Brazilian Students and Working Capital: An Analysis of Their Decisions When Using Virtual Market Business Games

This study aims to demonstrate that data from business games can be an important resource for improving efficiency and effectiveness of learning. The proposal presented here was developed from preliminary studies of data from Virtual Market games that pointed the possibility of identifying gaps in learning by analyzing the decisions of students. This proposal helps students to refine their learning processes and equips tutors with strategies for teaching and student assessment. The proposal also complements the group discussion and/or debriefing, which are widely used to enhance learning mediated by games. However, from a management perspective the model has the potential to be erroneous and miss opportunities, which cannot be detected because of the dependence on the characteristics of the individual, such as ability to communicate and work together. To illustrate the proposed technique, data sets from two business games were analyzed with the focus on managing working capital and it was found that students had difficulties managing this task. Similar trends were observed in all categories of students in the study-undergraduate, postgraduate and specialization. This discovery led us to the analysis of data for decisions made in the performance of the games, and it was determined that indicators could be developed that were capable of indentifying inconsistencies in the decisions. It was decided to apply some basic concepts of the finance management, such as management of the operational and non-operational expenditures, as well as production management concepts, such as the use of the production capacity. By analyzing the data from the Virtual Market games using the indicator concept, it was possible to detect the lack of domain knowledge of the students. Therefore, these indicators can be used to analyze the decisions of the players and guide them during the game, increasing their effectiveness and efficiency. As these indicators were developed from specific content, they can also be used to develop teaching materials to support learning. Viewed in this light, the proposal adds new possibilities for using business games in learning. In addition to the intrinsic learning that is achieved through playing the games, they also assist in driving the learning process. This study considers the applications and the methodology used.

Stages of behavior change and perceived barriers to physical activity in the elderly living in a medium size city in Brazil

The aim was to analyze the prevalence of the stages of behavior change (BCS) and the perceived barriers to physical activity in older people residents in a medium size city of São Paulo state, Brazil. Seventy-nine older people participated of the study. The BCS was assessed by the Questionnaire of Behavior Chance Stages and those on perception of barriers by the Questionnaire on Barriers to the Practice of Physical Activity in Older People (QBPPAE). Statistical analyses was comprised by the Chi-square test (p<0.05). Data showed that: a) 64,6% of the older people do not practice physical activity and only 22,8% of them have been practicing it on a regular basis for more than 6 months; b) The most perceived barriers were: "Active enough", "Too old"; "Need to rest" and; "Disease or injury"; c) The BCS seems modulate significantly the perception of barriers (p<0.05). We can conclude that: a) most of the older people are in the pre-contemplation, contemplation and preparation stages of the BCS, yet; b) gender influences almost nothing with perception of barriers and; c) the BCS interferes with the type of perceived barriers. Such conclusions support the suggestions that it is necessary to develop specific strategies for different stages of behavior change if it is to minimize the barriers. This may help to find the most effective way to change to more active lifestyle in the elderly.

Planning nursing teaching: Educational purposes and clinical competence

Thinking about nursing education implies articulating this issue with the expressions of theoretical frameworks, from the perspective of a pedagogical aspect that includes both constructivism and competencies. The objective was to characterize, from a longitudinal view, the construction of care competencies that exist in the teaching plans of nursing undergraduate programs. This exploratory-descriptive study used a qualitative approach. Documentary analysis was performed on the nine teaching plans of undergraduate care subjects. The ethical-legal aspects were guaranteed, so that data was collected only after the study had been approved by the Research Ethics Committee. The data evidenced a curriculum organization centered on subjects, maintaining internal rationales that seem to resist summative organizations. Signs emerge of hardly substantial links between any previous knowledge and the strengthening of critical judgment and clinical reasoning. As proposed, the study contributed with reconsiderations for the teachinglearning process and showed the influence of constructivism on the proposal of clinical competencies.

Formação continuada de arte educadores: políticas da rede municipal de São Paulo (1996-2008)

Pós-graduação em Artes - IA

Caracterização de um grupo formativo numa experiência educacional inclusiva: a escola CID em Porto Alegre/RS

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Um estudo exploratório sobre o ensino de astronomia na formação continuada de professores

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Narrativas sobre a prática de ensino de matemática de professores dos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental

Pós-graduação em Educação Matemática - IGCE

As possíveis influências das experiências da prática na cultura docente dos futuros professores de matemática

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Práticas de leitura: concepção de uma docente da 1 ª série do ensino fundamental da cidade de Umuarama-PR

Pós-graduação em Educação - FFC

A formação continuada de professores do ensino superior para a atuação docente on-line: desafios e possibilidades

Pós-graduação em Educação - FCT

A interação verbal na língua-alvo e a proficiência oral na prática de sala de aula: (re) definindo o perfil de uma professora de língua inglesa da escola pública

Pós-graduação em Estudos Linguísticos - IBILCE

O ensino de graduação médica na comunidade: vivências e percepções de alunos da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu - UNESP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Cultura científica: um estudo da relação entre cientistas

Pós-graduação em Educação para a Ciência - FC

Mindware semiótico-comunicativo: campos conceituais no ensino de física para deficientes visuais utilizando uma interface cérebro-computador

Pós-graduação em Educação para a Ciência - FC

Uma leitura da prática profissional do professor de matemática

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)