Cultural Values Change in the Rehabilitation of Historic Schools in Portugal

Despite the importance of the preservation of the historic built environment for the benefit of present and future generations, there is a lack of knowledge of the effects of architectural rehabilitation decisions on the cultural significance of historic buildings. Architectural heritage conservation literature has focused almost exclusively on providing principles and guidelines, describing intervention methodologies, and discussing predicted impacts of design on material values. This thesis argues that a focus on the actual effects is needed if the sociocultural sustainability of historic buildings significance is to be achieved. Supported by an extensive literature review and informed by personal insights from the researcher’s everyday practice, an adapted model of the Theory of Change based on Weiss (1995) was designed, providing a tool to evaluate the effects of rehabilitation on cultural significance [ERECS]. Using a selection of six recently rehabilitated historic secondary schools in Portugal (liceus), this research investigated architectural decisions and their effects on the cultural values of this building typology for education, focusing on three objectives, corresponding to three stages of interventions: understanding the existing cultural significance, identifying the design strategies applied and assessing the short-term effects of design decisions on the cultural values. Stressing the role of stakeholders in rehabilitation processes, data were collected from the buildings and architectural projects, the decision makers in the conservation process, and the school community. Although confirming that the evaluation of the effects of architectural decisions on cultural values is a complex task, the findings demonstrate that the historic liceus have historical, architectural and sociocultural values, and whilst strategies did not value social values, material cultural values were generally considered and preserved, contributing to the enhancement of intangible values. The implications of this theory-based and evidence-based research highlight the importance of evaluating actual effects for cultural heritage theory, architectural conservation practice and heritage management policy.

Social competence and career development: validation of a scale with secondary students

This paper presents a validation study of the Perceived Social Competence in Career Scale (SCCarS). The sample included 571 adolescents, 283 girls (49.6%) and 287 boys (50.3%), aged 14 to 25 years old (ì=16.33±1.41), 10th and 11th grade students attending secondary schools in the northern, central and southern Portugal. Exploratory factor analysis indicates the presence of eight factors, with eigenvalues superior to 1.00, explaining 79.16% of the total variance of the items. Confirmatory factor analysis provided support to the factorial structure of eight factors, with adequate fit indices (X2/df=4.229, CFI= 0.909, GFI= 0.869, RMSEA= 0.079, p= 0.000). These results are consistent with the factorial structure found in previous studies carried out with Portuguese samples from 8th grade. Implications are drawn related to the need for further study of the psychometric characteristics of the SCCarS with young people from different age groups

Relationship between blood pressure and psychological features of experience and behaviour among teachers

Purpose: Relationships between psychic features and psychophysical parameters, such as blood pressure, have a high relevance in research on coping with stress. We want to investigate the correlation between blood pressure and this psychic features. Methods: We investigated 79 teachers from high schools and secondary schools in and around Leipzig, Germany. Using the systolic blood pressure as an indicator, we built three groups: hypotonics, normotonics, and hypertonics. We assessed several health psychologically dependent variables and looked for differences between these groups (Chi-Square-Test). Results: Hypotonics experienced more stress and less planning and goal behaviour. Furthermore, they more often use physical exercises in order to increase their social well-being. Hypertonics, on the other hand, were driven by fear of loss of control and show a higher sense of feeling threatened. Conclusions: We could find for each group different relationships that are highly relevant to health. This results shows how psychological features and physiological regulation mechanisms are linked.

Relatório da prática de ensino supervisionada na Escola Secundária Gabriel Pereira, agrupamento de escolas n,º 4 de Évora EB 2,3 conde de Vilalva e EB1 Jardim de Infância do Bacelo

Este trabalho tem por base o relato de um ano lectivo 2009/201O de Prática de Ensino Supervisionada (PES) para a especialidade do grau de Mestre em Ensino de Educação Física nos Ensinos Básico e Secundário, leccionado na Universidade de Évora e contribui para a avaliação do mesmo. O estágio foi realizado no agrupamento de Escolas n° 4 de Évora - EB 2,3 Conde de Vilalva; EB1 Jardim de Infância e Escola Secundária Gabriel Pereira, abrangendo os três ciclos de aprendizagem dando assim cumprimento à exigência curricular. Relata de forma sucinta a preparação científica, pedagógica e didáctica desde o conhecimento do currículo, do conteúdo e dos alunos. Desenvolve de forma fundamentada a planificação, condução de aulas e avaliação das aprendizagens. Faz uma análise das actividades desenvolvidas como professor de uma disciplina e como participante activo na escola e na comunidade escolar. Tenta fundamentar as estratégias, metodologias e decisões tomadas. Por último, realiza uma análise da prática de ensino. O que foi constatado nesta pequena experiência foi uma prática mais consciente e um respeito maior, por nós mesmo, enquanto profissional da educação, e pelos alunos, enquanto sujeitos activos no processo de ensino/aprendizagem. ABSTRACT: This work is based on the report of an academic year 2009/2010 Supervised Teaching Practice (PES) for the specialty Master's degree in Teaching Physical Education in Primary and Secondary Schools, taught at the University of Évora and contribute to the evaluation the same. The group stage was held at school n8 4 EB 2,3 Conde Vilalva e Kindergarten and Secondary school Gabriel Pereira, covering the three cycles of learning thus fulfilling the curricular requirement. Reports briefly the scientific training and didactic knowledge from the curriculum the content and pupils. Develop and informed opinion to planning, conducting classes and learning assessment. Makes and analyses of the activities as a teacher of a discipline and as an active participant in school and school community. Try the strategies, methodologies and decisions. Finally makes an analysis of teaching practice. What was found on this little experiment was a more conscious practice and a greater respect for ourselves as professional education, and students as active participants in the teaching /learning.