Determining factors of the innovative behavior of cooperatives: an analysis of the case of Castilla y León

Cooperatives have a long historical experience in the Spanish economy and have demonstrated their ability to compete against traditional firms in the market. To maintain this capability, while taking advantage of the competitive advantages associated with their idiosyncrasies as social economy enterprises, they should take into consideration that the economy is increasingly globalized and increasingly knowledge-based, especially with regards to technological content. As a consequence, the innovative capacity appears to be a key aspect in order to be able to challenge competitors. This article characterizes the innovative behavior of cooperatives in the region of Castile and Leon and analyses the internal and external factors affecting their innovative performance, based on data from a survey of 581 cooperatives. The results of the empirical analysis, which is performed by multivariate binary logistic regression on various types of innovation, lead us to identify the size of the organizations, the existence of planning, the R & D activities and the human capital as the main determining factors.

Project evaluation SOU-estuTUtor: mentors’ perception

The introduction of new degrees in the Faculty of Education and the relevance of educational guidance comes to them, as a compulsory subject in all four grades started from 2009-2010, gives the opportunity to return and boost the University Guidance Service (UGS) as a means of consistency with the profile of their education and professional development of its students. The aim of the paper focuses on the evaluation of the results after the first year of implementing a peer mentoring project, SOU-estuTUtor Project, developed from UGS with all degree students of the Faculty of Education for Students new entrants. Program has been evaluated through the perception and satisfaction of the mentors on the organization, training, skills developed and adapted to the needs of students. After one academic year of implementation, the results show, on the one hand, the satisfaction and commitment of those involved and the partial response to the needs of the students served, as well as the optimization of the personal resources of the university but also some limitations that make it necessary to review the mentoring program in terms of control and duration of the process.

Continuous assessment activities - correlation with final exam grades and effect on final grades. A business studies experience

In this paper we analyze the partial grades – of continuous assessment activities including the final exam – and the final grades – computed as a weighted average of partial grades – for nine subjects taught in the third year of Business Administration Degree. On one hand, results show that there is a significant positive correlation between the grades of continuous assessment activities (excluded the final exam) and final exam in seven subjects. On the other hand, overall we find that students’ grades in continuous assessment activities (excluded the final exam) help in the improvement of their final grades (i.e., students’ final grades exceed the grades that they would obtain by only taking into account their final exam grades). The results are consistent when the analysis is carried out over each subject area as well as over the grades of the students who registered for the nine subjects.

Predictors of attitudes toward inclusion of students with special educational needs in future education professionals

One of the main pillars in the development of inclusive schools is the initial teacher training. Before determining if it is necessary to make changes (and of what type) in training programs or curriculum guides related to the attention to diversity and inclusive education, the attitudes of future education professionals in this area should be analyzed. This includes the identification of the relevant predictors of inclusive attitudes. The research reported in this article pursued this objective, doing so with a quantitative survey methodology based on the use of cross-sectional structured data collection and statistical analyses related to the quality of the attitude questionnaire (factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha), descriptive statistics, correlations, hypothesis tests for difference of means, and regression analysis in order to predict attitudes towards inclusion in education. Firstly, the results show that the participants held very positive attitudes toward the inclusion of students with special educational needs. Particularly, older respondents, those with a longer training and, to a lesser extent, women and those who had been in touch with disabled people stood out within this attitude. Secondly, it is evidenced that self-transcendence values ​and, more weakly, contact, function as robust predictors of attitudes of future practitioners towards the inclusion of students with special needs. Some applications for the initial professionalization of educators are suggested in the discussion.

Revisión sistemática de la producción española sobre rendimiento académico entre 1980 y 2011

El bajo rendimiento académico sigue siendo un problema de investigación de gran impacto social. Sin embargo, los resultados científicos no están teniendo repercusión en la mejora, ni en las políticas educativas. En este trabajo nos propusimos identificar, ordenar, analizar y extraer conclusiones sobre la producción española sobre rendimiento académico, con el fin de visualizarla y derivar problemas futuros objeto de investigación. Para ello se llevó a cabo un estudio de revisión en seis etapas, en el que se combinaron procedimientos metodológicos de investigación de síntesis y de investigación bibliométrica. Se identificaron las publicaciones en cuatro bases de datos españolas; posteriormente se analizaron y codificaron los datos extraídos alrededor de nueve indicadores: título, año, tipo de documento, editorial, autor, número autores, institución, comunidad autónoma y tema. Los resultados muestran una producción constante y creciente (1595 referencias), pero dispersa, tanto por el inmenso número de autores que publican, la mayoría con un solo trabajo, como por los lugares donde publican. Las temáticas más tratadas se refieren en primer lugar a modelos explicativos, diagnóstico y tratamiento; en segundo lugar se abordan los factores y variables determinantes del bajo y alto rendimiento académico; en tercer lugar se desarrollan estudios sobre legislación y de otras variables psicológicas y educativas en relación con el rendimiento. Este estudio supone una aproximación sintetizada de la producción sobre rendimiento académico en España, y un primer paso para investigaciones de síntesis posteriores, que nos permitan identificar buenas prácticas para el ejercicio de “prácticas basadas en la evidencia”, y otros problemas de investigación.

Pupil participation in school life: an approach from the educational community

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC, 1989) is currently the most ratified international treaty. Several authors have highlighted its potential for both a moral education and citizenship. However, paradoxically, different studies report its limited or occasional incorporation into school practices. This article explores experiences of participation in schools,the third P of the CRC, from the plurality of voices and actors of the educational community,by means of 14 discussion groups in 11 autonomous communities in Spain. Discourse analysis evidence low levels of student participation in school life. But, at the same time, a favorable educational environment for the development of projects that contribute to child participation is found, as well as for the incorporation of the CRC as a mover and a referential integrator of the different schools projects. However, it is also an educational background conductive to projects for its development, such as the incorporation of the CRC as a referential integrator of the schools projects.

Social Networks Usage Profile: Descriptive study with students in the University of Murcia

Telematic tools are very important for our lives in the present era and moreover this idea is made more evident if we analyse young people behaviours. However, it seems that the possibilities that these tools allow subjects from a professional point of view, beyond the purely playful aspects, are still not fully exploited both by subjects, neither by educational institutions where they learn. Our work studies the uses of social media in the context of university students. In order to this we have designed a research based on quantitative methodology with a survey. We have applied a questionnaire to students in the University of Murcia. The questionnaire was answered by 487 students in the first half of 2014. The survey results confirm our hypothesis that social networks are part of the basic and habitual tools of communication between the youth of our university and eminently used for leisure purposes, and that the tools used for more academic activities are those allowing greater control of privacy.

La perpetua reinvención de la identidad de los géneros en el baile flamenco

In the case of this study about flamenco dance, it is spotlighted how the matter of genders is a recurrent topic and a challenge in terms of creativity. Flamenco is in a perpetual search of a balance between tradition and contemporarily. Circumstance in which it was born, make this search and this constant mutation as part of its essence. When in a performance the representation of man and woman parts are modified according to the “traditional idea”, it brings up existential questions. Flamenco dance, like all the other contemporary forms of dance, reflects its context, contributes to its innovation and interacts with it. It is a social act.

Approaches of the Action Art in early childhood Education. Some other ways of interrelation within the educational system

This Artistic research project was created in order to test how to put into practice approaches between Contemporary Art and University daily life. In this particular case, between Action Art and the students at the Early Childhood Education University in Alicante. The generalized lack of awareness about changes which took place in Art in the XX century, demonstrates the lack of interest on the part of students about Contemporary Art, and therefore, it is still remarkable, the distance between Art and life. Thus, as artists and teachers, the chance to carry out specific experiments is open within everyday educational life. Therefore, through Action Art a communicative interaction is possible to be achieved as an active learning process and, in such way, change the usual existing relationships in a predetermine context, creating this way, future Contemporary Art consumers and transmitters.

The use of cues for attention in ancient Greek art: aspects that influence concentration in the work of art and its elements

The goal of this study is to identify cues for the cognitive process of attention in ancient Greek art, aiming to find confirmation of its possible use by ancient Greek audiences and artists. Evidence of cues that trigger attention’s psychological dispositions was searched through content analysis of image reproductions of ancient Greek sculpture and fine vase painting from the archaic to the Hellenistic period - ca. 7th -1st cent. BC. Through this analysis, it was possible to observe the presence of cues that trigger orientation to the work of art (i.e. amplification, contrast, emotional salience, simplification, symmetry), of a cue that triggers a disseminate attention to the parts of the work (i.e. distribution of elements) and of cues that activate selective attention to specific elements in the work of art (i.e. contrast of elements, salient color, central positioning of elements, composition regarding the flow of elements and significant objects). Results support the universality of those dispositions, probably connected with basic competencies that are hard-wired in the nervous system and in the cognitive processes.

Gestão de resíduos sólidos urbanos (RSU) em territórios rurais: caracterização, problemas e propostas de intervenção no concelho de Anadia

Num mundo cada vez mais industrializado e consumista, com assimetrias territoriais várias, a defesa dos valores ambientais assume uma progressiva importância, uma vez que a qualidade de vida passa também pela qualidade ambiental. Como os produtos gerados pelo consumo devem ter o confinamento correto em função das suas diversas componentes, a gestão do processo de deposição, recolha e transporte de RSU, fica mais complexa, à medida que a população e a área se diversifica e expande, como acontece em alguns territórios rurais, agravando os custos e os impactos ambientais induzidos, se não for equacionada uma solução simultaneamente eficaz e eficiente. Paralelamente urge a satisfação dos residentes e dos restantes utilizadores enquanto usuários desses territórios. Por este motivo, nos últimos anos, as autarquias têm vindo a estudar essas soluções nas suas áreas de jurisdição, tentando com as ações realizadas, respeitar não só os critérios de proteção ambiental, mas também as necessidades das pessoas. Neste trabalho apresentam-se algumas variáveis identificadas, como resultados de um estudo de caso aplicado a um município rural, Anadia, onde se evidencia a ausência de sensibilização e a carência de meios e processos que podem comprometer as metas ambientais e sociais desejadas. In a world, progressively more industrialized and consumer, with several territorial disparities, the protection of environmental values assumes an increasingly importance, since the quality of life also involves environmental quality. As the products generated by the consumption must have a correct confinement in its various components, the management of the deposition process, collection and transportation of municipal solid waste, is more complex, as the population and the area expand, as happens in some rural territories, increasing the cost and environmental impacts induced, if not equated a solution both effective and efficient. At the same time it is very important to increase the satisfaction of residents, visitors and tourists visiting these areas. For this reason, in the last years, the municipalities have been studying these solutions in their areas of jurisdiction. That is why they try to respect not only the criteria of environmental protection, but also the needs of people and fulfilled actions whose variables we shall try to present as a case study applied to a rural municipality, Anadia, where we show up that the absence of awareness and the lack of means and processes can compromise the desired environmental and social goals

Tecnologia vinagreira: desenvolvimento de novos produtos vinagreiros na ESAS

O vinagre é obtido por dupla fermentação alcoólica e acética de substâncias de origem agrícola, possuindo cada tipo um flavour particular, função dos substratos e tecnologia usados, mantendo gosto sui generis ácido. A sua aptidão tecnológica viabiliza o fabrico de múltiplos produtos, macerando especiarias, plantas, etc, conduzindo ao enriquecimento da matriz, cujo perfil químico ganha complexidade e novas características sensoriais/funcionais. A picklagem fresh pack é um processo alternativo de conservação em vinagre, sem fermentação. Com vinagres de fermentação submergida, desenvolveram-se na ESAS (2009-2013), dois vinagres e um vinagrete com adições e um pickles de frutos doces, articulando ensaios tecnológicos, laboratoriais e sensoriais. Concebidos como produtos gourmet, pretendeu-se oferecer inovação e conveniência. Além do longo tempo de vida de prateleira, evidencia-se: 1) no vinagre de vinho branco com mirtilo –a mais-valia de preservar o fruto inteiro, por efeito de picklagem; 2) no vinagre agridoce, de vinho tinto Touriga Nacional com mel e especiarias –uma tónica agridoce equilibrada e actual; 3) no vinagrete de laranja aromatizado –a complexidade aromática aliada à sensação de frescura na boca; 4) no pickles fresh pack de pera-abacaxi agridoce –novidade e dupla utilização: consumida a fruta, a infusão utiliza-se como vinagre de mesa (aptidão incomum em pickles).---Vinegar is obtained by double fermentation alcoholic and acetic of substances from agricultural origin, each type having one particular flavor, due to the technology and the substrates used, while maintaining sui generis acid taste. Its technological aptitude enables the manufacture of multiple products, macerating spices, plants, leading to the enrichment of the matrix whose chemical profile becomes increasingly complex with new sensory/functional characteristics. The fresh pack process is an alternative process of pickling, without fermentation. With submerged fermentation vinegar, two vinegars and a vinaigrette with additions and pickled sweet fruits were developed in ESAS (2009-2013), articulating technological, laboratory and sensory tests. Designed as gourmet products, intended to provide innovation and convenience. In addition to the long shelf life, stands out: 1) in white wine vinegar with blueberries – the added value of preserving the whole fruit by pickling effect, 2) in bittersweet red wine vinegar, Touriga Nacional with honey and spices – the sweet and sour taste, balanced and fashionable; 3) in flavored orange vinaigrette – the aromatic complexity coupled with the fresh sensation in the mouth, 4) in the fresh pack sweet and sour pickles with pear-pineapple – the innovation and dual-use: consumed the fruit, infusion is used as table vinegar (unusual application for pickles).

A influência da satisfação no trabalho no desempenho profissional um estudo de caso:as ajudantes de ação direta no Centro de Apoio Social da Carregueira

Dissertação, Mestrado, Gestão de Organizações de Economia Social, Instituto Politécnico de Santarém, Escola Superior de Gestão e Tecnologia, 2016

(Des)encontros com a realidade: a trajectória profissional dos licenciados em ensino básico : 1º ciclo formados pelas instituições de ensino superior público do Alentejo entre os anos de 2001 e 2003

A problemática que constitui o ponto de partida do presente estudo evidencia a importância de se conhecer e compreender a forma como se processa a inserção profissional dos recém-diplomados em Ensino Básico - 1º Ciclo. De entre distintas ópticas possíveis, considerou-se importante assumir, como elemento estratégico deste processo, e na linha do pensamento de M. Alves (2001), o entendimento de que o processo de inserção profissional assume um carácter dinâmico, que envolve três actores fundamentais: os diplomados, os empregadores e os estabelecimentos de ensino superior. É tendo como base de trabalho esta perspectiva (conceito de inserção profissional articulado com o paradigma da aprendizagem ao longo da vida) que se edifica o presente estudo, estruturando-se em quatro partes. A primeira delas visa, embora não de forma exclusiva, a explanação dos principais referenciais teóricos relativos à temática em questão; a segunda parte explicita as opções metodológicas adoptadas; a terceira debruça-se sobre a análise e interpretação dos resultados e a quarta remete para algumas conclusões que emergiram de todo o processo de investigação empreendido. Procurando desenvolver-se uma investigação descritiva assente numa metodologia integrada e complementar com abordagens qualitativas e quantitativas, a recolha de dados incide num questionário e numa entrevista, tendo-se sempre em consideração os objectivos subjacentes ao estudo e optando-se, para tal, como sujeitos, pelos licenciados em Ensino Básico - 1.° Ciclo que realizaram a sua formação nas instituições formadoras do Alentejo (Escolas Superiores de Beja e Portalegre e Universidade de Évora), no período compreendido entre 2001 e 2003. As trajectórias profissionais destes licenciados ficam marcadas por sentimentos de ilusão, incerteza e indignação, mas também por um forte sentimento de frustração. Não foi pacífico, para muitos deles, aceitar que a realização do curso não lhes conferiu o acesso ao emprego esperado. A sua maioria encontrava-se integrada em sectores profissionais que não estavam directamente relacionados com o curso ou, então, permaneciam desempregados. A esperança de virem a exercer a profissão docente parecia ser cada vez mais ténue. /***Abstract - The problem that constitutes the start of the present study emphasizes the importance of knowing and understanding the way it proceeds the professional insertion of the new graduates of the Ensino Básico — V Ciclo (primary school).Between several visions, it has been important, as a strategic element of this process and following the line of M. Alves (2001), the understanding that the professional insertion assumes a dynamic character, that envolves three fundamental elements: the graduates, the employers and. the universities. This study, structured in four parts, is based in the concept that links profession insertion with life long learning. The purpose of the first part is to expose, not in an exclusive way, the several theories connected with the theme in question the second part explains the methodology used; the third consists of the analysis and interpretation of the results and the fourth and. last one, exposes some conclusions that carne out of the investigation process. It has been tried in this study to develop a descriptive investigation, based on an integrated and complementary methodology that includes a qualitative and quantitative analysis. Therefore, the gathering of data is based on a questionnaire and an interview. Always considering the underlying objectives of the study, we have chosen, as subjects, the graduates in Ensino Básico - 1º Ciclo that performed their formation in the institutes of Alentejo (Escola Superior de Educação de Beja, Escola Superior de Educação de Portalegre e Universidade de Évora), in the period between 2001 and. 2003. The professional trajectory of these graduates is full of uncertainty, indignation and also full of strong feelings of frustration. It was not easy for many of them to accept that the course they have completed doesn't open the doors for the job they've dreamed of and expected. The majority was integrated in professional areas not directly connected with their course or then remained unemployed. The hope of becoming teachers was turning more and more tenuous.

Concepções e práticas CTS dos professores de uma escola inovadora

Numa sociedade cada vez mais permeada pelo desenvolvimento científicotecnológico emerge o reconhecimento da importância da Educação em Ciência, Tecnologia e Sociedade (CTS). Neste sentido, investigações estão a ser produzidas sobre a relação existente entre as concepções dos professores sobre CTS e suas práticas de ensino, mas os resultados são controversos. Assim, o presente estudo procurou contribuir para compreensão da relação entre as concepções sobre CTS e as práticas didáctico-pedagógicas desenvolvidas por professores de uma escola portuguesa considerada inovadora. Através de um estudo de caso, de natureza qualitativa, a investigação envolveu dois professores que trabalham com alunos do 3º ao 6º ano de escolaridade e utilizou diversas técnicas e instrumentos de recolha de dados. As concepções sobre CTS foram levantadas com a aplicação do questionário VOSTS “Views on Science-Technology-Society” (versão portuguesa adaptada por Canavarro, 2000). As práticas didáctico-pedagógicas dos professores caracterizaram-se com o apoio do “Instrumento de Caracterização das Práticas Pedagógico-Didácticas CTS” (Vieira, 2003) e do registo das observações das aulas dos professores através do Diário do Investigador e de áudio-gravações. O processo de análise dos dados aponta para concepções ingénuas sobre CTS dos professores, onde a Ciência e a Tecnologia foi vista como, por exemplo, “domínios interligados que nem sempre repercutem na sociedade”. Relativamente às práticas didáctico-pedagógicas, evidencia-se um ensino que valoriza o conhecimento e, embora inserido num contexto sócio-construtivista de Escola, este não contempla explicitamente uma orientação CTS. Sobre a relação entre as concepções sobre CTS dos professores e suas práticas didáctico-pedagógicas implementadas no ensino de Ciências, os resultados obtidos não permitem estabelecer conclusivamente uma relação ou a ausência dela. Contudo, os resultados trazem contributos, ainda que modestos, para a compreensão desta questão e salientam a complexidade da problemática abordada. Quanto ao contexto escolar inovador em que se realizou a investigação, os resultados apontam algumas divergências entre a proposta teórica do projecto pedagógico e as práticas implementadas em sala de aula. Portanto, uma proposta pedagógica que apresenta potenciais para um ensino com orientação CTS não se consolida se os professores não forem preparados para explorar este potencial. Salienta-se, assim, a necessidade de formação inicial e continuada de professores no Ensino das Ciências com Orientação CTS. ABSTRACT: In one society more and more promoted by scientific and technological development emerges the recognition of the importance of the Science, Society, and Technology (STS) in our Education. In these sense, investigations are being follow up about the existing relation between the conceptions of the teachers about STS and their practices in education, but the results are controversial. Thus, the present study it looked forward to contribute for the knowledge of relations between the conceptions of STS and their didacticpedagogical issues developed by teachers of one portuguese school considered innovative. Through a study of a case, of qualitative nature, an investigation involving two teachers which work with students of the third and sixth year of scholarship and using a broad of diverse techniques and instruments of data acquire. Conceptions about STS where taken in account with the use a questionnaire VOSTS " Views on Science-Technology-Society " (Portuguese version adapted by Canavarro, 2000). The didactic-pedagogical practices used by teachers are characterized by the support of " Instruments of characterization of didacticpedagogical practices STS" (Vieira, 2003) and of the registry of class observations by the teachers through the Investigator Diary as well as audio recordings. The process of analysis of data acquire leads to ingénues conceptions about the STS of the teachers, where Science and Technology was seen as, for example, "inter ligated domains which not always have repercussions in society". Relatively to didactic-pedagogical issues, it is proven that one education that embraces knowledge but insert in a context of socialconstructiveness of School will not contemplate an explicit orientation towards STS. About relation between the conceptions related to STS used by the teachers and their didactic-pedagogical issues implemented in education of Science, the results do not allow to establish a conclusive connection them or the lack of it. However, the results bring modest contributes for the comprehension of these question and they point out the complexity of the topic taken in account. To sum up, in relation to the innovative school context in which the investigation was taken the results lead to some divergences between the theoretical proposal of the pedagogic project and the practices implemented in the school class. So, one pedagogical proposal, which shows potential positive issues for one education STS oriented, does not get consolidated if the teachers are not prepared to explore this issue. It is lined out, the necessity of initial formation and trough life by the teachers in Education of Sciences with orientation to STS.