A abordagem da escrita no jardim-de-infância: Das conceções às práticas

A educação pré-escolar, ainda que não seja de frequência obrigatória, constitui a primeira etapa de um longo caminho educativo a percorrer, um marco decisivo no sucesso escolar e social das crianças, um meio potenciador de aprendizagens decisivas para o desenvolvimento integral da criança, no qual é indiscutível a importância do trabalho que se prende com a linguagem oral e abordagem à escrita. Neste sentido, o Educador deve estar consciente que a criança tem capacidade para aprender acerca da linguagem escrita, desde que inicia o seu percurso na aquisição da linguagem oral e desta forma estimulá-la e motivá-la para tal. Nem sempre as práticas integram a forma como as crianças pequenas aprendem a escrever e a ler, indicada na investigação, como sem sempre potenciam a parceria com as famílias nesta aprendizagem. No presente trabalho, desenvolvo um estudo onde procuro verificar o trabalho que está a ser implementado numa sala de jardim-de-infância, face à emergência à escrita e melhorá-lo, de forma lúdica e atrativa, de maneira que as crianças vão desenvolvendo e promovendo a motivação para esta aprendizagem.

Developing a commercial hot water treatment to control post-harvest rots on ‘Fiji Red’ papaya

Fiji exports approximately 800 t year-1 of 'Solo Sunrise' papaya marketed as 'Fiji Red' to international markets which include New Zealand, Australia and Japan. The wet weather conditions from November to April each year result in a significant increase in fungal diseases present in Fiji papaya orchards. The two major pathogens that are causing significant post-harvest losses are: stem end rot (Phytophthora palmivora) and anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.). The high incidence of post-harvest rots has led to increased rejection rates all along the supply chain, causing a reduction in income to farmers, exporters, importers and retailers of Fiji papaya. It has also undermined the superior quality reputation on the market. In response to this issue, the Fiji Papaya industry led by Nature's Way Cooperative, embarked on series of trials supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) to determine the most effective and economical post-harvest control in Fiji papaya. Of all the treatments that were examined, a hot water dip treatment was selected by the industry as the most appropriate technology given the level of control that it provide, the cost effectiveness of the treatment and the fact that it was non-chemical. A commercial hot water unit that fits with the existing quarantine treatment and packing facilities has been designed and a cost benefit analysis for the investment carried out. This paper explores the research findings as well as the industry process that has led to the commercial uptake of this important technology.

Relatório de estágio de qualificação profissional

Relatório EPE - Relatório de estágio em Educação Pré-Escolar: O presente relatório de estágio de qualificação profissional, elaborado no âmbito da formação da mestranda em Educação Pré-Escolar, visa a descrição e reflexão da ação educativa desenvolvida ao longo deste processo formativo, explanando, também, as competências profissionais e pessoais construídas pela mesma. Este perspetiva a mobilização de pressupostos teóricos e legais que fundamentaram a prática pedagógica da mestranda, com recurso a estratégias que visam uma educação inclusiva e equitativa, atendendo às características das crianças, encaradas como co-construtoras das suas aprendizagens. Com base numa visão socioconstrutivista, são apresentadas as perspetivas pedagógicas que se propuseram a dar resposta às necessidades e interesses evidenciados, tendo em consideração a capacidade de pensar e agir no contexto educativo em que foi desenvolvido o estágio. Assim, revelou-se fundamental o recurso ao método de investigação-ação, em que o educador é investigador da sua ação, sendo um profissional crítico e reflexivo, que está aberto à mudança. Este relatório pretende dar a conhecer as técnicas e estratégias utilizadas para alcançar os objetivos e desafios propostos todos os dias, tendo em vista a melhoria da praxis educativa desenvolvida pela mestranda, conforme os dados observados, recolhidos e analisados. Procurase, também, expressar as suas aprendizagens, pensar sobre as mesmas e como estas influenciaram a prática profissional. O educador de infância deve manter uma postura atenta em relação ao grupo de crianças com quem exerce a sua profissionalidade, intervindo de forma adequada e ponderada e, assim, desenvolvendo competências pessoais e profissionais. Considerando os princípios apresentados no perfil geral de desempenho profissional do educador de infância, este deve realizar formação ao longo da vida e avaliar constantemente a sua ação e adaptá-la, conduzindo a uma flexibilidade na tomada de decisões.

Brief report: preliminary proposal of a conceptual model of a digital environment for developing mathematical reasoning in students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

There is clear evidence that in typically developing children reasoning and sense-making are essential in all mathematical learning and understanding processes. In children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), however, these become much more significant, considering their importance to successful independent living. This paper presents a preliminary proposal of a digital environment, specifically targeted to promote the development of mathematical reasoning in students with ASD. Given the diversity of ASD, the prototyping of this environment requires the study of dynamic adaptation processes and the development of activities adjusted to each user’s profile. We present the results obtained during the first phase of this ongoing research, describing a conceptual model of the proposed digital environment. Guidelines for future research are also discussed.

Developing smart services by Internet of Things in manufacturing business

Manufacturing companies have passed from selling uniquely tangible products to adopting a service-oriented approach to generate steady and continuous revenue streams. Nowadays, equipment and machine manufacturers possess technologies to track and analyze product-related data for obtaining relevant information from customers’ use towards the product after it is sold. The Internet of Things on Industrial environments will allow manufacturers to leverage lifecycle product traceability for innovating towards an information-driven services approach, commonly referred as “Smart Services”, for achieving improvements in support, maintenance and usage processes. The aim of this study is to conduct a literature review and empirical analysis to present a framework that describes a customer-oriented approach for developing information-driven services leveraged by the Internet of Things in manufacturing companies. The empirical study employed tools for the assessment of customer needs for analyzing the case company in terms of information requirements and digital needs. The literature review supported the empirical analysis with a deep research on product lifecycle traceability and digitalization of product-related services within manufacturing value chains. As well as the role of simulation-based technologies on supporting the “Smart Service” development process. The results obtained from the case company analysis show that the customers mainly demand information that allow them to monitor machine conditions, machine behavior on different geographical conditions, machine-implement interactions, and resource and energy consumption. Put simply, information outputs that allow them to increase machine productivity for maximizing yields, save time and optimize resources in the most sustainable way. Based on customer needs assessment, this study presents a framework to describe the initial phases of a “Smart Service” development process, considering the requirements of Smart Engineering methodologies.

Qualidade e comunicação nas organizações de saúde : Aplicação prática no Hospital CUF Infante Santo

A presente dissertação discute a cada vez maior exigência de qualidade nas organizações de saúde, que deve ser encarada como uma ferramenta de gestão e de mudança, e a necessidade intrínseca de uma melhor e mais abrangente rede de comunicação, que se impõe para a transmissão de informação e conhecimento, numa sociedade que a uma velocidade atroz se encontra em constante mutação e desenvolvimento. Neste sentido, a temática em estudo assume particular importância no contexto actual, pois apenas a qualidade representa o garante da subsistência da organização abrindo caminho à eficiência e à eficácia organizacional e de interesse para a instituição, pois parte do conhecimento da percepção dos enfermeiros, que na organização de saúde estão directa e proporcionalmente relacionados com a satisfação do cliente. Os enfermeiros asseguram a manutenção dos padrões de qualidade, que a organização pretende alcançar e comunicar, sendo fundamentais na imagem global transmitida e, consequentemente, na criação de valor da própria organização. Este estudo apresenta como objectivo principal averiguar o conhecimento, o envolvimento e quais as necessidades sentidas, na perspectiva dos enfermeiros, no âmbito da comunicação organizacional, de modo a melhorar a comunicação na organização de saúde, de forma a promover uma gestão de qualidade, garantindo uma subsequente imagem global de excelência. A investigação empírica analisou de forma sistemática informação relevante na área da qualidade, da comunicação organizacional e da inovação. Assim, aplicou-se um inquérito por questionário, fundamentado nos princípios de autores como Deming (1986); Chiavenato (2004); Druker (2000); Biscaia (2000) e Jeffries, (1992), junto dos enfermeiros do Hospital CUF Infante Santo. Com a realização de uma investigação exploratório-descritiva coloca-se a tónica na definição de conceitos e na descrição de factores, através de uma abordagem híbrida qualitativa e quantitativa, foi possível empreender-se o estudo e edificar-se os resultados, que permitem fazer uma caracterização de um conjunto de necessidades a colmatar no âmbito da comunicação interna e verificar a receptividade a inovações de forma a conseguir um maior envolvimento, formação e adesão dos enfermeiros nas políticas de qualidade. As conclusões apuradas levaram à apresentação da indispensabilidade de um envolvimento dos enfermeiros na gestão organizacional ao nível das políticas de qualidade e dos processos de melhoria contínua, observando a emergência de necessidades comunicacionais, nomeadamente a intranet, numa atitude afirmativa de imposição deste canal como um importante facilitador, desde que adaptado à realidade da organização. ABSTRACT: This dissertation discusses the increasing demand for quality in health organizations, which should be seen as a management and change tool, and the intrinsic need of a better and wider communication network, which is required for the transmission of information and knowledge, in a society that is at an atrocious speed constantly changing and developing. ln this sense, the theme in study assumes particular importance in the current context, thus only the quality represents the guarantee of the continuation and existence of the organization opening the way to organizational efficiency and effectiveness and of interest to the institution, as by part of the perception knowledge of the nurses, which in the health organization are directly and proportionately related to the client’s satisfaction. The nurses ensure the maintenance of the quality standards, that the organization aims to reach and communicate, being fundamental in the global image transmitted, and consequently, in the creation of value for the organization itself. The study presents as main objective the investigation of knowledge, the involvement and which necessities needed and felt, in the nurses' perspective, within the organizational communication, as to better the communication within the health organization, in such a way to promote the quality management, guaranteeing a subsequent global image of excellence. The empirical research analyzed in systematic way information relevant in the area of quality, of the organizational communication and innovation. Thus, a survey questionnaire was applied, based on the principles of authors such as Deming (1986); Chiavenato (2004); Druker (2000); Biscaia (2000) e Jeffries, (1992), among nurses of the Infante Santo CUF Hospital. With the completion of an exploratory-descriptive research, the emphasis was put on the concepts definition and the factors description, through a quality and quantity hybrid approach, it was possible to carry out the study and edify the results, which permit in the making of a characterization of a group or set of necessities to cover in the internal communication ambit and verify the acceptability to innovations so that a greater involvement be achieved, training and adherence of the nurses in the quality policies. The conclusions reached led to the presentation of the indispensability of an involvement of the nurses in the organizational management at the level of the quality policies and the processes for continuous improvement, observing the emergency of communication needs, namely the intranet, in an affirmative attitude of imposition of this channel such as an important facilitator, as long as ifs adapted to the reality of the organization.

Experiencia de la Escuela de Bibliotecología, Documentación e Información en el Desarrollo de Bases de Datos con el Programa Computacional Microisis Versión 3.0

En el campo bibliotecológico para desarrollar instrumentos de trabajo que nos permitan comunicarnos con las demás unidades y clientes de información, debemos pensar en normalizar nuestros procesos.Normalizar, en el sentido más amplio, significa seguir reglas que hagan un registro uniforme en cualquier lugar del mundo. Esto se logra mediante la aplicación de códigos y normas que han sido aceptadas internacionalmente por los organismos creados para este fin.El valor de la normalización estriba en evitar la duplicación de los esfuerzos de la catalogación en las diferentes unidades de información documental y facilitar el intercambio de datos bibliográficos tan pronto como sea posible. También, cosiste en darle al cliente la posibilidad de localizar la información en un a forma homogénea que obvie las barreras idiomáticas.

Arquitectura flotante. Propuesta de intervención y mantenimiento de las edificaciones flotantes en madera del Río Babahoyo

Alrededor del mundo se han identificado al menos dos maneras de habitar sobre el agua, las cuales difieren entre si principalmente por el sistema constructivo y tipo de movilidad: i) viviendas sobre pilotes y, ii) viviendas flotantes. Las viviendas flotantes, son también llamadas casas botes o vivienda anfibia, dependiendo del contexto territorial de estudio.En la actualidad la vivienda flotante, tiene plena vigencia tanto en países considerados desarrollados, como en vías de desarrollo. Presenta una variedad de tipologías, sistemas constructivos, materiales, donde la creatividad, manifestaciones culturales, avances tecnológicos y condiciones ambientales han condicionado las formas arquitectónicas resultantes. En Ecuador las viviendas flotantes emplazadas sobre el río Babahoyo han sido construidas de manera irregular (en términos legales), con un sistema artesanal predominante, donde se observan problemáticas sociales y de salubridad entre sus ocupantes.A pesar de ser un caso único en el país, y de interés arquitectónico, paisajístico y cultural, estas edificaciones se han visto afectadas por inadecuadas intervenciones de reparación y/o mantenimiento por parte de sus ocupantes. En este sentido, sepresenta una propuesta de intervención para las viviendas flotantes de Babahoyo, que supera los problemas actuales identificados en relación a la práctica constructiva e integra estrategias para mejorar las condiciones de confort interior. El documento contempla una primera aproximación al origen y evolución de la vivienda flotante en el contexto internacional y local, para luego presentar un análisis de la vivienda flotante en Babahoyo, identificando los factores de deterioro de los componentes constructivos y evaluando el confort interior bajo cuatro parámetros de análisis: radiación, iluminación, temperatura y CO2. Finalmente, se definenestrategias de intervención que mejoran la práctica constructiva y aproximan a las temperaturas óptimas para garantizar el confort interior dentro de estas edificaciones.

Traditional games are recovered from generation to generation

Communities, neighborhoods, and other environments are currently immersed in a series of situations and problems that have favored the deterioration of social, cultural and spiritual values, which are essential for harmony with oneself, others, and the environment. Stereotypes have captured minds and settings have been reduced to indoor spaces, hemmed in by security bars and protective devices.  Peace, fraternity and happiness are diminishing.  It is at this point that the social, spiritual and professional work of specialists in the recreational field contributes to rescue and restructure society. Traditional games and singing games are then the tools used to facilitate relationships, contribute to the learning process, and exhibit skills.  They are fundamental in a person’s life since they are a social and cultural expression of how humans have adapted to their environment (Maestro, 2005).  They do not take ethnicity, age, sex or social conditions into consideration.  Traditional games are also a way of promoting health, improving motor, cognitive and emotional skills and a means of encouraging creativity and imagination and developing a sense of rhythm.  Their goal is to attain a state of personal well-being.  They are a way to release tension and accumulated energy and to get away from the daily routine.  They represent a bridge to learn about oneself, the environment, values, habits, and traditions. In this document, readers will learn how traditional games are transmitted, what their characteristics are, why they are an important tool in today’s society, how they are prepared, and how they can be revived and preserved.

Probability and Common-Sense: Tandem Towards Robust Robotic Object Recognition in Ambient Assisted Living

The suitable operation of mobile robots when providing Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) services calls for robust object recognition capabilities. Probabilistic Graphical Models (PGMs) have become the de-facto choice in recognition systems aiming to e ciently exploit contextual relations among objects, also dealing with the uncertainty inherent to the robot workspace. However, these models can perform in an inco herent way when operating in a long-term fashion out of the laboratory, e.g. while recognizing objects in peculiar con gurations or belonging to new types. In this work we propose a recognition system that resorts to PGMs and common-sense knowledge, represented in the form of an ontology, to detect those inconsistencies and learn from them. The utilization of the ontology carries additional advantages, e.g. the possibility to verbalize the robot's knowledge. A primary demonstration of the system capabilities has been carried out with very promising results.

Developing a primary care patient measure of safety (PC PMOS): a modified Delphi process and face validity testing

BACKGROUND: Patients are a valuable source of information about ways to prevent harm in primary care and are in a unique position to provide feedback about the factors that contribute to safety incidents. Unlike in the hospital setting, there are currently no tools that allow the systematic capture of this information from patients. The aim of this study was to develop a quantitative primary care patient measure of safety (PC PMOS). METHODS: A two-stage approach was undertaken to develop questionnaire domains and items. Stage 1 involved a modified Delphi process. An expert panel reached consensus on domains and items based on three sources of information (validated hospital PMOS, previous research conducted by our study team and literature on threats to patient safety). Stage 2 involved testing the face validity of the questionnaire developed during stage 1 with patients and primary care staff using the 'think aloud' method. Following this process, the questionnaire was revised accordingly. RESULTS: The PC PMOS was received positively by both patients and staff during face validity testing. Barriers to completion included the length, relevance and clarity of questions. The final PC PMOS consisted of 50 items across 15 domains. The contributory factors to safety incidents centred on communication, access to care, patient-related factors, organisation and care planning, task performance and information flow. DISCUSSION: This is the first tool specifically designed for primary care settings, which allows patients to provide feedback about factors contributing to potential safety incidents. The PC PMOS provides a way for primary care organisations to learn about safety from the patient perspective and make service improvements with the aim of reducing harm in this setting. Future research will explore the reliability and construct validity of the PC PMOS.

Developing career aspirations of information technology students at Deakin University

It is important for students to develop informed and realistic career aspirations to gain the most value from their university studies towards achieving their initial career goals. However developing students’ career aspirations, goals, and expectations is a complex and discipline-specific process. In Information Technology (IT) no clear career development framework is evident in the literature. Recent research in Australia argues that electronic portfolios are a useful way for students to develop, articulate and document career objectives to enhance their employability. IT students at Deakin engage in formal training and assessment with respect to developing their professional skills and career understandings. Currently electronic portfolios feature as a useful method for evidencing professional competencies for employability. Through a combined quantitative and qualitative analysis of 306 students’ articulated current career aspirations, qualitative analysis of 7 staff opinions of desired student career competencies, and a quantitative analysis of 28 students’ current work personality traits assessments (Work Personality Index), this work presents an analysis of the current state of IT students’ career development. The results indicate that while students reported short-term career aspirations, navigating to their long-term career goals is going to require addressing difficult barriers such as confidence (self-perception) and motivation. This research will influence a larger program-wide endeavour to build student career competencies for employability in IT at Deakin University.

Considering Aboriginal palliative care models: the challenges for mainstream services

This review discusses palliative care and end-of-life models of care for Aboriginal people in the Australian state New South Wales, and considers Aboriginal palliative care needs by reflecting on recent literature and lessons derived from Aboriginal consultation. Aboriginal people in Australia account for a very small proportion of the population, have poorer health outcomes and their culture demonstrates a clear resistance to accessing mainstream health services which are viewed as powerful, isolating and not relevant to their culture, way of life, family and belief systems. Aboriginal people regard their land as spiritual and their culture dictates that an Aboriginal person needs to know their origins, emphasising the value placed on kin and also demonstrating a strong desire to remain within their own country. Currently Aboriginal people tend to not access palliative care services in mainstream facilities; and there is very little data on Aboriginal admissions to palliative care centres. Over the last two decades only two models of palliative care focusing on and developed in Aboriginal communities have been implemented. The seminal contribution to Aboriginal Palliative Care was in the form of a resource kit developed to support palliative care providers to examine their practice for cultural appropriateness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The "living model" coming from this project is adaptive and flexible, enabling implementation in different Aboriginal country as a participative process with community input. The Australian government"s National Indigenous Palliative Care Needs Study similarly indicated that Australian empirical research on Aboriginal palliative care service provision is in its infancy, and comprehensive data on the rates of Aboriginal access to palliative care services did not exist. What literature does exist is drawn together in an argument for the development and need for culturally specific Aboriginal palliative care models, which are culturally appropriate, locally accessible and delivered in collaboration and partnership with Aboriginal controlled health services. This is essential because Aboriginal people are a minority cultural group who are disconnected from mainstream health service delivery, and have a sense of cultural isolation when accessing mainstream services. It is preferable that palliative care is delivered in a collaboration between Aboriginal Controlled Health Service and mainstream palliative care services to ensure a dignified end of life for the Aboriginal person. These collaborations and partnerships are fundamental to ensure that a critical mass of Aboriginal clinicians are trained and experienced in end of life care and palliation. Developing palliative care programs within Aboriginal communities and training Aboriginal Health Workers, promoted and developed in partnership with the Aboriginal community, are important strategies to enhance palliative care service provision. Further partnerships should be championed in this collaborative process, acknowledging a need for palliative care models that fit with Aboriginal peoples" community values, beliefs, cultural/ spiritual rituals, heritage and place.

Challenges for developing EAP practice in anglophone contexts

English for academic purposes (EAP), the academically-focused branch of English for specific purposes (Johns & Dudley-Evans, 1991), aims to facilitate learners’ participation in the English language academic community (Hyland & Hamp-Lyons,2002; Prosser, 1994). The EAP sector has expanded rapidly in recent years (Liyanage & Walker, 2014b) and now plays a significant role within Anglophone and non-Anglophone higher education contexts (Ashraf, Hakim, & Zulfiqar, 2014; Basturkmen, 2012; Kafle, 2014). Global trends which associate English and the West with educational prestige (Kubota & Lehner, 2004), assigning them a “perceived superiority” (Liyanage & Walker, 2014b, p. 165) over other languages and educational paradigms, have led considerable numbers of students to undertake English-medium higher education (Brown, 2014; Doiz, Lasagabaster, & Sierra, 2013; Kim, Tatar, & Choi, 2014). These developments have cemented the international status of the language, which has also has become the global medium for academic communication and a lingua franca in general (Hyland & Hamp-Lyons, 2002; Jenkins, 2011; Seidlhofer, 2005). Increased student mobility and preferences for English-medium education have been of particular economic significance to Britain, Australasia and North America, referred to as the BANA nations, which have experienced a boost in overseas enrolments (Andrade, 2006; Saw, Abbott, Donaghey, & McDonald, 2013; Terraschke & Wahid, 2011). Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom are amongst the countries with the highest proportion of international tertiary enrolments globally (OECD, 2014), and the United States and Canada also host a significant number of overseas students (Choudaha & Chang, 2012; Siddiq, Nethercote, Lye, & Baroni, 2012).

It ain't just what you do and the way that you do it: why discourse matters in higher education communities of practice

A number of Australian universities have established and sponsored interdisciplinary communities of practice (CoPs) to develop teaching and learning. CoPs are popularly defined as groups of people who share a passion for something and, together, learn how to do it better. Without further specification, this definition is of limited use in understanding intentionally established CoPs in higher education settings. The term CoP is used and applied in a range of ways in higher education and has been accompanied by some scholarly debate about the meaning and relevance of CoPs to academe. The prevalent response to such debate has been to propose typologies. While typology can be useful, epistemology and discourse are also significant in understanding and developing higher education CoPs. In this paper I focus on discourse surrounding CoPs as a conceptual and developmental factor which has been insufficiently considered in the literature on higher education CoPs. I draw on findings from interviews with 33 CoP members and facilitators in three Australian universities. My findings indicate that discourse surrounding CoPs is significant in shaping notions of participatory value. Connecting with the literature, my findings also reveal a ‘big D’ Discourse of collegiality whereby CoPs offer social support and knowledge sharing to build capacity, as well as spaces in which a collegial academic identity can thrive. This coincides in complex and unpredictable ways with a Discourse of managerialism. I conclude that discourse should supplement typology and epistemology in adaptively shaping understandings of contemporary higher education CoPs and their future development.