E-Learning as a shared service in shared services centers

Book Subtitle International Conference, CENTERIS 2010, Viana do Castelo, Portugal, October 20-22, 2010, Proceedings, Part II

The periodic table: contest and exhibition

The systemization and organization of ideas and concepts is an integral part of science. In chemistry, the organization of the periodic table of the chemical elements in the 1860s was one of the greatest scientific breakthroughs ever made and in fact during the 20th century it became a universally recognized scientific icon (1). The periodic table is the fundamental classificatory scheme of the elements and summarizes the realm of chemistry (2). Simply knowing the position of an element in the periodic table tells us about its properties and is usually enough to predict how the element will behave in a wide variety of different situations or reactions (1). Based on this potential mine of information, it is possible to make reliable predictions of the properties of the compounds that each element forms. Nowadays, the concept of the periodic table is starting to interact with other sciences and reports of periodic tables of amino acids (3), genetic codes (4), protein structures (5), and biology (6) can be found in the specialized literature. Symbiosis between science and art, for example, ���The Periodic Table of The Elephants��� (7), can also be seen. To appeal to a better understanding of the periodic table, the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Instituto Polit��cnico do Porto and the Centro de Qu��mica da Universidade do Porto promoted a contest and exhibit with the goal of stimulating a wide and heterogeneous audience, ranging from young children and their parents to graduate students from several disciplines, to explore the nature of this icon. Imaginative educational activities such as contests (8���10), games (11, 12), and puzzles (13���15) provided a way to communicate with the general public with the goal of attracting students to science. This also constituted an interesting, informative, and entertaining alternative to non-interactive lectures. Simultaneously, artistic creativity was combined with scientific knowledge.

Pr��tica de ensino supervisionado no 1.�� e 2.�� ciclo do ensino b��sico: esquemas organizadores facilitadores da aprendizagem em Hist��ria e Geografia

Relat��rio de Est��gio apresentado �� Escola Superior de Educa����o de Lisboa para obten����o de grau de mestre em Ensino de 1.�� e 2.�� Ciclos do Ensino B��sico

Metodologia de projeto como estrat��gia de motiva����o e criatividade na disciplina de artes pl��sticas

Mestrado em Ensino de Educa����o Visual e Tecnol��gica no Ensino B��sico

Methodology for in-game certification in serious games

Serious games are starting to attain a higher role as tools for learning in various contexts, but in particular in areas such as education and training. Due to its characteristics, such as rules, behavior simulation and feedback to the player's actions, serious games provide a favorable learning environment where errors can occur without real life penalty and students get instant feedback from challenges. These challenges are in accordance with the intended objectives and will self-adapt and repeat according to the student���s difficulty level. Through motivating and engaging environments, which serve as base for problem solving and simulation of different situations and contexts, serious games have a great potential to aid players developing professional skills. But, how do we certify the acquired knowledge and skills? With this work we intend to propose a methodology to establish a relationship between the game mechanics of serious games and an array of competences for certification, evaluating the applicability of various aspects in the design and development of games such as the user interfaces and the gameplay, obtaining learning outcomes within the game itself. Through the definition of game mechanics combined with the necessary pedagogical elements, the game will ensure the certification. This paper will present a matrix of generic skills, based on the European Framework of Qualifications, and the definition of the game mechanics necessary for certification on tour guide training context. The certification matrix has as reference axes: skills, knowledge and competencies, which describe what the students should learn, understand and be able to do after they complete the learning process. The guides-interpreters welcome and accompany tourists on trips and visits to places of tourist interest and cultural heritage such as museums, palaces and national monuments, where they provide various information. Tour guide certification requirements include skills and specific knowledge about foreign languages and in the areas of History, Ethnology, Politics, Religion, Geography and Art of the territory where it is inserted. These skills are communication, interpersonal relationships, motivation, organization and management. This certification process aims to validate the skills to plan and conduct guided tours on the territory, demonstrate knowledge appropriate to the context and finally match a good group leader. After defining which competences are to be certified, the next step is to delineate the expected learning outcomes, as well as identify the game mechanics associated with it. The game mechanics, as methods invoked by agents for interaction with the game world, in combination with game elements/objects allows multiple paths through which to explore the game environment and its educational process. Mechanics as achievements, appointments, progression, reward schedules or status, describe how game can be designed to affect players in unprecedented ways. In order for the game to be able to certify tour guides, the design of the training game will incorporate a set of theoretical and practical tasks to acquire skills and knowledge of various transversal themes. For this end, patterns of skills and abilities in acquiring different knowledge will be identified.

Licensing endogenous cost-reduction in a differentiated Stackelberg model

In this paper we consider a differentiated Stackelberg model, when the leader firm engages in an R&D process that gives an endogenous cost-reducing innovation. The aim is to study the licensing of the cost-reduction by a two-part tariff. By using comparative static analysis, we conclude that the degree of the differentiation of the goods plays an important role in the results. We also do a direct comparison between our model and Cournot duopoly model.

Modelo de compet��ncias dos enfermeiros com fun����es de gest��o em Portugal: estudo explorat��rio

Nas ��ltimas d��cadas assistimos a transforma����es econ��micas, tecnol��gicas, pol��ticas e sociais, que influenciaram diretamente o modo de pensar e agir nas organiza����es. O conceito de compet��ncias, com uma valoriza����o crescente, surge como uma alternativa �� abordagem da gest��o de recursos humanos por fun����es, respondendo aos desafios atuais do mercado: necessidade de flexibilidade, de adapta����o a mudan��as cont��nuas, exig��ncias crescentes do mercado e competitividade das organiza����es nesse mercado. A ��rea da sa��de, e concretamente a profiss��o de Enfermagem tamb��m tem evolu��do, surgindo em 2009, uma nova forma de operacionalizar a carreira destes profissionais. No que diz respeito aos enfermeiros com fun����es de gest��o, o conte��do funcional est�� descrito, contudo, n��o existe uma defini����o clara das compet��ncias requeridas para estes profissionais. Este trabalho de investiga����o, de cariz explorat��rio, utilizando uma metodologia qualitativa, pretendeu propor uma estrat��gia de defini����o de um modelo de compet��ncias para os enfermeiros com fun����es de gest��o em Portugal. Para isso, definimos categorias de compet��ncias, atrav��s da an��lise da literatura e da legisla����o. Seguiu-se a realiza����o de entrevistas a um painel de doze peritos, e uma an��lise de conte��do dos dados (categoriza����o do tipo misto). Procedemos a uma compara����o da recolha emp��rica de compet��ncias com as da recolha te��rica, e definimos uma lista de 10 compet��ncias para as fun����es de gest��o dos enfermeiros: Compet��ncias T��cnicas de Gest��o; Compet��ncias Interpessoais; Comunica����o; Gest��o de Recursos Humanos; Pensamento Cr��tico; Conhecimento de Pol��ticas de Sa��de; Compet��ncias T��cnicas de Enfermagem; Organiza����o e Planeamento; Trabalho de Equipa; Preocupa����o pela Qualidade. De forma a complementar o estudo, pretendemos identificar a perce����o das lacunas de compet��ncias nos enfermeiros com fun����es de gest��o, e identificar os processos de desenvolvimento de compet��ncias considerados mais relevantes para estes profissionais. As lacunas identificadas nas compet��ncias dos atuais enfermeiros com fun����es de gest��o, face ��s mais valorizadas, s��o reduzidas e dispersas, pelo que consideramos pouco significativas. A forma de desenvolvimento de compet��ncias mais valorizado pelo painel de peritos foi a forma����o (acad��mica e em contexto profissional). Foi tamb��m real��ada a import��ncia do empenho individual neste processo, assim como a avalia����o de compet��ncias antes dos enfermeiros assumirem fun����es de gest��o.Consideramos que esta investiga����o traz contributos quer para a literatura da Gest��o por Compet��ncias, quer para a literatura da defini����o de compet��ncias das fun����es dos enfermeiros com fun����es de gest��o, quer para a profiss��o de enfermagem, (nomeadamente, para as fun����es de gest��o dos enfermeiros), quer para o pr��prio SNS, j�� que faz algumas propostas e sugest��es para a evolu����o das pr��ticas de gest��o de pessoas.

The Dark Side of Organizational Change: The Moderating Role of Political Behavior and Organizational Cynicism

Workplace aggression is a factor that shapes the interaction between individuals and their work environment and produces many undesirable outcomes, sometimes introducing heavy costs for organizations. Only through a comprehensive understanding of the genesis of workplace aggression is possible to develop strategies and interventions to minimize its nefarious effects. The existent body of knowledge has already identified several individual, situational and contextual antecedents of workplace aggression, although this is a research area where significant gaps occur and many issues were still not addressed Dupr�� and Barling (2006). According to Baron and Neuman (1998) one of these predictors is organizational change, since certain changes in the work environment (e.g., changes in management) can lead to increased aggression. This paper intends to contribute to workplace aggression research by studying its relationship with organizational change, considering a moderating role of political behaviors and organizational cynicism (Ammeter et al., 2002, Ferris et al., 2002). The literature review suggests that mediators and moderators that intervene in the relationships between workplace aggression and its antecedents are understudied topics. James (2005) sustains that organizational politics is related to cynicism and the empirical research of Miranda (2008) has identified leadership political behavior as an antecedent of cynicism but these two variables were not yet investigated regarding their relationship with workplace aggression. This investigation was operationalized using several scales including the Organizational Change Questionnaire-climate of change, processes, and readiness (Bouckenooghe, Devos and Broeck, 2009), a Workplace Aggression Scale (Vicente and D���Oliveira, 2008, 2009, 2010), an Organizational Cynicism Scale (Wanous, Reichers and Austin, 1994) and a Political Behavior Questionnaire (Yukl and Falbe, 1990). Participants representing a wide variety of jobs across many organizations were surveyed. The results of the study and its implications will be presented and discussed. This study contribution is also discussed in what concerns organizational change practices in organizations.

Agress��o no trabalho em processos de mudan��a organizacional: O papel mediador do cinismo organizacional e do comportamento pol��tico

Workplace aggression is a factor that shapes the interaction between individuals and their work environment and produces many undesirable outcomes, sometimes introducing heavy costs for organizations. Only through a comprehensive understanding o f the genesis of workplace aggression is possible to develop strategies and interventions to minimize its nefarious effects. The existent body of knowledge has already identified several individual, situational and contextual antecedents of workplace aggr ession, although this is a research area where significant gaps occur and many issues were still not addressed (Dupr�� & Barling, 2006). According to Neuman and Baron (1998) one of these predictors is organizational change, since certain changes in the work environment (e.g., changes in management) can lead to increased aggression. This paper intends to contribute to workplace aggression research by studying its relationship with organizational change, considering the mediation role of political behaviors an d organizational cynicism (Ammeter, Douglas, Gardner, Hochwarter, & Ferris, 2002). The literature review suggests that mediators and moderators that intervene in the relationships between workplace aggression and its antecedents are understudied topics. Ja mes (2005) sustains that organizational politics is related to cynicism and the empirical research of Miranda (2008) has identified leadership political behavior as an antecedent of cynicism but these two variables were not yet investigated regarding their relationship with workplace aggression. This investigation was operationalized using several scales including the Organizational Change Questionnaire - climate of change, processes, and readiness (Bouckenooghe, Devos, & Broeck, 2009), a Workplace Aggressio n Scale (Vicente, 2008, 2009), an Organizational Cynicism Scale (Wanous, Reichers, & Austin, 1994) and a Political Behavior Questionnaire (Yukl & Falbe, 1990). Participants representing a wide variety of jobs across many organizations were surveyed. The r esults of the study and its implications will be presented and discussed. This study contribution is also discussed in what concerns organizational change practices in organizations.

A semantic approach for learning objects repositories with knowledge reuse

In this paper we discuss how the inclusion of semantic functionalities in a Learning Objects Repository allows a better characterization of the learning materials enclosed and improves their retrieval through the adoption of some query expansion strategies. Thus, we started to regard the use of ontologies to automatically suggest additional concepts when users are filling some metadata fields and add new terms to the ones initially provided when users specify the keywords with interest in a query. Dealing with different domain areas and having considered impractical the development of many different ontologies, we adopted some strategies for reusing ontologies in order to have the knowledge necessary in our institutional repository. In this paper we make a review of the area of knowledge reuse and discuss our approach.

A study on security grade assignment model for mobile users in urban computing

The relation between the information/knowledge expression and the physical expression can be involved as one of items for an ambient intelligent computing [2],[3]. Moreover, because there are so many contexts around user/spaces during a user movement, all appplcation which are using AmI for users are based on the relation between user devices and environments. In these situations, it is possible that the AmI may output the wrong result from unreliable contexts by attackers. Recently, establishing a server have been utilizes, so finding secure contexts and make contexts of higher security level for save communication have been given importance. Attackers try to put their devices on the expected path of all users in order to obtain users informationillegally or they may try to broadcast their SPAMS to users. This paper is an extensionof [11] which studies the Security Grade Assignment Model (SGAM) to set Cyber-Society Organization (CSO).

Aplica����o pr��tica dos pilares da gest��o numa funda����o: melhoria de processos e procedimentos

Mestrado em Controlo de Gest��o e dos Neg��cios

Traditional knowledge for promotion of socioeconomic inclusion of local communities

This paper discusses the key role played by public research institutes for promoting socioeconomic inclusion of local communities based on traditional knowledge and traditional medicine. Nongovernmental organizations and cooperatives have had an important role in raising financial resources, being involved with advocacy of local communities and advancing legislation changes. But strict best manufacturing practices regulations imposed by the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency on the requirements for approval and commercialization of drugs based on herbal medicine products call for the involvement of strong public research institutes capable of supporting community-based pharmacies. Thus, public research institutes are pivotal as they can conduct scientific research studies to evidence the efficacy of herbal medicine products and help building the capacity of local communities to comply with current regulations.

Comunidades de pr��tica nas organiza����es de sa��de: proposta de modelo numa organiza����o hospitalar

Mestrado em Interven����o S��cio-Organizacional na Sa��de - Ramo de especializa����o: Pol��ticas de Administra����o e gest��o de Servi��os de Sa��de

A decis��o t��cnica num servi��o de radiologia de urg��ncia hospitalar: o caso dos t��cnicos de radiologia do Hospital de S��o Jos�� (Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa ��� Zona Central)

Mestrado em Interven����o S��cio-Organizacional na Sa��de - Ramo de especializa����o: Pol��ticas de Administra����o e Gest��o de Servi��os de Sa��de