de cómo ciertos sectores sociales están proyectando desde ahora la futura expansión del espacio metropolitano.   SUMMARY This preliminary investigative report presents a viewpoint about a very recent phenomenon that is occurring in Costa Rica and especially in the Central Valley: the urbanization of the agrarian space. This process is developing beyond the suburban areas and presents a different spacial structure because in these areas, the rural social structures and the livestock and agricultural activities are still predominant. Nevertheless, such activities are very much related to the urbanization process occurring in the country. As such, we are witnessing a reubication of the residential structure of the high-income classes, of which, influenced perhaps by an improved idiologic model, hope to enjoy the advantages offered by a rural area but also taking advantage of the convenience offered by the urban benefits; plus the opportunity to keep working in the city. The process of rural urbanization conceived in a global strategy of spatial structures, can be considered as a selection and appropriation mechanism of the best areas for the future urban expansion. From this perspective, it is interesting to call attention to the process by which certain social sectors are now projecting the future organization of the metropolitan area.  In reference to the real-estate capital invested in the study areas, and specifically to Costa Rica capital, this investment in the promotion of real-estate, acts as a shelter sector, by changing the course of direction of the capital accumulated in the other economic sectors, especially considering that the real-estate sector insures more secure profits in spite of the relatively insignificant recuperation rate of the capital investment comparison to the industrial sector, where more capital risks occur, above all during an economic crisis.  At present, the zones influenced by rural urbanization are affected by a modification in their productive structure, in other words, what were once agricultural zones, are now converted to residential zones. This produces spectacular changes in the composition of the work force by producing service-oriented employment that leads to the following abandonment of the agricultural activities.  From a social point of view, this rural urbanization pattern provokes a marked spatial segregation, in which an exclusive high income social group with a particularly consuming life style is noted at one level, and on the other, social groups that inhered patterns of rural life with more traditional lifestyles. In reference to the community level in the study areas, localized conflicts have emerged between local people and the new residents. These conflicts are highly conditioned by the insertion in the communities of these new residents.       RESUME   Ce document préliminaire décrit un phénomène assez récent au Costa Rica, qui affecte plus particulièrement la « Vallée Centrale ». il s’agit de l’urbanisation de l’espace agricole.  Ce sont des espaces franchement ruraux, bien au-delà des banlieues, qui sont affectés par ce processus qui, en conséquence, montre des caractères différents: comme se maintien de la organisation social liée aux activités agricoles; en face l’infiltration d’un autre mode de vie dû à sa transformation en espace résidentiel pour classes aux revenus élevés qui, peut-être, influencées par un modèle culturel importé, préfèrent une localisation qui puisée leus offrir à  la fois les avantages de vivre dans un espace rural avec ceux de la ville, lieu de travail suffisamment proche dont elles continuent à pouvoir utiliser ses services. Ce modèle culturel doit être considère en fonction du processus de métropolitain apparu dan le pays. L’urbanisation de l’espace rural, dans une stratégie globale de structuration de l’espace peut se considérer comme un mécanisme de sélection et d’appropriation des meilleurs sites de l’expansion urbaine future.  Dans cette perspective, il est intéressant de constater qu’il existe déjà, de la part certains secteurs sociaux, un projet d’organisation de l’espace métropolitain futur. Le foncier est considéré comme un secteur refuge pour les capitaux nationaux d’où l’intérêt de la spéculation pour ces zones. En effet, ce placement, plus sûr, malgré un plus faible taux de récupération du capital, est préfère à d’ autres- comme l’investissement industriel- plus rentables, mais plus risqués, surtout en temps de crise. L’urbanisation de l’espace rural s’accompagne d’une modification des structures productives : moins d’agriculture et évolution de l’emploi vers le tertiaire liée à la présence de nouveaux résidents. Du point de vue social, cette situation se traduit par une très nette ségrégation spatiale. D’un côte, un group socio-économique aux revenus élèves représentant  la société de consommation ; de l’autre, les ruraux au style de vie plus traditionnel. Il en résulte une certaine tension entre les deux groupes.

Diagnóstico situacional de la labor docente y de la oferta de formación de educadores rurales en Costa Rica

The article explores the performance of rural teachers in Costa Rica and analyses the curricula taught in public universities. It also examines limitations and advantages of teaching in rural areas and the way teachers face the challenges imposed by this kind of context in terms of cultural, economical and social particularities. Finally, based on the information collected in this investigation, a series of contents are presented in order to enrich the curricula of teacher training universities and to offer to their students, future teachers, the necessary tools to work in the rural area.

O TRABALHO DE CAMPO COMO UM INSTRUMENTO DE TRABALHO PARA O INVESTIGADOR EM GEOGRAFIA AGRÁRIA

Procuramos mostrar, nesse ensaio, como o espaço rural torna-se mais complexo e continuamente subordinado aos interesses da cidade e analisamos algumas características presentes no espaço rural brasileiro e como foram alteradas as relações campo cidade. Destarte, apresentamos o trabalho de campo para auxiliar os investigadores a compreender esses processos, pois esse procedimento nos auxilia a articular a teoria e a prática, devemos, em nossas pesquisas, ir além do gabinete, Assim, faremos, em um primeiro momento, uma explanação sobre as transformações em curso no espaço rural e, posteriormente, teceremos algumas considerações sobre a pratica de trabalho de campo para investigar essas transformações. AbstractThis essay attempts to show how the countryside becomes more complex and grows continuously subordinated to the urban interests. It analyzes some characteristics from the Brazilian rural area, especially how the relationship between the countryside and the city has changed. For that, it presents the field work as a way of helping researchers understand these processes, for it’s a methodological procedure useful to articulate theory and practice and to force researchers go out and beyond their offices. Firstly, an explanation on the current changes in the countryside is made; then, some considerations on the field work practice are made regarding the investigation of theses changes.

O TRABALHO DE CAMPO COMO UM INSTRUMENTO DE TRABALHO PARA O INVESTIGADOR EM GEOGRAFIA AGRÁRIA

Procuramos mostrar, nesse ensaio, como o espaço rural torna-se mais complexo e continuamente subordinado aos interesses da cidade e analisamos algumas características presentes no espaço rural brasileiro e como foram alteradas as relações campo cidade. Destarte, apresentamos o trabalho de campo para auxiliar os investigadores a compreender esses processos, pois esse procedimento nos auxilia a articular a teoria e a prática, devemos, em nossas pesquisas, ir além do gabinete, Assim, faremos, em um primeiro momento, uma explanação sobre as transformações em curso no espaço rural e, posteriormente, teceremos algumas considerações sobre a pratica de trabalho de campo para investigar essas transformações.Abstract Field work as a working tool to the agrarian geography researcher This essay attempts to show how the countryside becomes more complex and grows continuously subordinated to the urban interests. It analyzes some characteristics from the Brazilian rural area, especially how the relationship between the countryside and the city has changed. For that, it presents the field work as a way of helping researchers understand these processes, for it’s a methodological procedure useful to articulate theory and practice and to force researchers go out and beyond their offices. Firstly, an explanation on the current changes in the countryside is made; then, some considerations on the field work practice are made regarding the investigation of theses changes. 

Promotion and diffusion of tha career Bachelor and Licenciature of Mathematics Teaching in rural areas of Costa Rica project: effects and results

This article describes the purpose and activities of the project Promoting Mathematics Education in Rural Areas of Costa Rica. The activity has focused on two objectives. First, supporting and monitoring students who have expressed interest in studying a mathematics teacher. To achieve this, it has been working with students who have an ideal profile for the career, mainly from rural areas. The second objective is to conduct training workshops for high school in-service teachers, to strengthen and improve their knowledge in the area of mathematics. Among the results of the project, it can be highlighted a significant increase in the enrollment of students in the career of Mathematics Education in 2010 and 2011, and the training processes in the field of Real Functions of Real Variable and Geometry at different regional areas mostly rural as Aguirre, Sarapiquí, Coto, Buenos Aires, Limón, Cañas, Pérez Zeledón, Nicoya, Los Santos, Turrialba, Puriscal, Desamparados, San Carlos, Puntarenas, Limón, Liberia, Santa Cruz y Upala.

Maestría en educación rural centroamericana: hacia un modelo pedagógico flexible

Program in Rural Education” is presented to the national and international community as a high level graduate program, whose purpose is to improve the quality of formal and informal educational processes within the area through an innovative pedagogical model that includes itinerancy along the isthmus, as well as in site and distance learning with a virtual component. Furthermore, this program bases its practice on the development of a flexible model, on inclusiveness and also on a differentiated methodological and evaluative proposal that recovers the knowledge produced in every country around de issue of rural education.