ICT in higher education: an experience with e-books

The present paper seeks to explain the diverse advantages of virtual books and also the main barriers that make it difficult their implementation in the classroom. A brief review of the literature on ICT, e-learning, distance education and e-books will be complemented with a case study about the preparation, development and implementation of an e-book. The paper could be helpful both for systems analysts and for teachers when they are developing and implementing e-books.

Attitudes towards disability in education through the SSCI (2000-2011): a topical and bibliometric analysis

Introduction. The purpose of this study is to describe and characterize the international sci-entific output relating to “attitudes towards disability in education”, using a battery of bibliometric indicators that make it possible to analyze and monitor international scientific activity. Method. This ex post facto retrospective study analyzed 925 papers published in the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) database during the period 2000-2011. Results. The number of publications increased steadily between 2006 and 2010. The results reported here include the most productive authors, the journals that deal with this topic, and the articles cited most often. An analysis of research types showed a tendency toward empiri-cal studies. A total of 18 categories were identified when considering article content, and the distribution of the research studies across stages of education was found to be uneven. Discussion and Conclusion. The results reveal a topic that is highly current in today’s scien-tific community, and offer us a view of the traits that have characterized research on "attitudes towards disability in education" for the last eleven years.

Conocimiento tecnológico, pedagógico y disciplinario del profesorado: el caso de un Centro Educativo Inteligente

En este estudio se analiza la integración de las TIC en un escenario de aprendizaje específico: un centro público de Alicante catalogado como Centro Educativo Inteligente [CEI], según el programa de pilotaje homónimo de la Comunidad Valenciana. Se pondera detenidamente, mediante una investigación mixta el conocimiento tecnológico, pedagógico y disciplinar de los docentes a partir del Modelo TPACK. Como instrumentos de evaluación se han utilizado encuestas, entrevistas y grupos de discusión. Entre los resultados alcanzados, destaca la constatación de la inseguridad del profesorado al aplicar los conocimientos tecnológico-pedagógicos en sus clases, si bien se trata de un CEI. Se analiza detenidamente la paradoja establecida entre tal percepción del profesorado y la opinión del equipo directivo, que postula lo contrario.

Las expectativas hacia la integración de las TIC en educación desde una perspectiva fenomenológica

El presente artículo, desde una perspectiva fenomenológica, lleva a cabo una reflexión crítica en torno a las significaciones construidas socialmente en relación al uso de la tecnología, tomando como base las expectativas hacia la integración de las TIC, como predisposiciones que un determinado sujeto tiene para actuar. Se aboca a comprender, describir y profundizar en torno a las expectativas que profesores y estudiantes, como principales sujetos implicados de manera directa en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, tienen de las TIC como recursos de apoyo a la formación.

Expectativas que poseen los docentes universitarios de carreras de Pedagogía en relación al uso de las TIC

Este artículo presenta un estudio cualitativo realizado en la Facultad de Educación de la Universidad Católica del Maule (Chile), en relación a las expectativas de los académicos en torno a la integración de las TIC en educación. Se expone el diseño metodológico basado en el análisis de contenido y la codificación abierta de la teoría fundamentada, y en el cual se ha utilizado el programa de análisis cualitativo ATLAS.ti (CQDAS). En general, los académicos poseen altas expectativas respecto a los efectos que se producen al utilizar las TIC respecto a diversos aspectos.

Towards a new proposal to evaluate the learning objects quality in learning strategies for education (QEES)

In Computer Science world several proposals have been developed for the assessment of the quality of the digital objects, based on the capabilities and facilities offered by current technologies and the available resources. Years ago researchers and specialists from both educational and technological areas have been committed to the development of strategies that improve the quality of education. At present, in the field of teaching-learning, another important aspect is the need to improve the manner of gaining knowledge and learning in education, which the use of learning strategies is a major advance in the teaching-learning process in institutions of higher education. This paper presents QEES, a proposal for evaluating the quality of the learning objects employed on learning strategies to support students during their education processes by using information extraction techniques and ontologies.

New Literacy for Reading Using ICT

This article will analyse the key strategies in the relationship between reading and writing in the area of ICT and the resulting importance in supporting literacy in this area so that the education system as a whole (primary and secondary schools and universities) can be guided to make full use of the opportunities ICT can provide. ICTs are able to help improve overall comprehension, evaluate general perspectives and raise awareness of the value of cooperation and, as a result, the essential quality of individuals and their contributions. These contributions are far-reaching and strategic. The benefits of applying ICT in reading and writing are also felt in oral expression and can result in education based more on dialogue which, in turn, leads to social change.