Gesti��n de la actividad no presencial y autoevaluaci��n de competencias = Management of student learning outside the classroom and the self-evaluation of competences

La asignatura troncal ���Evaluaci��n Psicol��gica��� de los estudios de Psicolog��a y delestudio de grado ���Desarrollo humano en la sociedad de la informaci��n��� de laUniversidad de Girona consta de 12 cr��ditos seg��n la Ley Org��nica de Universidades.Hasta el a��o acad��mico 2004-05 el trabajo no presencial del alumno consist��a en larealizaci��n de una evaluaci��n psicol��gica que se entregaba por escrito a final de curso yde la cual el estudiante obten��a una calificaci��n y revisi��n si se solicitaba. En el caminohacia el Espacio Europeo de Educaci��n Superior, esta asignatura consta de 9 cr��ditosque equivalen a un total de 255 horas de trabajo presencial y no presencial delestudiante. En los a��os acad��micos 2005-06 y 2006-07 se ha creado una gu��a de trabajopara la gesti��n de la actividad no presencial con el objetivo de alcanzar aprendizajes anivel de aplicaci��n y soluci��n de problemas/pensamiento cr��tico (Bloom, 1975)siguiendo las recomendaciones de la Agencia para la Calidad del Sistema Universitariode Catalu��a (2005). La gu��a incorpora: los objetivos de aprendizaje, los criterios deevaluaci��n, la descripci��n de las actividades, el cronograma semanal de trabajos paratodo el curso, la especificaci��n de las tutor��as programadas para la revisi��n de losdiversos pasos del proceso de evaluaci��n psicol��gica y el uso del foro para elconocimiento, an��lisis y cr��tica constructiva de las evaluaciones realizadas por loscompa��eros

Individual differences in control of language interference in late bilinguals are mainly related to general executive abilities

Background: Recent research based on comparisons between bilinguals and monolinguals postulates that bilingualism enhances cognitive control functions, because the parallel activation of languages necessitates control of interference. In a novel approach we investigated two groups of bilinguals, distinguished by their susceptibility to cross-language interference, asking whether bilinguals with strong language control abilities ('non-switchers") have an advantage in executive functions (inhibition of irrelevant information, problem solving, planning efficiency, generative fluency and self-monitoring) compared to those bilinguals showing weaker language control abilities ('switchers"). Methods: 29 late bilinguals (21 women) were evaluated using various cognitive control neuropsychological tests [e.g., Tower of Hanoi, Ruff Figural Fluency Task, Divided Attention, Go/noGo] tapping executive functions as well as four subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. The analysis involved t-tests (two independent samples). Non-switchers (n = 16) were distinguished from switchers (n = 13) by their performance observed in a bilingual picture-naming task. Results: The non-switcher group demonstrated a better performance on the Tower of Hanoi and Ruff Figural Fluency task, faster reaction time in a Go/noGo and Divided Attention task, and produced significantly fewer errors in the Tower of Hanoi, Go/noGo, and Divided Attention tasks when compared to the switchers. Non-switchers performed significantly better on two verbal subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (Information and Similarity), but not on the Performance subtests (Picture Completion, Block Design). Conclusions: The present results suggest that bilinguals with stronger language control have indeed a cognitive advantage in the administered tests involving executive functions, in particular inhibition, self-monitoring, problem solving, and generative fluency, and in two of the intelligence tests. What remains unclear is the direction of the relationship between executive functions and language control abilities.

Designing online interaction to address disciplinary competencies: A cross-country comparison of faculty perspectives

This study was conducted at colleges in three countries (United States, Venezuela, and Spain) and across three academic disciplines (engineering, education, and business), to examine how experienced faculty define competencies for their discipline, and design instructional interaction for online courses. A qualitative research design employing in-depth interviews was selected. Results show that disciplinary knowledge takes precedence when faculty members select competencies to be developed in online courses for their respective professions. In all three disciplines, the design of interaction to correspond with disciplinary competencies was often influenced by contextual factors that modify faculty intention. Therefore, instructional design will vary across countries in the same discipline to address the local context, such as the needs and expectations of the learners, faculty perspectives, beliefs and values, and the needs of the institution, the community, and country. The three disciplines from the three countries agreed on the importance of the following competencies: knowledge of the field, higher order cognitive processes such as critical thinking, analysis, problem solving, transfer of knowledge, oral and written communication skills, team work, decision making, leadership and management skills, indicating far more similarities in competencies than differences between the three different applied disciplines. We found a lack of correspondence between faculty��s intent to develop collaborative learning skills and the actual development of them. Contextual factors such as faculty prior experience in design, student reluctance to engage in collaborative learning, and institutional assessment systems that focus on individual performance were some of these reasons.

La ense��anza de estrategias de resoluci��n de problemas matem��ticos en la ESO: un ejemplo concreto

Within this article is included a description and justification of a didactical sequence to improve the learning of problem solving strategies of Secondary Education students. The design of the didactical sequence is guided by four principles: a) to context the activities and problems to solve in students��� every day practices; b) to use teaching methods that show the problem solving processes; c) to design didactical materials in order to guide strategies such as selection, organisation and control; d) to facilitate the co-operative learning of problem solving strategies.

Los protocolos de pensamiento en voz alta como instrumento para analizar el proceso de escritura

Los protocolos de pensamiento en voz alta son instrumentos metodol��gicos que implican, como su nombre indica, el uso de informantes ��pensando en voz alta�� mientras llevan a cabo una actividad. Los pensamientos articulados siguiendo esta t��cnica se graban para poder ser transcritos y son analizados con la ayuda de unas categor��as preestablecidas para reflexionar sobre los objetivos del trabajo de investigaci��n. La metodolog��a ha sido ampliamente utilizada para analizar actividades de resoluci��n de problemas (��problem solving activities��) en numerosos estudios de psicolog��a cognitiva y su uso se ha extendido para analizar los procesos de escritura. Este an��lisis pretende explicar los or��genes de los protocolos de pensamiento en voz alta en el marco de la psicolog��a cognitiva y revisar brevemente las obras m��s influyentes de Ericsson y Simon con el fin de presentar los puntos b��sicos del marco te��rico que estos autores establecieron. A continuaci��n se presentar��n algunas consideraciones relacionadas con el hecho de utilizar la t��cnica de pensamiento en voz alta para analizar los procesos de escritura, y finalmente se proponen unas normas b��sicas a seguir por aquellas personas interesados en utilizar esta metodolog��a.

Evaluation of the Development of Metacognitive Knowledge Supported by the KnowCat System

The aim of this study was to examine the development of the metacognitive knowledge of a group of higher education students who participated actively in an experiment based on a Computer Supported Collaborative Learning environment called KnowCat. Eighteen university students participated in a 12-month learning project during which the KnowCat learning environment was used to support scaffolding process among equals during problem-solving tasks. After using KnowCat, the students were interviewed over their work in this shared workspace. Qualitative analysis revealed that the educational application of KnowCat can favour and improve the development of metacognitive knowledge.

Assessing positive mental health in people with chronic physical health problems: correlations with socio-demographic variables and physical health status

Background: A holistic perspective on health implies giving careful consideration to the relationship between physical and mental health. In this regard the present study sought to determine the level of Positive Mental Health (PMH) among people with chronic physical health problems, and to examine the relationship between the observed levels of PMH and both physical health status and socio-demographic variables. Methods: The study was based on the Multifactor Model of Positive Mental Health (Lluch, 1999), which comprises six factors: Personal Satisfaction (F1), Prosocial Attitude (F2), Self-control (F3), Autonomy (F4), Problem-solving and Self-actualization (F5), and Interpersonal Relationship Skills (F6). The sample comprised 259 adults with chronic physical health problems who were recruited through a primary care center in the province of Barcelona (Spain). Positive mental health was assessed by means of the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire (Lluch, 1999). Results: Levels of PMH differed, either on the global scale or on specific factors, in relation to the following variables: age: global PMH scores decreased with age (r=-0.129; p=0.038); b) gender: men scored higher on F1 (t=2.203; p=0.028) and F4 (t=3.182; p=0.002), while women scored higher on F2 (t -3.086; p=0.002) and F6 (t=-2.744; p=0.007); c) number of health conditions: the fewer the number of health problems the higher the PMH score on F5 (r=-0.146; p=0.019); d) daily medication: polymedication patients had lower PMH scores, both globally and on various factors; e) use of analgesics: occasional use of painkillers was associated with higher PMH scores on F1 (t=-2.811; p=0.006). There were no significant differences in global PMH scores according to the type of chronic health condition. The only significant difference in the analysis by factors was that patients with hypertension obtained lower PMH scores on the factor Autonomy (t=2.165; p=0.032). Conclusions: Most people with chronic physical health problems have medium or high levels of PMH. The variables that adversely affect PMH are old age, polypharmacy and frequent consumption of analgesics. The type of health problem does not influence the levels of PMH. Much more extensive studies with samples without chronic pathology are now required in order to be able to draw more robust conclusions.

Gesti��n de la actividad no presencial y autoevaluaci��n de competencias = Management of Student Learning Outside the Classroom and the Self-evaluation of Competences

Psychological Assessment is a core subject of Psychology studies, and of the university degree Human development, at the University of Girona and according to the University regulations, had 12 credits. Until the 2005-06 academic years, the student work conducted outside the classroom consisted of undertaking a psychological assessment that was written and handed in at the end of the course. From this the student obtained a qualification and a review if they applied for it In accordance with the European Credits for Higher Education, this subject was reduced to 9 credits, which is the equivalent of a total of 255 hours of in-class work and outside the classroom. In the 2006-07 academic year we created a guide to manage the student���s experiences outside the classroom, with the objective of encouraging the application of problem solving/critical thinking (Bloom, 1975), in line with the recommendations of the Catalonia Agency for University System Quality (2005). The guide includes: learning objectives, evaluation criterions, a description of activities, work week timetable for the whole course, programmed tutorials to review all steps of the psychological assessment process, and the use of a web-based virtual forum for the transfer of knowledge, analysis and constructive critiques of the assessment done by themselves and their colleagues

Estudi de la comprensi�� i de les estrat��gies per resoldre problemes de suma i resta

Aquest treball de recerca estudia i analitza la comprensi�� i les estrat��gies utilitzades per alumnes de 2n de prim��ria a l���hora de resoldre problemes aritm��tics de suma i resta. Per aconseguir aquest prop��sit, s���ha portat a terme el disseny i l���aplicaci�� d���una prova individual de resoluci�� de problemes, passada abans i despr��s d���una intervenci�� educativa enfocada a millorar les dificultats detectades a l���hora de resoldre problemes. A partir de l���an��lisi de les dades obtingudes es verificar�� si despr��s de treballar el proc��s de resoluci�� i d���incidir en les estrat��gies per resoldre problemes additius amb els alumnes millora la comprensi�� i les estrat��gies aparegudes s���adeq��en al tipus d���operaci�� aritm��tica que es demana.

International journal of engineering education

This work presents an analysis of the assessment tools used by professors at the Universitat Polit��cnica de Catalunya to assess the generic competencies introduced in the Bachelor���s Degrees in Engineering. In order to conduct this study, a survey was designed and administered anonymously to a sample of the professors most receptive to educational innovation at their own university. All total, 80 professors responded to this survey, of whom 26% turned out to be members of the university���s own evaluation innovation group (https://www.upc.edu/rima/grups/grapa), GRAPA. This percentage represents 47% of the total GRAPA membership, meaning that nearly half of the professors most concerned about evaluation at the university chose to participate. The analysis of the variables carried out using the statistical program SPSS v19 shows that for practically 49% of those surveyed, rubrics are the tools most commonly used to assess generic competencies integrated in more specific ones. Of those surveyed, 60% use them either frequently or always. The most frequently evaluated generic competencies were teamwork (28%), problem solving (26%), effective oral and written communication (24%) and autonomous learning (13%), all of which constitute commonly recognized competencies in the engineering profession. A two-dimensional crosstabs analysis with SPSS v19 shows a significant correlation (Asymp. Sig. 0.001) between the type of tool used and the competencies assessed. However, no significant correlation was found between the type of assessment tool used and the type of subject, type of evaluation (formative or summative), frequency of feedback given to the students or the degree of student satisfaction, and thus none of these variables can be considered to have an influence on the kind of assessment tool used. In addition, the results also indicate that there are no significant differences between the instructors belonging to GRAPA and the rest of those surveyed

Model-based objects recognition in man-made environments

We describe a model-based objects recognition system which is part of an image interpretation system intended to assist autonomous vehicles navigation. The system is intended to operate in man-made environments. Behavior-based navigation of autonomous vehicles involves the recognition of navigable areas and the potential obstacles. The recognition system integrates color, shape and texture information together with the location of the vanishing point. The recognition process starts from some prior scene knowledge, that is, a generic model of the expected scene and the potential objects. The recognition system constitutes an approach where different low-level vision techniques extract a multitude of image descriptors which are then analyzed using a rule-based reasoning system to interpret the image content. This system has been implemented using CEES, the C++ embedded expert system shell developed in the Systems Engineering and Automatic Control Laboratory (University of Girona) as a specific rule-based problem solving tool. It has been especially conceived for supporting cooperative expert systems, and uses the object oriented programming paradigm

Individual differences in control of language interference in late bilinguals are mainly related to general executive abilities

Background: Recent research based on comparisons between bilinguals and monolinguals postulates that bilingualism enhances cognitive control functions, because the parallel activation of languages necessitates control of interference. In a novel approach we investigated two groups of bilinguals, distinguished by their susceptibility to cross-language interference, asking whether bilinguals with strong language control abilities ('non-switchers") have an advantage in executive functions (inhibition of irrelevant information, problem solving, planning efficiency, generative fluency and self-monitoring) compared to those bilinguals showing weaker language control abilities ('switchers"). Methods: 29 late bilinguals (21 women) were evaluated using various cognitive control neuropsychological tests [e.g., Tower of Hanoi, Ruff Figural Fluency Task, Divided Attention, Go/noGo] tapping executive functions as well as four subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. The analysis involved t-tests (two independent samples). Non-switchers (n = 16) were distinguished from switchers (n = 13) by their performance observed in a bilingual picture-naming task. Results: The non-switcher group demonstrated a better performance on the Tower of Hanoi and Ruff Figural Fluency task, faster reaction time in a Go/noGo and Divided Attention task, and produced significantly fewer errors in the Tower of Hanoi, Go/noGo, and Divided Attention tasks when compared to the switchers. Non-switchers performed significantly better on two verbal subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (Information and Similarity), but not on the Performance subtests (Picture Completion, Block Design). Conclusions: The present results suggest that bilinguals with stronger language control have indeed a cognitive advantage in the administered tests involving executive functions, in particular inhibition, self-monitoring, problem solving, and generative fluency, and in two of the intelligence tests. What remains unclear is the direction of the relationship between executive functions and language control abilities.

Proceso de transformaci��n de las concepciones del profesorado sobre la resoluci��n de problemas matem��ticos

The aim of this study is to analyze the transformation of Primary School teachers��� conceptions about mathematical problem solving. We performed a study with 18 teachers from three public schools: in each class (from 1�� to 6��) there were two interventions, and we were interviewed teachers before and after them. The results have show identified changes in: 1) teacher���s expectations about students��� abilities; classroom management; perception of diversity; mathematical strategies used by students; communication in the classroom; causes of the problems encountered; and relevance process of problem solving in mathematics teaching. The transformation of teachers��� conceptions is due to the following factors: a) awareness of the practice; b) systematic reflection; c) the contrast between different ways to work solving problems in math class

��Para qu�� sirven los problemas en la clase de matem��ticas? = What is the use of problems in Mathematics lessons?

The results obtained in several yield tests, at an international level (mainly the famous PISA 2003 report, by the OCDE), have raised a multiplicity of performances in order to improve the students' yield regarding problem solving. In this article we set a clear guideline on how problems should be used in Mathematics lessons, not for obtaining better scores in the yield tests but for improving the development of Mathematical thinking in students. From this perspective, the author analyses, through eight reflections, how the concept of problem, transmitted both in the school and from society, influences the students