Building a knowledge and learning society in Portugal - Adult students in technological schools and higher education institutions

Chapter in Merrill, Barbara (ed.) (2009) Learning to Change? The Role of Identity and Learning Careers in Adult Education. Hamburg: Peter Lang Publishers. URL: http://www.peterlang.com/ index.cfm?vID=58279&vLang=E&vHR=1&vUR=2&vUUR=1

A importância do manual escolar para o professor e alunos de Geografia e de História no 3º Ciclo

Se outrora o manual escolar era o único recurso disponível nas escolas, atualmente a sua utilização entra em competição com os recursos digitais, mais apelativos e dinâmicos. Estudos existentes demonstram a importância na utilização de ambos os recursos, existindo defensores e críticos para o seu uso. Este relatório não pretendeu entrar nessa discussão, mas refletiu acerca da importância do manual escolar para o professor e para o aluno do 3º Ciclo do Ensino Básico. Na minha anterior experiencia como docente nunca tinha recorrido à utilização de recursos digitais. Deste modo e no âmbito do estágio realizado em duas escolas diferentes e depois de atribuídas as turmas para Geografia e História, optou-se pela lecionação das turmas do 8º ano através do manual escolar, ao passo que as turmas do 9º ano foram lecionadas através de recursos digitais. No final do estágio pude constatar que a utilização de recursos digitais revelou-se proveitosa na transmissão de conhecimentos aos alunos (à semelhança do manual escolar), mas requereu bastante tempo para a sua construção. Foram ainda aplicados 88 inquéritos aos alunos e não obstante os resultados demonstrarem uma ligeira tendência preferencial para a utilização de recursos digitais, a relação estabelecida com o professor e o sucesso na avaliação são aspetos capazes de persuadir essa preferência.

The World Health Organization Multi-Professional Patient Safety Curriculum : implementation of key modules and its impact on patient safety knowledge, skills, and attitudes of medical students at the University of Algarve

ABSTRACT - Objectives: We attempted to show how the implementation of the key elements of the World Health Organization Patient Safety Curriculum Guide Multi-professional Edition in an undergraduate curriculum affected the knowledge, skills, and attitudes towards patient safety in a graduate entry Portuguese Medical School. Methods: After receiving formal recognition by the WHO as a Complementary Test Site and approval of the organizational ethics committee , the validated pre-course questionnaires measuring the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to patient safety were administered to the 2nd and3rd year students pursuing a four-year course (N = 46). The key modules of the curriculum were implemented over the academic year by employing a variety of learning strategies including expert lecturers, small group problem-based teaching sessions, and Simulation Laboratory sessions. The identical questionnaires were then administered and the impact was measured. The Curriculum Guide was evaluated as a health education tool in this context. Results: A significant number of the respondents, 47 % (n = 22), reported having received some form of prior patient safety training. The effect on Patient Safety Knowledge was assessed by using the percentage of correct pre- and post-course answers to construct 2 × 2 contingency tables and by applying Fishers’ test (two-tailed). No significant differences were detected (p < 0.05). To assess the effect of the intervention on Patient Safety skills and attitudes, the mean and standard deviation were calculated for the pre and post-course responses, and independent samples were subjected to Mann-Whitney’s test. The attitudinal survey indicated a very high baseline incidence of desirable attitudes and skills toward patient safety. Significant changes were detected (p < 0.05) regarding what should happen if an error is made (p = 0.016), the role of healthcare organizations in error reporting (p = 0.006), and the extent of medical error (p = 0.005). Conclusions: The implementation of selected modules of the WHO Patient Safety Curriculum was associated with a number of positive changes regarding patient safety skills and attitudes, with a baseline incidence of highly desirable patient safety attitudes, but no measureable change on the patient safety knowledge, at the University of Algarve Medical School. The significance of these results is discussed along with implications and suggestions for future research.