Breaking the silence ceiling: how gender violence became into a social problem in Spain through media and politics

This research presents the explanatory model of the process of reconstruction of the ʺsocial problemʺ of Intimate Partner Violence (I.P.V) in Spain during last five years, with special attention to the role of media in this process. Using a content analysis of the three more diffused general newspapers, a content analysis of the minutes of the Parliament, and the statistics of the police reports and murders, from January of 1997 to December of 2001, it observes the relationship between the evolution of the incidence of Intimate Partner Violence (I.P.V) (measured by the number of deaths and the number of police reports) and the evolution of stories about this topic in press. It also studies the interconnection of the two previous variables with the political answer to the problem (measured by the interventions on the I.P.V. in the Senate and in the Congress). Data shows that, even though police reports have increased due to the contribution of politics and media, I.P.V murders keep on growing up.

MOOCs, Open educational resources and social networking: bridging the gap between informal and formal learning

MOOCs and open educational resources (OER) provide a wealth of learning opportunities for people around the globe, many of whom have no access to formal higher education. OER are often difficult to locate and are accessed on their own without support from or dialogue with subject experts and peers. This paper looks at whether it is possible to develop effective learning communities around OER and whether these communities can emerge spontaneously and in a self-organised way without moderation. It examines the complex interplay between formal and informal learning, and examines whether MOOCs are the answer to providing effective interaction and dialogue for those wishing to study at university level for free on the Internet.

Las ONG como agentes de transformación social. Del asistencialismo a la movilización

Este estudio de caso se centra en la campaña #dereitos365, desarrollada entre diciembre de 2014 y enero de 2015 en Galicia para reclamar una implicación ciudadana durante todo el año y no solo en la época navideña. Partiendo del potencial de las redes sociales e Internet y tomando este caso como referencia, el objetivo de la investigación es profundizar en el papel de las ONG como agentes de transformación social y como promotoras de un diálogo interactivo y multidireccional que implique a los nuevos ciudadanos. Los resultados muestran una campaña marcadamente institucional que busca la movilización y concienciación ciudadana para la construcción de una sociedad más justa y solidaria, generando visibilidad y cierta interactividad a través de mensajes reivindicativos, sobre todo por parte de organizaciones locales, y de un alto contenido multimedia.