Results of a mindfulness-based social-emotional learning program on portuguese elementary students and teachers: a quasi-experimental study

Recently, mindfulness-based social-emotional learning (SEL) approaches have been taught to children in some schools. Due to deficient methodological consistency observed in most studies, their results should be interpreted with caution. Moreover, research on how mindfulness-based SEL approaches benefit teachers is scarce, and the majority of these studies have been conducted in English-speaking countries; therefore, it is uncertain whether these approaches are suited to other cultural backgrounds. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of the MindUp curriculum, an SEL program through mindfulness practice for Portuguese students and teachers. Participants included 454 3rd and 4th grade students and 20 teachers from state schools. A quasiexperimental (pre- and post-test) study compared outcomes for an experimental group with a waitlist control group. Data were collected from teachers and children through self-report measures. Results showed that over 50 % of the children who participated in the MindUp program scored above the control group mean in their ability to regulate emotions, to experience more positive affect, and to be more self-compassionate, and over 50 % scored lower in negative affect. In the group of teachers, over 80 % scored above the control group mean in observing, in personal accomplishment, and in self-kindness. Our results contribute to the recent research on the potential added value of mindfulness practices to a SEL program and strengthen the importance for teachers and students of adding to the academic curriculum a SEL program through mindfulness practices.

Trabajo social en la inclusión laboral de las personas con discapacidad

La exclusión del mercado de trabajo de las personas con discapacidad es un problema social que debe ser abordado por el profesional en Trabajo Social, para que intervenga en el proceso de incorporación al mundo laboral, ya sea demandando, sensibilizando o diseñando mecanismos como la capacitacióntanto a las empresas como a las PCDpara evitar su exclusión social y laboral. Se empezarádefiniendo el concepto sobre discapacidad, su clasificación en el Ecuador, estadísticas en los diferentes contextos, y aspectos sobre la inclusión laboral de las personas con discapacidad. También se recopilará las leyes vigentes que amparan la inclusión laboral de personas con discapacidad, a nivel internacional, nacional y local. Se pretende además socializar la intervención de los profesionales en Trabajo Social, de las distintas empresas públicas y privadas como: Graiman, Indurama, Pasamanería Tosi, Municipio, Etapa y el Ministerio de Obras Públicas, debido a sus experiencias dentro del proceso de inclusión laboral de las personas con discapacidad, a través del análisis e interpretación de los resultados de las entrevistas aplicadas. Finalmente se expone la realización de una propuesta de capacitación, la cual oriente en los diferentes procesos de intervención del Trabajador Social con las personas con discapacidad dentro del ámbito laboral, como un referente a ser considerado y adoptado para la mejora de su calidad en la inclusión laboral, valorándolos como seres humanos trabajadores que aportan de manera productiva al crecimiento de la empresa y del país.

Development of Natural Language Processing based Communication and Educational Assisted Systems for the People with Hearing Disability in Myanmar

Resumo: As tecnologias da informação e comunicação (TICs) fornecem às pessoas com deficiência uma melhor integração, tanto social quanto economicamente, em suas comunidades, apoiando-os no acesso à informação e ao conhecimento, situações de ensino-aprendizagem, comunicação pessoal e interação. Nosso objetivo com esse trabalho tem sido desenvolver sistemas que proporcionem aos surdos meios que lhes permitam se comunicar com maior fluidez e ao mesmo tempo receberem assistência educacional adequada, usando o Processamento de linguagem natural (PNL). Neste artigo, apresentamos o corpus para a linguagem de sinais de Mianmar (MSL), um sistema de Tradução de Máquina (MT) entre a língua de sinais de Mianmar (MSL), o texto escrito em Mianmar (MWT) e Myanmar SignWriting (MSW), dois layouts de teclado para uso com o sistema Mianmar SignWriting, desenvolvimento de um dicionário para MSL, além de um sistema de classificação “Myanmar Fingerspelling Image”. Acreditamos que o resultado desta pesquisa é útil não apenas para fins educacionais, mas também para o estabelecimento de uma melhor interface entre surdos e ouvintes.

The effect of gender context on children's social behaviour in a limited resources situation : an observational study

Knowing when to compete and when to cooperate to maximize opportunities for equal access to activities and materials in groups is critical to children's social and cognitive development. The present study examined the individual (gender, social competence) and contextual factors (gender context) that may determine why some children are more successful than others. One hundred and fifty-six children (M age=6.5 years) were divided into 39 groups of four and videotaped while engaged in a task that required them to cooperate in order to view cartoons. Children within all groups were unfamiliar to one another. Groups varied in gender composition (all girls, all boys, or mixed-sex) and social competence (high vs. low). Group composition by gender interaction effects were found. Girls were most successful at gaining viewing time in same-sex groups, and least successful in mixed-sex groups. Conversely, boys were least successful in same-sex groups and most successful in mixed-sex groups. Similar results were also found at the group level of analysis; however, the way in which the resources were distributed differed as a function of group type. Same-sex girl groups were inequitable but efficient whereas same-sex boy groups were more equitable than mixed groups but inefficient compared to same-sex girl groups. Social competence did not influence children's behavior. The findings from the present study highlight the effect of gender context on cooperation and competition and the relevance of adopting an unfamiliar peer paradigm when investigating children's social behavior.