O desenvolvimento da leitura em crianças com dificuldades graves de aprendizagem

Projeto de Intervenção apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa para obtenção de grau de mestre em Educação Especial, especialidade em Multideficiência

Validação do método de deteção de eritropoietina recombinante humana em urina humana por focalização isoelétrica

A eritropoietina (EPO) é uma substância que estimula a produção de eritrócitos, aumentando a oxigenação muscular, sendo segregada de forma natural pelo organismo e excretada na urina em baixas concentrações. Devido às suas propriedades e características, a EPO foi rapidamente introduzida no mundo do desporto, como substância ilícita, proporcionando vantagens no rendimento desportivo. No início de 2000 foi desenvolvido um método de deteção direta de EPO Recombinante (rHuEPO) em urina humana por Lasne, baseado na focalização isoelétrica (IEF) em gel de poliacrilamida, seguido de duplo blote, tendo este sido publicado e validado. Em 2002, a Agência Mundial Antidopagem (AMA) implementou este mesmo método, sendo atualmente um dos métodos oficiais utilizado pelos laboratórios acreditados pela AMA. Desta forma, o ponto de partida para a realização deste trabalho consistiu na necessidade de implementar e validar o método de referência de IEF para a deteção de rHuEPO em urina humana. O trabalho foi realizado no Laboratório de Análises e Dopagem (LAD) do Instituto do Desporto de Portugal (IDP), atual Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude (IPDJ). O principal objetivo deste trabalho consistiu no estudo/investigação de diferentes parâmetros de validação (especificidade/seletividade; capacidade de identificação; limite de deteção; exatidão e repetibilidade), de acordo com o protocolado no Procedimento Geral interno do Laboratório de Análises de Dopagem de Lisboa (LAD). O referido método de triagem e confirmação revelou possuir características de desempenho conformes com os requisitos aplicáveis, pelo que é considerado validado e apto.

Professores em fim de carreira: desenvolvimento profissional e sentimentos atuais

Dissertação apresentada à Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de mestre em Ciências da Educação - Especialidade Supervisão em Educação

Aulas de técnica de flauta em grupo: uma forma de motivar os alunos para o estudo da mesma: relatório de estágio

RESUMO I - PARTE PEDAGÓGICA - O presente relatório de estágio é composto por dois capítulos: Prática Pedagógica e Investigação. A atividade docente, que serviu de base para a realização deste primeiro capítulo, teve lugar no Conservatório de Música de Santarém. Primeiramente caracteriza-se o Conservatório de Música de Santarém, sendo possível observar a sua história e objetivos pedagógicos. São também caracterizados os alunos participantes no estágio, o seu percurso académico, as suas expectativas e motivações. O subcapítulo dedicado à prática educativa desenvolvida, apresenta os objetivos e metas traçados para cada aluno; as estratégias adotadas pelo docente de forma a permitir o desenvolvimento de níveis metacognitivos e a motivação intrínseca. Neste capítulo é feita uma análise crítica da atividade docente, onde é apresentado o trabalho desenvolvido com cada aluno, ao longo do ano. Neste subcapítulo, é à semelhança do anterior, aparecem algumas referências a aspetos presentes nas considerações teóricas apresentadas na introdução do trabalho. A conclusão da atividade docente consiste numa reflexão sobre a postura adotada pelo professor e a sua autoavaliação do trabalho realizado com os alunos.

A Força Aérea Portuguesa e o voo nas redes sociais

Trabalho de projeto apresentado à Escola Superior de Comunicação Social como parte dos requisitos para obtenção de grau de mestre em Publicidade e Marketing.

Força Muscular Isocinética após Reconstrução do Ligamento Cruzado Anterior – Influência do Tipo de Enxerto (Osso-Tendão-Osso/Isquio-Tibiais)

Introdução: É reconhecida a importância do ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA) no funcionamento normal do joelho. Em caso de rotura ligamentar, nomeadamente em desportos com marcada solicitação dos movimentos de rotação do joelho, é justificada a necessidade de reconstrução do LCA na maioria dos casos. Objetivo (s): Avaliar a influência do tipo de enxerto na reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior na força muscular isocinética, assim como na funcionalidade e sintomas após 6 meses. Métodos: Estudo transversal analítico, constituído por 20 indivíduos voluntários do sexo masculino, que haviam sido submetidos a uma ligamentoplastia do cruzado anterior, pelo mesmo cirurgião, seguido de uma intervenção individualizada por um fisioterapeuta. Em 10 indivíduos, o procedimento cirúrgico foi realizado com enxerto do tendão rotuliano (grupo OTO), e nos restantes 10 com enxerto do semitendinoso e gracilis (grupo STG). Como forma de avaliar a Força Muscular Isocinética (Peak Torque, Trabalho Total Muscular, ratio Isquiotibiais/Quadricipite), foi utilizado o Dinamómetro Isocinético Biodex. A avaliação foi efectuada apenas aos 6 meses após o procedimento cirúrgico. Para observação da funcionalidade, amplitude de movimento e sintomas, utilizou-se o questionário International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC). Resultados: Foi possível observar que entre os grupos apenas se observaram diferenças significativas no peak torque de extensão a 180º no membro não lesado (p=0,019). Contudo, foi observada uma tendência para o grupo OTO apresentar um maior défice no peak torque e trabalho total muscular em extensão. Comparativamente ao membro contra-lateral, o membro lesado apresentou valores significativamente inferiores na maioria das variáveis ( p < 0,05). Conclusão: Após 6 meses de pós-cirúrgico com reabilitação de fisioterapia, não foi possível apontar qual o enxerto que garante uma melhor recuperação da força muscular. Aos 6 meses, ambos os grupos ainda apresentaram limitações musculares, quando comparados com o lado contra-lateral. Relativamente ao rácio isquiotibiais/quadricípite, assim como no IKDC, não se observaram diferenças entre os dois tipos de enxertos.

Standard commercial education robotic platform: intermediate solution to teaching robotics

Teaching robotics to students at the beginning of their studies has become a huge challenge. Simulation environments can be an effective solution to that challenge where students can interact with simulated robots and have the first contact with robotic constraints. From our previous experience with simulation environments it was possible to observe that students with lower background knowledge in robotics where able to deal with a limited number of constraints, implement a simulated robotic platform and study several sensors. The question is: after this first phase what should be the best approach? Should the student start developing their own hardware? Hardware development is a very important part of an engineer's education but it can also be a difficult phase that could lead to discouragement and loss of motivation in some students. Considering the previous constraints and first year engineering students’ high abandonment rate it is important to develop teaching strategies to deal with this problem in a feasible way. The solution that we propose is the integration of a low-cost standard robotic platform WowWee Rovio as an intermediate solution between the simulation phase and the stage where the students can develop their own robots. This approach will allow the students to keep working in robotic areas such as: cooperative behaviour, perception, navigation and data fusion. The propose approach proved to be a motivation step not only for the students but also for the teachers. Students and teachers were able to reach an agreement between the level of demand imposed by the teachers and satisfaction/motivation of the students.

A mathematical model to describe fat oxidation kinetics during graded exercise.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a mathematical model (sine model, SIN) to describe fat oxidation kinetics as a function of the relative exercise intensity [% of maximal oxygen uptake (%VO2max)] during graded exercise and to determine the exercise intensity (Fatmax) that elicits maximal fat oxidation (MFO) and the intensity at which the fat oxidation becomes negligible (Fatmin). This model included three independent variables (dilatation, symmetry, and translation) that incorporated primary expected modulations of the curve because of training level or body composition. METHODS: Thirty-two healthy volunteers (17 women and 15 men) performed a graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer, with 3-min stages and 20-W increments. Substrate oxidation rates were determined using indirect calorimetry. SIN was compared with measured values (MV) and with other methods currently used [i.e., the RER method (MRER) and third polynomial curves (P3)]. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the fitting accuracy between SIN and P3 (P = 0.157), whereas MRER was less precise than SIN (P < 0.001). Fatmax (44 +/- 10% VO2max) and MFO (0.37 +/- 0.16 g x min(-1)) determined using SIN were significantly correlated with MV, P3, and MRER (P < 0.001). The variable of dilatation was correlated with Fatmax, Fatmin, and MFO (r = 0.79, r = 0.67, and r = 0.60, respectively, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The SIN model presents the same precision as other methods currently used in the determination of Fatmax and MFO but in addition allows calculation of Fatmin. Moreover, the three independent variables are directly related to the main expected modulations of the fat oxidation curve. SIN, therefore, seems to be an appropriate tool in analyzing fat oxidation kinetics obtained during graded exercise.

Anti-doping testing at the 2008 European football championship.

Big sports events like the 2008 European Football Championship are a challenge for anti-doping activities, particularly when the sports event is hosted by two different countries and there are two laboratories accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. This challenges the logistics of sample collection as well as the chemical analyses, which must be carried out timeously. The following paper discusses the handling of whereabouts information for each athlete and the therapeutic use exemption system, experiences in sample collection and transportation of blood and urine samples, and the results of the chemical analysis in two different accredited laboratories. An overview of the analytical results of blood profiling and growth hormone testing in comparison with the distribution of the normal population is also presented.

Association between adolescent leisure, peer social capital and academic performance among Canadian youth

Previous research shows discrepant findings between youth leisure programming (before and after school programs, structured summer program, day camp, overnight camp), academic performance and other youth developmental outcomes. Studies underscores the importance of family, community and school social capital in educational success of youth, investigation of peer social capital in the leisure context and academic performance outcomes is limited. This study uses a sample of 10 and 11 year olds (N=1764) from the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) Cycle 6, to study the association between youth leisure programming, peer social capital and academic performance. Ordinal logistic regression models consistently showed a positive association between overnight camp and academic performance even after controlling for determinants of health, and measures of family, school and community social capital. Similarly, the measure of peer social capital was positively associated with academic performance. Most importantly, the interaction between overnight camp participation and peer social capital was significantly associated with academic performance. Study findings, highlight overnight camp opportunities and peer social

Pelham Cares Inc. fonds, 1980-2015

The beginnings of Pelham Cares occurred in 1982 when the Mayor of Pelham, Eric Bergenstein, received a letter from Janet Hassall, a social worker with Niagara Regional Home Care. Hassall requested that a Social Service Committee be established in Pelham to address gaps in community services, a practice that several other communities in the Region had adopted. Such committees were commonly composed of church parishioners, so Bergenstein contacted Canon J. Nowe of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, who expressed an interest in participating in such a committee. Bergenstein arranged a meeting in June, 1982 at the United Church Hall in Fonthill, for any interested parties to learn more about the existing Social Service Committees in the Region. The meeting was not part of a Town Council project, but rather an initiative undertaken by Mayor Bergenstein in a personal capacity. Subsequent meetings chaired by Eric Bergenstein were held throughout the remainder of that year, during which the name of Pelham Cares was decided, a steering committee established, and services to be offered were determined. These initially included “visits with the lonely, the shut-ins, at home, hospital or on an outing ; run errands for those who are “stuck”; step in, in emergencies, or regularly, to free a parent or spouse who can’t otherwise get a “break”; in emergencies, provide food, clothing, furniture, medicine and other necessities”. The first official meeting of Pelham Cares occurred in January 1983. Currently, the main services offered by Pelham Cares are a food bank; transportation services to medical appointments; and sponsorship programs to allow youth with limited financial means to participate in sports, recreational and educational activities. The organization also provides emergency food, supplies or short term accommodation due to fire or other catastrophic loss, as well as providing referrals to appropriate organizations or agencies. Pelham Cares is dependent on the funding from community partners such as service clubs, citizens, local businesses, financial institutions and churches. These services are provided by volunteers and one part-time employee. A permanent location for Pelham Cares was established in 2014 with the purchase of a property on Highway 20 East in Fonthill, after a 30 years search for a permanent facility.

La résilience sous l'angle de l'autodétermination pour une meilleure santé psychologique des enseignants : déterminer des types de résilience

Ce projet propose une nouvelle approche de la résilience en vue d’assurer le bien-être chez les enseignants. Les raisons qui nous amènent à un tel intérêt sont notamment le stress intense ressenti dans le corps professoral où la tâche est lourde et particulièrement difficile. Sera donc abordé au chapitre premier, le fait que l’environnement de travail, par ses caractéristiques, génère du stress et des effets néfastes. Par la suite, la résilience étant sollicitée pour retenir les travailleurs en poste, nous décrirons son historique, ce qui nous amènera à soulever une problématique d’importance, notamment le fait qu’elle ne soit pas nécessairement accompagnée d’un bien-être salutaire. En contrepartie, un des indicateurs du bien-être est la motivation autodéterminée. Nous détaillerons ces notions et verrons comment elles sont atteintes par les conditions mêmes de travail. Cette mise en contexte nous permettra, en chapitre deuxième, de concevoir la résilience sous un autre jour grâce à la mise en lien avec les motivations autodéterminées. S’y dessineront deux types importants, dans lesquels motivation et bien-être devraient différer sensiblement. Cela pourrait expliquer la raison d’un bien-être mitigé. Nous terminerons ce chapitre par nos hypothèses. Nous aborderons ensuite la vérification de la proposition de types de résilience sous-tendues par la motivation. Au chapitre troisième, la méthodologie décrira l’échantillon de 465 enseignants québécois du primaire et du secondaire, les différents questionnaires de résilience, motivation et bien-être aux fins de l’étude transversale. Le chapitre suivant traitera des résultats des ANOVA , MANOVA et ANOVA factorielles entreprises. Notamment, les différences statistiques de bien-être et de motivation seront détaillées, ainsi que la non interaction entre motivation et résilience. Les effets principaux de résilience à tous les niveaux de motivation seront décrits. Les résultats obtenus nous permettrons une discussion au chapitre cinquième avant de conclure qu’effectivement, des différences sont observables, que la résilience pourrait s’opérer en deux formes durant lesquelles les motivations et le bien-être sont différents. Il sera possible d’envisager la résilience non pas comme une caractéristique personnelle stable ou un résultat statique, mais comme un processus pouvant prendre différentes formes qu’il serait alors possible de promouvoir. En découle également une mise en garde contre le fait de penser qu’il n’est plus nécessaire d’agir auprès des personnes étiquetées de résilientes. Le soutien semble encore nécessaire pour soutenir un processus efficace.

Étudiants universitaires du Cameroun et les technologies de l’information et de la communication : usages, apprentissages et motivations

Cette étude porte sur les usages des TIC des étudiants universitaires du Cameroun. Elle se situe dans un contexte de l’enseignement supérieur camerounais en pleine mutation par les TIC. Elle vise donc à mieux comprendre les utilisations des TIC qui influencent l’apprentissage et la motivation académique chez les étudiants universitaires du Cameroun. Pour atteindre cet objectif, quatre principaux axes d’étude sont envisagés : -Les usages des TIC des étudiants universitaires camerounais; -Les perceptions des étudiants sur l’usage des TIC dans leur formation; -L’impact des TIC sur l’apprentissage des étudiants universitaires du Cameroun ; -L’impact des TIC sur la motivation académique des étudiants universitaires en apprentissage. La typologie de De Vries (2001) adoptée, qui est bâtie sur plusieurs variables d’apprentissage en lien avec les TIC (lire, faire des exercices, dialogue, jouer, explorer, manipuler, observer, construire et discuter), a facilité l’élaboration d’un portrait des usages des TIC des étudiants universitaires camerounais. Pour vérifier si les TIC ont un lien avec l’acquisition du savoir visée par un cours chez les étudiants camerounais, nous avons eu recours à la taxonomie de Bloom (1956) révisée par Lorin (2001). Cette taxonomie est constituée des verbes d’action qui décrivent des opérations cognitives d’apprentissage et spécifient des activités d’apprentissage liée aux TIC en terme de « capacité à ». Aussi, les résultats de Barrette (2005) sur les effets des TIC sur l’apprentissage (amélioration des résultats académiques, développement des opérations cognitives, amélioration de la motivation et intérêt des étudiants) nous ont servi de balises pour mieux comprendre les influences des TIC sur l’apprentissage des étudiants universitaires. La littérature sur l’impact des TIC sur la motivation académique a révélé que les sentiments d'autodétermination, de compétence et d'affiliation influencent la motivation des étudiants. Ainsi la théorie retenue de l'autodétermination de Deci et Ryan (1985, 1991, 2000) nous permet de mieux cerner le concept de la motivation dans cette étude. Cette recherche se fonde sur une méthodologie de type mixte, comportant plusieurs sources de données collectées (Savoie-Zajc et Karsenti (2000)): entrevues individuelles semi dirigées avec des étudiants (n = 9), observations participantes d’étudiants (n=2), observations participantes de groupes d’étudiants (n = 3), questionnaire (n=120). La thèse suit un mode de présentation par articles, chacun des articles étant en lien avec l’un des objectifs de la recherche. Les résultats obtenus confortent l’hypothèse d’une utilisation des TIC à des fins académiques par des étudiants dans le campus ainsi que dans les cybercafés. Autrement dit, la recherche dresse un portrait des usages des TIC des étudiants universitaires camerounais en mettant en évidence les types d’utilisation multivariés rencontrés. Les résultats font aussi ressortir que les TIC sont des outils didactiques efficaces pour faciliter la compréhension des situations complexes des cours suivis par les étudiants. Cette recherche a donné lieu à l’adaptation de l’échelle de mesure EMITICE, un instrument de mesure de la motivation lors de l'intégration des TIC dans l'enseignement, qui a permis de déterminer les variations de la motivation des étudiants et de mettre en évidence une comparaison de l'évolution du type de leur motivation.

Écrire à la manière d'un auteur au premier cycle du primaire : pratiques et impacts

Plusieurs auteurs (Nadon, 2007; Tauveron, 2005; Routman, 2010) ont mis de l’avant des propositions didactiques pour enseigner l’écriture de façon optimale à partir de la littérature de jeunesse, notamment en amenant les élèves à s’inspirer du style d’un auteur. Puisque la littérature de jeunesse est encore peu employée pour induire des situations d’écriture au primaire (Montésinos-Gelet et Morin, 2007), cette recherche présente un dispositif novateur, soit l’écriture à la manière d’un auteur qui consiste à placer l’élève dans une situation d’appropriation-observation d’une oeuvre littéraire dans le but d’en ressortir ses caractéristiques et de l’imiter (Geist, 2005 et Tauveron, 2002). Selon Olness (2007), l’exposition à une littérature de jeunesse de qualité est essentielle pour permettre aux élèves d’apprendre une variété de styles et d’éléments littéraires. Cette recherche a pour but de décrire dix séquences d’écriture à la manière d’un auteur conçues par l’enseignante-chercheuse et d’identifier les impacts de celles-ci, auprès des élèves, sur leurs habiletés en production écrite, de compréhension en lecture et sur leur motivation à l’écriture. Cette recherche a été réalisée pendant une période de 5 mois auprès de 18 élèves d’une classe de 2e année du primaire. Il ressort de cette recherche que les élèves ont grandement développé leur capacité à analyser et imiter les caractéristiques d’un texte source et qu’ils ont transféré ces apprentissages au-delà du contexte de notre recherche. Par la pratique fréquente et le modelage, ils ont assimilés les six traits de l’écriture et ont manifesté un intérêt grandissant envers la littérature de jeunesse.