La función tutorial ante el reto de la enseñanza online: algunas experiencias

La introducción de las TICs en los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje exige hacer frente al reto de su inserción y adaptación al mismo en el ámbito universitario, así como analizar las diversas estrategias formativas y comunicativas recomendadas para el uso de las TICs en la docencia. En este entorno resulta conveniente examinar el rol asignado al e-tutor o e-profesor y, como correlato, el papel del alumno en el marco de la enseñanza online del Derecho. Ello pasa por la identificación de las funciones que debe llevar a cabo el tutor online (lo que, en definitiva, contribuye a definir y reforzar los rasgos de esta figura) que, si bien deben adaptarse a la nueva metodología docente, no deben ser necesariamente distintas a las del tutor presencial. Este objetivo exige determinar las técnicas y competencias más adecuadas para la acción tutorial virtual y requiere una seria reflexión sobre el uso de las herramientas disponibles para este fin, cuestión conectada con las innumerables ventajas de las TICs para la comunicación profesor-alumno (sin olvidar la necesidad de superar también algunos problemas). Se trata de aprovechar el e-learning para imprimir un cambio en la metodología docente respecto del rol que está llamado a desempeñar el e-tutor. Todo ello parte de nuestra experiencia en esta materia.

Peer interaction in mixed age groups: a study in the computer area of an early childhood education center in Portugal

The study was developed as a teacher-research project during initial teacher education – Masters Degree of Early Childhood and Primary Education, in Portugal. It analysed the interactions between children of 3 to 6 years old, during the use of the computer as a free choice activity, confronting situations between peers of the same age and situations between peers of different ages. The focus of the analysis was the collaborative interactions. This was a qualitative study. Children could choose the computer, amongst other interest areas, and work for around an hour in pairs. In the computer, children used mainly educational games. During four weeks, the interactions between the pairs were audio recorded. Field notes and informal interviews to the children were also used to collect data. Eleven children were involved in the study with ages ranging from 3 to 6 years old. Baseline data on children’s basic computer proficiency was collected using the Individualized Computer Proficiency Checklist (ICPC) by Hyun. The recorded interactions were analysed using the types of talk offered by Scrimshaw and Perkins and Wegerif and Scrimshaw: cumulative talk, exploratory talk, disputational talk, and tutorial talk. This framework was already used in a study in an early childhood education context in Portugal by Amante. The results reveal differences in computer use and characterize the observed interactions. Seven different pairs of children's interactions were analysed. More than a third of the interactions were cumulative talk, followed by exploratory talk, tutorial talk and disputational talk. Comparing same and mixed age pairs, we observed that cumulative talk is the more present interaction, but in same age pairs this is followed by exploratory talk whereas in the mixed age pairs it is tutorial talk that has the second largest percentage. The pairs formed by the children were very asymmetrical in terms of age and computer proficiency. This lead to the more tutorial interactions, where one children showed the other or directed him/her on how to play. The results show that collaboration is present during the use of a computer area in early childhood education. The free choice of the children means the adults can only suggest pairing suited to specific interactions between the children. Another way to support children in more exploratory talk interactions could be by discussing the way the older children can help the younger ones beyond directing or correcting their work.

SAP-Related Education - Status-Quo and Experience

Integrating Enterprise Systems solutions in the curriculum of not only universities but all types of institutes of higher learning has been a major challenge for nearly ten years. Enterprise Systems education is surprisingly well documented in a number of papers on Information Systems education. However, most publications in this area report on the individual experiences of an institution or an academic. This paper focuses on the most popular Enterprise System - SAP - and summarizes the outcomes of a global survey on the status quo of SAP-related education. Based on feedback of 305 lecturers and more than 700 students, it reports on the main factors of Enterprise Systems education including, critical success factors, alternative hosting models, and students’ perceptions. The results show among others an overall increasing interest in advanced SAP solutions and international collaboration, and a high satisfaction with the concept of using Application Hosting Centers.