Student stress and quality of education

Today, managers are increasingly interested in knowing how the work in organizations aftects employees' health. Less common is the interest in stress erupting in the academic community - among students, faculty and administrators. The authors present a reflection paper focused on student stress. In this paper, they first examine McLean 's model of context, vulnerability and stressors. This model provides the framework for the student surveys and for the entire paper. Based on the students surveys, an assessment is made of how asma" group of students are coping with stress. The paper fina"y suggests what can be done by students, faculty, and administrators to insta" and/or improve social support systems that might reduce the harmful eftects of stress on students and thus impact the quality of education.

The undergraduate level (1st study cycle) as a fundamental platform/standard for the development of Urban and Regional Planning in higher education programs

LUDA is a research project of Key Action 4 "City of Tomorrow & Cultural Heritage" of the programme "Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development" within the Fifth Framework Programme of the European Commission

Continuing and life-long education for Social Work

Pretende defender que a educação contínua e ao longo da vida para o Serviço Social deve levar em conta os caminhos e as perspectivas que ultrapassam a arena da profissão do assistente social, e essa educação deve dialogar com os avanços nas vidas e nos trabalhos profissionais. Os assistentes sociais podem desta maneira moverem-se entre a prática, a gestão, a política profissional e a educação. Desde a experiência pré-qualificadora até à reforma, a avaliação e a supervisão podem ajudar a desenvolver caminhos profissionais e planos de educação relevantes. O exemplo deste processo de educação contínua multiprofissional em St. Christopher’s Hospice London pode ajudar a compreender como as pessoas podem desenvolver-se como pessoas e nos seus projectos profissionais.

Higher education of tourism in Spain and its adaptation to the European higher education area

The international tourism system has deeply undergone structural changes in the last decades which not remain outside the subsystem higher education in tourism, especially in the European case. This article has two objectives: firstly, describes the European higher education area and the objectives, skills and subjects taught in the main Spanish universities that offer higher education in tourism. On the other hand, in the light of knowledge that researchers' descriptive models, provide experience of the implementation of European credit and thorough a deeply review of the literature on the topic higher education in tourism, to propose strategies that will enable other tourism higher education systems approach to the European reality. These policy proposals are aimed at agents and elements from higher education in tourism subsystem and they specifically include: the institutions providing education in tourism, the curriculum, the teaching methods, teachers and students.

What factors of satisfaction and motivation are affecting the development of the academic career in Portuguese higher education institutions?

An important constituent group and a key resource of higher education institutions (HEIs) is the faculty or academic staff. The centrality of the faculty role makes it a primary sculptor of institutional culture and has implications for the quality of the institution and therefore has a major role in achieving the objectives of the institution. Demand for academic staff in higher education has been increasing and may be expected to continue to increase. Moreover the performance of academic staff as teachers and researchers determines much of the student satisfaction and has an impact on student learning. There are many factors that serve to undermine the commitment of academics to their institutions and careers. Job satisfaction is important in revitalizing staff motivation and in keeping their enthusiasm alive. Well motivated academic staff can, with appropriate support, build a national and international reputation for themselves and the institution in the professional areas, in research and in publishing. This paper aims to identify the issues and their impacts on academic staff job satisfaction and motivation within Portuguese higher education institutions reporting an ongoing study financed by the European Union through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology.

Aprendizagem Cooperativa : um contributo para a diferenciação pedagógica inclusiva

A dissertação incidiu na diferenciação pedagógica inclusiva, especificamente, num grupo/turma com diferentes anos de escolaridade, com aprendizagens diferentes, e alunos com Necessidades Educativas Especiais (NEE) de índole comportamental e cognitivo, tendo como objectivo constituir alternativa ao problema. As professoras titulares de turma e de educação especial, em cooperação, planificaram e implementaram este estudo, cujo ponto de partida consistia em promover o desenvolvimento pessoal e social, tendo por base um livro pertencente ao Plano Nacional de Leitura (PNL). Foram desenvolvidas estruturas cooperativas de forma a melhorar comportamentos e aprendizagens em todos os alunos e em especial dos alunos com NEE. Neste processo de observação e reflexão, a experiência foi conceptualizada e analisada com o objectivo de contribuir para a mudança. A análise de dados do trabalho individual e de grupo dos alunos, onde se inferiu uma maior ajuda, autonomia, responsabilidade, envolvimento e interesse, pelas actividades, permitiu-nos verificar que os objectivos foram alcançados na sua maioria O estudo permitiu evidenciar a diminuição de conflitos comportamentais, contribuindo para um clima de entreajuda englobando todos os alunos, onde a partilha de conhecimentos coadjuvou para melhorar as aprendizagens de todos.

Ultrapassando as dificuldades da dislexia através da arte

Resumo: A intervenção em crianças disléxicas nem sempre é fácil uma vez que, à partida, serão crianças desmotivadas por insucessos repetidos, complexos de inferioridade, timidez, baixa autoconfiança e auto-estima, com pouca capacidade de atenção e concentração. A família, a escola e a sociedade em geral têm um papel decisivo, não deverão exigir nem impor metas complicadas, adaptando sempre uma postura de compreensão da criança. A criança disléxica aprende num ritmo diferente, como tal, precisa que a escola adeqúe as suas práticas educativas tendo em conta as suas características e especificidades. Pretende-se com este trabalho aprofundar conhecimentos sobre a temática da dislexia e sua aplicação, dentro da sala de aula, na disciplina Educação Visual e Tecnológica, numa turma do 2º Ciclo do Ensino Básico que inclui uma aluna considerada disléxica. Começámos por caracterizar a turma, a aluna e os contextos envolventes em que as mesmas se inserem, seguidamente fez-se uma intervenção estruturada, a longo e curto prazo, numa dinâmica de planificação, acção e reflexão, numa perspectiva de educação inclusiva, com práticas educativas cooperativas e diferenciadas. Ao longo das sessões de trabalho, a turma teve a oportunidade de se manifestar nas assembleias de turma, na negociação das actividades, de trabalhar em pares, em grande e pequeno grupo, criando desta forma um clima de inter-ajuda e de cooperação na sala de aula, funcionando com as duas professoras da disciplina, partilhando momentos de aprendizagem e socialização de saberes. A aluna considerada disléxica passou a interagir na turma com os colegas, de forma positiva, e estes com ela. As suas dificuldades foram superadas com a ajuda dos colegas, partilhando os seus saberes, dúvidas e experiências. Foi uma experiência positiva para o grupo, para a aluna e para as professoras da turma. Abstract: The intervention in dyslexic children is not always easy from the start, a priori, children will be discouraged by repeated failures, inferiority complexes, shyness, low selfconfidence and self- esteem, with little attention span and concentration. The family, school and society in general have a decisive role, should not require or impose complicated goals, always adapting an attitude of understanding of the child. The dyslexic children learn at a different pace, as such, requires the school to adjust its educational practices in view of their characteristics and specificities. The aim of this work to deepen knowledge on the subject of dyslexia and its application in the classroom, Visual and Technological Education as the subject, in a class of the 2nd Cycle of Basic Education that includes a student considered dyslexic. We have began by characterizing the class, the student and the surrounding contexts in which they are involved, then became a structured intervention in the long and short term, in order of creating a dynamic planning, action and reflection, with a inclusive education perspective, with cooperative practical education and differentiated. During the work seasons, the class had the opportunity to express themselves in class meetings, the negotiation activities, working in pairs, in large and small groups, thus creating a climate of mutual help and cooperation in the classroom, working with two teachers of the subject, sharing moments of learning and socialization of knowledge. The student consider as dyslexic has started to interact in the class with the colleagues in a positive way, and they with her. Their difficulties were overcome with the help of colleagues, sharing their knowledge, doubts and experiences. It was a positive experience for the group, to the student and the teachers of the class.

Colmatando as dificuldades especificas do grupo e com o grupo no jardim de infância

RESUMO: Este trabalho é um relatório de um projecto de investigação-acção, no âmbito do Mestrado em Ciências da Educação - Educação Especial: domínio cognitivo e motor. É um trabalho de investigação que pretendeu implicar os vários intervenientes educativos e os próprios pares no desenvolvimento de uma criança, em idade pré-escolar, com atraso global do desenvolvimento e com problemas acentuados ao nível da linguagem, em contexto de sala de aula. Este trabalho foi realizado pela educadora da sala da aula. É um projecto que pretendeu promover o desenvolvimento da linguagem, através de um sistema de comunicação aumentativa, vocabulário Makaton. Este vocabulário foi utilizado por nós e pelas crianças do grupo em sala de aula, pela professora de educação especial, pelos técnicos que dão apoio à criança e pela família da referida criança. Pretendeu-se assim, promover o diálogo, a partilha de conhecimentos e os espaços escolares, entre os vários intervenientes educativos; professores, técnicos e família, com o intuito de desenvolver um trabalho assente em respostas inclusivas dirigidas à criança, aos seus pares e à sua família. Da partilha de conhecimentos e opiniões, resultou um trabalho para o grupo e com o grupo do jardim de infância. ABSTRACT:This work is one report of an action research project within the Master’s Degree in Educational Sciences - Special Education: motor and cognitive domain. It is a research project that seeks to highlight the role of the educational actors in the development of a child in preschool, with global developmental delay, with problems more pronounced at the level of language, in the context of the classroom. This work was carried out by the educator's classroom is a project that aims to promote language development through an augmentative communication system, Makaton vocabulary. This vocabulary was used by us and by the group of children in the classroom, the teacher of special education, by giving technical support to the child and the family of that child. It was intended thus to promote dialogue, knowledge sharing and school spaces between the various educational actors, teachers, coaches and family in order to develop a work based on inclusive responses directed to the child, their peers and his family . Sharing knowledge and opinions resulted in a job for the group and the group of kindergarten.

Health education: the role and functions of the specialist and the generalist

Education for health is a process in which all public health and medical care personnel are involved. People learn both formally (planned learning experiences) and informally (unplanned learning experiences). Since the patient, the client, the consummer and the community expect public health and medical care personnel to assist them with health and disease issues and problems, the response of the professional "educates" the customer whether the professional intends to educate or not. Therefore, it is incumbent on all public health and medical care professionals to understand their educational functions and their role in health education. It is also important that the role of the specialist in education be clear. The specialist, as to all other specialists, has an in-depth knowledge of his area of expertise, i.e., the teaching/learning process; s/he may function as a consultant to others to enhance the educational potential of their role or s/he may work with a team or with communities or groups of patients. Specific competencies and knowledge are required of the health education specialist; and there is a body of learning and social change theory which provides a frame of reference for planning, implementing and evaluating educational programs. Working with others to enhance their potential to learn and to make informed decisions about health/disease issues is the hallmark of the health education specialist.

Policies for decentralization and development of health education

How the policy of action and professional standards have influenced the development and decentralization of health education is discussed. It is concluded that a review of policies both of developing as well as of developed countries could help to put some observations into a perspective that is closer to the Brazilian reality.

O e-portefólio como instrumento de avaliação de desempenho e veículo de partilha entre os professores do ensino básico

O tema da avaliação de desempenho dos professores continua a ser um tema muito presente no dia-a-dia de uma escola. O atual modelo de avaliação veio revolucionar o meio e acabou por trazer com ele o descontentamento dos professores. Face a este descontentamento, procurámos, investigar a exequibilidade de um novo instrumento de avaliação: o e-portefólio. Assim, o foco deste estudo de caso centra-se em estudar a praticabilidade da utilização de um instrumento de avaliação alternativo, o e-portfólio, enquanto instrumento de partilha entre os docentes e possível instrumento de avaliação de desempenho. Para o efeito desenvolvemos um estudo de natureza qualitativa, tendo realizado entrevistas semiestruturadas a um conjunto de professores do ensino básico, e posteriormente procedido à sua análise de conteúdo. Da análise e interpretação dos resultados concluímos que os docentes consideram que a partilha de materiais, através de e-portefólios, veio facilitar a vida dos professores e que estes assumem-se como um auxílio precioso e vantajoso no dia-a-dia dos docentes. Concluímos, também, que o e-portefólio poderá ser um possível instrumento de avaliação a adotar, desde que rigorosa e criteriosamente utilizado, uma vez que poderá estar bem visível parte do trabalho que os professores realizam. Os dados alertam, ainda, para a necessidade de uma reflexão, por parte da tutela, para a constante falta de tempo e excesso de burocracias mencionadas pelos professores.

Utilization of Interactive Internet in High Education

The present work reports on the practical cooperation between two Universities from Hungary and Portugal. Students from Portugal are remotely accessing an experimental facility, which is physically in Hungary. The cooperation among these Higher Education establishments allowed the development and testing of a Remote Laboratory at the BME. This paper reports on the characteristics and initial testing of the Thermocouples Rise Time Measurement System and provides information on development and students' feedback.

e-learning in the classroom?

As teachers, we are challenged everyday to solve pedagogical problems and we have to fight for our students’ attention in a media rich world. I will talk about how we use ICT in Initial Teacher Training and give you some insight on what we are doing. The most important benefit of using ICT in education is that it makes us reflect on our practice. There is no doubt that our classrooms need to be updated, but we need to be critical about every peace of hardware, software or service that we bring into them. It is not only because our budgets are short, but also because e‐learning is primarily about learning, not technology. Therefore, we need to have the knowledge and skills required to act in different situations, and choose the best tool for the job. Not all subjects are suitable for e‐learning, nor do all students have the skills to organize themselves their own study times. Also not all teachers want to spend time programming or learning about instructional design and metadata. The promised land of easy use of authoring tools (e.g. eXe and Reload) that will lead to all teachers become Learning Objects authors and share these LO in Repositories, all this failed, like previously HyperCard, Toolbook and others. We need to know a little bit of many different technologies so we can mobilize this knowledge when a situation requires it: integrate e‐learning technologies in the classroom, not a flipped classroom, just simple tools. Lecture capture, mobile phones and smartphones, pocket size camcorders, VoIP, VLE, live video broadcast, screen sharing, free services for collaborative work, save, share and sync your files. Do not feel stressed to use everything, every time. Just because we have a whiteboard does not mean we have to make it the centre of the classroom. Start from where you are, with your preferred subject and the tools you master. Them go slowly and try some new tool in a non‐formal situation and with just one or two students. And you don’t need to be alone: subscribe a mailing list and share your thoughts with other teachers in a dedicated forum, even better if both are part of a community of practice, and share resources. We did that for music teachers and it was a success, in two years arriving at 1.000 members. Just do it.