A aprendizagem baseada na resolução de problemas na aprendizagem da Geologia: uma intervenção centrada no tópico "Ocupação antrópica e problemas de ordenamento"

Dissertação de mestrado em Ensino de Biologia e Geologia no 3º Ciclo do Ensino Básico e no Ensino Secundário

Typology based method for choosing old masonry walls inspection procedures

The diagnosis of historic masonry walls is an intricate and complex field and has been an object of research for many years. This paper aims to propose practical methodologies for the diagnosis of historic masonry walls, specifically based on their typological characteristics. In order to develop such procedures, information relating to historic masonry typologies in Portugal, classified as rural, urban and military was gathered and techniques for the assessment of historic masonry were studied. All information was integrated to develop a pattern typology oriented methodology. Developed methodology was tested and validated in a small diagnosis campaign carried out in the Guimarães Castle. Methodology was proven to be advantageous and although the study is limited and focused on the Portuguese architectural specificities, it still holds global classifications, and therefore can be useful for any diagnosis procedure of a historic masonry wall.

The tutor's role in student learning

Higher education in Portugal, in the last forty years, has undergone profound changes with the enlargement of public higher education network, the appearance of new institutions, the quantity and the heterogeneity of students. The implementation of the Bologna Process in European community countries led to the redesign of higher education Portuguese courses as well as their corresponding curricula. In recent years, the use of Project-led education was one of the most significant changes in teaching and learning, particularly in engineering in higher education in Portugal. This teaching methodology encourages students and teachers to undertake new roles, new responsibilities and a new learning perspective. This study aims at understanding whether the role of the tutor is to be suitable to the needs and expectations of Project-led education students. These changes however are not only structural. At the University of Minho, new teaching and learning methodologies were adopted, which could guide the training of professionals on to the twenty-first century. The opportunity arising from the implementation of Project-led education in Engineering methodology was used in the University of Minho’s courses. This teaching method is intended to provide students with educational support programs that benefit the academic performance, allowing the opportunity to upgrade, train and develop the ability to study and learn more effectively. Through the Project-led education it is possible to provide students with techniques and procedures and develop the ability to communicate orally and in writing. Students and teachers have assumed new roles in the teaching-learning process allowing in one hand the students to explore, discover and question themselves about some knowledge and on the other hand the teachers to change to a tutor, a companion and to a student project guide. Therefore, surveys were analyzed, comprising questions about the most significant contribution of the tutor as well as if there are some initial expectations that have not been foreseen by the tutor.

Dos reis da História aos reis das histórias: ficção para a infância e educação histórica no 4º ano do 1ºCEB

Relatório de estágio de mestrado em Educação Pré-Escolar e Ensino do 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico

Medir o impacto nas ciências sociais: pontos de referência teóricos

Os modos de fazer pesquisa científica têm vindo a alterar-se, em função das mudanças pelas quais passa o Ensino Superior, assim como os sistemas de ciência e tecnologia, no seu todo. Na Europa vivem-se tempos de grandes questionamentos acerca do modo de proceder relativamente à definição de metodologias de avaliação e/ou financiamento público à investigação individual e/ou coletiva. A tendência geral, neste contexto, é para aperfeiçoar as metodologias de avaliação, através da definição de indicadores que permitam medir as várias dimensões do trabalho científico. No campo específico da avaliação, prevê-se cada vez mais a avaliação do impacto das pesquisas. Ocorre que, apesar do número e da amplitude dos indicadores que vão sendo propostos, a definição de impacto resulta numa tarefa difícil. Não só porque a realidade medida nem toda é perfeitamente traduzível em algo tangível, mas também porque existem diferenças significativas nos modos como as diferentes áreas produzem conhecimento. Neste artigo, pretende-se refletir sobre esse conceito de impacto, nomeadamente ao nível das ciências sociais, evidenciando aquelas que são as principais conclusões e reflexões de estudos e escritos mais recentes.

High performance fiber reinforced concrete for the shear reinforcement: experimental and numerical research

High performance fiber reinforced concrete (HPFRC) is developing rapidly to a modern structural material with unique rheological and mechanical characteristics. Despite applying several methodologies to achieve self15 compacting requirements, some doubts still remain regarding the most convenient strategy for developing a HPFRC. In the present study, an innovative mix design method is proposed for the development of high17 performance concrete reinforced with a relatively high dosage of steel fibers. The material properties of the developed concrete are assessed, and the concrete structural behavior is characterized under compressive, flexural and shear loading. This study better clarifies the significant contribution of fibers for shear resistance of concrete elements. This paper further discusses a FEM-based simulation, aiming to address the possibility of calibrating the constitutive model parameters related to fracture modes I and II.

Durability indicators comparison for SCC and CC in tropical coastal environments

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) demands more studies of durability at higher temperatures when subjected to more aggressive environments in comparison to the conventional vibrated concrete (CC). This work aims at presenting results of durability indicators of SCC and CC, having the same water/binder relations and constituents. The applied methodologies were electrical resistivity, diffusion of chloride ions and accelerated carbonation experiments, among others, such as microstructure study, scanning electron microscope and microtomography experiments. The tests were performed in a research laboratory and at a construction site of the Pernambuco Arena. The obtained results shows that the SCC presents an average electrical resistivity 11.4% higher than CC; the average chloride ions diffusion was 63.3% of the CC; the average accelerated carbonation penetration was 45.8% of the CC; and the average open porosity was 55.6% of the CC. As the results demonstrated, the SCC can be more durable than CC, which contributes to elucidate the aspects related to its durability and consequent prolonged life cycle.

Avaliação do desempenho de fundos de investimento de ouro nos EUA: influência dos diferentes regimes de mercado na seletividade e market-timing

Dissertação de mestrado em Finanças

Seismic behaviour of portuguese rammed earth buildings

Rammed earth is one of the oldest building materials in the world and is present in the Portugal with a particular focus in the South of the country. The mechanical properties and the structural behaviour of rammed earth constructions have been the subject of study of many researchers in the recent years. This study is part of a broader research on vernacular seismic culture in Portugal. Numerical analyses were carried out on a rammed earth masonry construction representative of the vernacular heritage of Alentejo region. Variations in the geometry, constructive characteristics and material properties were implemented and the main conclusions of the non-linear static and modal analysis are presented. Analysing the damage framework allowed interpreting the weaknesses of this type of constructions and consider the most appropriate reinforcement methodologies.

Segurança contra incêndios na reabilitação sustentável de edifícios antigos

Dissertação de mestrado em Construção e Reabilitação Sustentáveis

Ergonomic analysis in a food packaging workplace

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) became one of the biggest health problems in the workplace and one of the main concerns of ergonomics and despite all the technical improvements manual handling is still an important risk factor for WMSD. The current study was performed with the main objective of conducting an ergonomic analysis in a workplace that consists in packaging products in a pallet, in a food distribution industry, also called picking. In this perspective, the aim of the study is to identify if the tasks performed by operators present any risk of WMSD and, if so, to suggest proposals for minimizing the associated effort. The methodologies of ergonomic risk assessment that were initially applied were the Risk Reckoner and the Manual Handling Assessment Chart (MAC). Subsequently, in order to, on the one hand, complement the analysis performed using the two methods previously mentioned, and, on the other hand, allow an assessment of two important risk factors associated with this activity (work postures and loads handling), two additional methodologies were also selected: the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation and the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). In all the performed approaches, the tasks of palletizing at lower levels were identified as the ones that most penalize workers in what regards the risk of development of WMSD. All methodologies identified levels of risk that require an immediate or short-term ergonomic intervention, aiming at ensuring the safety and health of workers performing such activity. The implementation of measures designed to eliminate or minimize the risk may involve the allocation of significant human and material resources that is increasingly necessary to manage efficiently. Taking into account the complexity and variability of the developed tasks, it is recommended that such a decision can be preceded by a new study using more accurate risk assessment methodologies, such as those that use monitoring tools.

Limitations and improvements to the risk assessment process in Olive Oil Mills: the views of OSH practitioners

Although most of the accidents occurred in Olive Oil Mill (OOM) resulted from “basic” risks, there is a need to apply adequate tools to support risk decisions that can meet the specificities of this sector. This study aims to analyse the views of Occupational, Safety & Health (OSH) practitioners about the risk assessment process in OOM, identifying the key difficulties inherent to the risk assessment process in these sector, as well as identifying some improvements to the current practice. This analysis was based on a questionnaire that was developed and applied to 13 OSH practitioners working at OOM. The results showed that the time available to perform the risk assessment is the more frequent limitation. They believe that the methodologies available are not an important limitation to this process. However, a specific risk assessment methodology, that includes acceptance criteria adjusted to the OOM reality, using risk metrics supported on the frequency of accidents and workdays lost, were indicated as being also an important contributions improve the process. A semi-quantitative approach, complemented with the use of the sector accident statistics, can be a good solution for this sector. However, further strategies should also be adopted, mainly those that can lead to an easy application of the risk assessment process.

Sustainability education in PBL education: the case study of IEM-UMINHO

Sustainability-related skills are becoming more and more relevant for a proficient and professional engineering practice. Industrial engineers in particular, given their broad field of intervention and being at the heart of industrial activity, hold a great deal of potential and responsibility in providing and delivering best industrial practices, that support enhanced industrial systems and products. Therefore making a real contribution in generating wealth and income for all the companies’ stakeholders, including local communities, as well as adding up to more sustainable ecosystems. Previous work by the authors focused on studying the inclusion of this subject on the education of industrial engineers, especially through active-learning methodologies, as well as presenting results on the use of one such approach. The study conducted tried to identify the impacts on sustainability learning using a given specific activity, i.e. a workshop on industrial ecology, held in the 2014/2015 academic year on the Integrated MSc degree on Industrial Engineering and Management at the University of Minho, Portugal. The study uses content analysis of student teams’ reports for two consecutive academic years. The former did not include one such workshop, while the latter did. The Fink taxonomy was used in the discussion of results and reflection. The study outcomes aimed at supporting decision making on worthiness of investment on similar education instruments for sustainability competency development. Some results of the study highlight that: (1) the workshop seem to globally have a positive contribution on the sustainability learning; (2) a number of dimensions of the Life cycle design strategy wheel was developed, but the approach was not broadly used, (3) There was a mismatch on the workshop schedule; (4) students enjoy the workshop; (5) a clearer endorsement on relevance of this aspect is required. Suggestions for future work are also issued.

Análise do impacto do controlo de custos na competitividade de uma empresa de mobiliário

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia e Gestão Industrial

Ensino, aprendizagem e avaliação no Ensino Superior: Perspetivas e práticas

Tese de Doutoramento em Ciências da Educação - Especialidade de Desenvolvimento Curricular