A simbiose da educação - aprender a aprender em educação pré-escolar e ensino do 1º ciclo do ensino básico

Relatório de Estágio apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação de Paula Frassinetti para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Educação Pré-Escolar e Ensino do 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico

Novas abordagens à visualização e interacção com dados turísticos

Com o forte crescimento tecnológico tem-se verificado, cada vez mais, o crescente aumento de Web sites, voltados para o contacto directo com o consumidor, onde é possível procurar, escolher e adquirir um determinado produto I serviço directamente ao fornecedor. As plataformas de suporte à pesquisa de produtos de turismo possibilitam a entrega de um grande volume de dados mediante a pesquisa efectuada. Esta informação é, na sua maior parte, informação textual e é geralmente disponibilizada ao utilizador (via uma página Web) sob a forma de uma listagem ou tabela. Este trabalho incide então sobre a proposta e implementação de um conjunto de interfaces com elevada ergonomia, que permitam uma interacção simples e intuitiva entre o utilizador e os dados de turismo, mais concretamente com reservas de aviação e hotel. Para este propósito foi desenvolvida uma Rich Internet Application que permite ao utilizador o ajuste de determinados factores, que influenciam estes produtos de turismo, de modo a encontrar com maior facilidade o que mais se enquadra nos seus gostos I objectivos no vasto conjunto de resultados da pesquisa. ABSTRACT; With the constant growth of information technology tools we have witnessed increase in the number of web Sites aimed to direct contact with the consumer, where users can search, select and purchase a product/service directly to the supplier. The platforms that support the search for tourism data enable the delivery of a large volume of data, as a result of the search that was done. This information is mostly textual and is, in general available to the user (via a web page) in a form of a large list or table. This work focuses on a proposal and implementation of a set of interfaces with high ergonomics. allowing a simple and intuitive interaction between the user and the tourism data, more specifically with air fares and hotels reservations. For this purpose was developed an Rich Internet Application that allows the user to adjust some factors that influence the tourism products, in order to more accurately find what fits their tastes objectives in the wide range of search results.

A sonata de um professor em formação: aprender, refletir e agir

Passo a passo, foi trilhado um caminho que proporcionou um crescimento e um maior conhecimento acerca da profissão docente. De facto, o desafio de se ser professor está profundamente relacionado com o gosto de se querer ensinar, bem como com a vontade de se querer colocar ao serviço do outro. Deste modo, o presente relatório de estágio, integrado na unidade curricular de Integração Curricular: Prática Educativa e Relatório de Estágio, do 2.º ano de Mestrado em Ensino do 1.º e 2.º Ciclos do Ensino Básico, assume-se como um documento que tem como objetivo espelhar o percurso desenvolvido ao longo da Prática Educativa Supervisionada. Nesta caminhada, que se valoriza pelo seu percurso, destacam-se as aprendizagens realizadas, que foram favorecidas pela colaboração com o par pedagógico, orientadores cooperantes e supervisores institucionais a partir de um ciclo de supervisão pautado pela exigência. Assim, este relatório de estágio configura-se como um documento pessoal que representa a construção da profissionalidade docente, sendo o retrato de um percurso de crescimento profissional.

A basic interpretive study of the experiences of university students who have dropped or failed an online course

Online courses have increased in enrollments over the past few decades. As the number of students taking online courses have increased, so has the number of students who have dropped or failed an online course. According to the literature, online courses may have higher drop rates than traditional, face-to-face courses. The number of students who fail an online course is, also, of concern. As online courses may continue to grow over the next few decades, studies on persistence in online courses may benefit students, administrators, instructional designers, educators, and researchers. Although previous research studies have addressed persistence in online courses, very few examine it from the perspectives of students who were unsuccessful in their courses. These students may have unique insights about the online experience that may have related to their lack of success. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of university students who have failed or dropped an online course through the lenses of transactional distance theory and Kember’s model of dropout in distance education. Transactional distance theory discusses the dialog, structure, and learner autonomy involved in an online course, while, Kember’s model presents categories that may relate to dropping an online course. Together, the theory and model may help in understanding the experiences of students who have dropped or failed an online course. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants from a large Southeastern university in the United States. Based on the participants’ responses, the data was sorted and ranked according to the amount of transactional distance in their courses, as well as the categories of Kember’s model. Many of the participants who experienced low or high transactional distance have, also, expressed an issue with the goal commitment category of Kember’s model. Additionally, there were important differences in the student characteristics of those who dropped or failed an online course. Furthermore, suggestions for improving online courses were given by the participants. Some of these suggestions included more student-instructor interactions, the use of more technology tools in their online course, and for orientations to the online environment to be offered.^

Apprendre avec la technologie : l'impact sur l'enseignement et l'apprentissage de l’utilisation de la technologie numérique (SMARTBOARD) dans les classes

This research was devoted to gaining information on teachers? use of technology, specifically SMARTBOARD technology, for teaching and promoting learning in the classroom. Research has suggested that use of technology can enhance learning and classroom practices. This has resulted in administrators encouraging the use of SMARTBOARDS, installing them in classrooms and providing training and support for teachers to use this technology. Adoption of new technology, however, is not simple. It is even more challenging because making the best use of new technologies requires more than training; it requires a paradigm shift in teachers? pedagogical approach. Thus, while it may be reasonable to believe that all we need to do is show teachers the benefits of using the SMARTBOARD; research tells us that changing paradigms is difficult for a variety of reasons. This research had two main objectives. First, to discover what factors might positively or negatively affect teachers? decisions to take up this technology. Second, to investigate how the SMARTBOARD is used by teachers who have embraced it and how this impacts participation in classrooms. The project was divided into two parts; the first was a survey research (Part 1), and the second was an ethnographic study (Part 2). A thirty-nine item questionnaire was designed to obtain information on teachers? use of technology and the SMARTBOARD. The questionnaire was distributed to fifty teachers at two EMSB schools: James Lyng Adult Centre (JLAC) and the High School of Montreal (HSM). Part 2 was an ethnographic qualitative study of two classes (Class A, Class B) at JLAC. Class A was taught by a male teacher, an early-adopter of technology and a high-level user of the SMARTBOARD; Class B was taught by a female teacher who was more traditional and a low-level user. These teachers were selected because they had similar years of experience and general competence in their subject matter but differed in their use of the technology. The enrollment in Class A and Class B were twenty-three and twenty-four adult students, respectively. Each class was observed for 90 minutes on three consecutive days in April 2010. Data collection consisted of videotapes of the entire period, and observational field notes with a graphical recording of participatory actions. Information from the graphical recording was converted to sociograms, a graphic representation of social links among individuals involved in joint action. The sociogram data was tabulated as quantified data. The survey results suggest that although most teachers are interested in and use some form of technology in their teaching, there is a tendency for factors of gender and years of experience to influence the use of and opinions on using technology. A Chi Square analysis of the data revealed (a) a significant difference (2 = 6.031, p < .049) for gender in that male teachers are more likely to be interested in the latest pedagogic innovation compared to female teachers; and, (b) a significant difference for years of experience (2 = 10.945, p < .004), showing that teachers with ?6 years experience were more likely to use the SMARTBOARD, compared to those with more experience (>6 years). All other items from the survey data produced no statistical difference. General trends show that (a) male teachers are more willing to say yes to using the SMARTBOARD compared to female teachers, and (b) teachers with less teaching experience were more likely to have positive opinions about using the SMARTBOARD compared to teachers with more experience. The ethnographic study results showed differences in students? response patterns in the two classrooms. Even though both teachers are experienced and competent, Teacher A elicited more participation from his students than Teacher B. This was so partly because he used the SMARTBOARD to present visual materials that the students could easily respond to. By comparison, Teacher B used traditional media or methods to present most of her course material. While these methods also used visual materials, students were not able to easily relate to these smaller, static images and did not readily engage with the material. This research demonstrates a generally positive attitude by teachers towards use of the SMARTBOARD and a generally positive role of this technology in enhancing students? learning and engagement in the classroom. However, there are many issues related to the SMARTBOARD use that still need to be examined. A particular point is whether teachers feel adequately trained to integrate SMARTBOARD technology into their curricula. And, whether the gender difference revealed is related to other factors like a need for more support, other responsibilities, or a general sense of anxiety when it comes to technology. Greater opportunity for training and ongoing support may be one way to increase teacher use of the SMARTBOARD; particularly for teachers with more experience (>6 years) and possibly also for female teachers.

TELFest: an approach to encouraging the adoption of educational technologies

Barriers to technology adoption in teaching and learning are well documented, with a corresponding body of research focused on how these can be addressed. As a way to combine a variety of these adoption strategies, the University of Sheffield developed a Technology Enhanced Learning Festival, TELFest. This annual, week-long event, emphasises the role technology can play through an engaging learning experience which combines expert-led practical workshops, sharing of practice, discussions and presentations by practitioners. As the popularity of the event has grown and the range of topics expanded, a community of practice has organically coalesced among attendees, supporting the mainstream adoption of several technologies and helping to broaden educational innovation beyond isolated pockets. This paper situates TELFest within the technology adoption literature by providing details about TELFest, outlining the results of an investigation into the impact that it has had on attendees' teaching practice and summarising some of the limitations of the method along with reflections on how to address these limitations in the future.

How to measure healthiness in buildings: Experiences in teaching with BIM tools

Introducing teaching about healthy solutions in buildings and BIM has been a challenge for the University of Alicante. Teaching attached to very tighten study plans conditioned the types of methods that could be used in the past. The worldwide situation of crisis that especially reached Spain and the bursting of the housing bubble generated a lack of employment that reached universities where careers related to construction, Architecture and Architectural Technologist, suffered a huge reduction in the number of students enrolled. In the case of the University of Alicante, students’ enrolment for Architectural Technology reached an 80% reduction. The necessity of a reaction against this situation made the teachers be innovative and use the new Bologna adapted study plans to develop new teaching experiences introducing new concepts: people wellbeing in buildings and BIM. Working with healthy solutions in buildings provided new approaches for building design and construction as an alternative to sustainability. For many years sustainability was the concept that applied to housing gave buildings an added value and the possibility of having viability in a very complex scenario. But after lots of experiences, the approved methodologies for obtaining sustainable housing were ambiguous and at the end, investors, designers, constructors and purchasers cannot find real and validated criteria for obtaining an effective sustainable house. It was the moment to work with new ideas and concepts and start facing buildings from the users’ point of view. At the same time the development of new tools, BIM, has opened a wide range of opportunities, innovative and suggestive, that allows simulation and evaluation of many building factors. This paper describes the research in teaching developed by the University of Alicante to adapt the current study plans, introducing work with healthy solutions in buildings and the use of BIM, with the aim of attracting students by improving their future employability. Pilot experiences have been carried out in different subjects based on the work with projects and case studies under an international frame with the cooperation of different European partner universities. The use of BIM tools, introduced in 2014, solved the problems that appeared in some subjects, mainly building construction, and helped with the evaluation of some healthy concepts that presented difficulties until this moment as knowledge acquired by the students was hard to be evaluated. The introduction of BIM tools: Vasari, FormIt, Revit and Light Control among others, allowed the study of precise healthy concepts and provided the students a real understand of how these different parameters can condition a healthy architectural space. The analysis of the results showed a clear acceptance by the students and gave teachers the possibility of opening new research lines. At the same time, working with BIM tools to obtain healthy solutions in building has been a good option to improve students’ employability as building market in Spain is increasing the number of specialists in BIM with a wider knowledge.

Impact of Commercial Search Engines and International Databases on Engineering Teaching and Research

For the last three decades, the engineering higher education and professional environments have been completely transformed by the "electronic/digital information revolution" that has included the introduction of personal computer, the development of email and world wide web, and broadband Internet connections at home. Herein the writer compares the performances of several digital tools with traditional library resources. While new specialised search engines and open access digital repositories may fill a gap between conventional search engines and traditional references, these should be not be confused with real libraries and international scientific databases that encompass textbooks and peer-reviewed scholarly works. An absence of listing in some Internet search listings, databases and repositories is not an indication of standing. Researchers, engineers and academics should remember these key differences in assessing the quality of bibliographic "research" based solely upon Internet searches.

Teaching and learning mathematics using moodle

This paper summarizes a project that is contributing to a change in the way of teaching and learning Mathematics. Mathematics is a subject of the Accounting and Administration course. In this subject we teach: Functions and Algebra. The aim is that the student understand the basic concepts and is able to apply them in other issues, when possible, establishing a bridge between the issues that they have studied and their application in Accounting. As from this year, the Accounting course falls under in Bologna Process. The teacher and the student roles have changed. The time for theoretical and practical classes has been reduced, so it was necessary to modify the way of teaching and learning. In the theoretical classes we use systems of multimedia projection to present the concepts, and in the practical classes we solve exercises. We also use the Excel and the mathematical open source software wxMaxima. To supplement our theoretical and practical classes we have developed a project called MatActiva based on the Moodle platform offered by PAOL - Projecto de Apoio Online (Online Support Project). With the creation of this new project we wanted to take advantage already obtained results with the previous experiences, giving to the students opportunities to complement their study in Mathematics. One of the great objectives is to motivate students, encourage them to overcome theirs difficulties through an auto-study giving them more confidence. In the MatActiva project the students have a big collection of information about the way of the subject works, which includes the objectives, the program, recommended bibliography, evaluation method and summaries. It works as material support for the practical and theoretical classes, the slides of the theoretical classes are available, the sheets with exercises for the students to do in the classroom and complementary exercises, as well as the exams of previous years. Students can also do diagnostic tests and evaluation tests online. Our approach is a reflexive one, based on the professional experience of the teachers that explore and incorporate new tools of Moodle with their students and coordinate the project MatActiva.

Teaching with Moodle in higher education

Nowadays, with the use of technology and the Internet, education is undergoing significant changes, contemplating new ways of teaching and learning. One of the widely methods of teaching used to promote knowledge, consists in the use of virtual environments available in various formats, taking as example the teaching-learning platforms, which are available online. The Internet access and use of Laptops have created the technological conditions for teachers and students can benefit from the diversity of online information, communication, collaboration and sharing with others. The integration of Internet services in the teaching practices can provide thematic, social and digital enrichment for the agents involved. In this paper we will talk about the advantages of LMS (Learning Management Systems) such as Moodle, to support the presential lectures in higher education. We also will analyse its implications for student support and online interaction, leading educational agents to a mixing of different learning environments, where they can combine face-to-face instruction with computer-mediated instruction, blended-learning, and increases the options for better quality and quantity of human interaction in a learning environment. We also will present some tools traditionally used in online assessment and that are part of the functionalities of Moodle. These tools can provide interesting alternatives to promote a more significant learning and contribute to the development of flexible and customized models of an evaluation which we want to be more efficient.

Technology for creativity and innovation: tools, techniques and applications

It is widely accepted that organizations and individuals must be innovative and continually create new knowledge and ideas to deal with rapid change. Innovation plays an important role in not only the development of new business, process and products, but also in competitiveness and success of any organization. Technology for Creativity and Innovation: Tools, Techniques and Applications provides empirical research findings and best practices on creativity and innovation in business, organizational, and social environments. It is written for educators, academics and professionals who want to improve their understanding of creativity and innovation as well as the role technology has in shaping this discipline.

An integrated reusable remote laboratory to complement electronics teaching

The great majority of the courses on science and technology areas where lab work is a fundamental part of the apprenticeship was not until recently available to be taught at distance. This reality is changing with the dissemination of remote laboratories. Supported by resources based on new information and communication technologies, it is now possible to remotely control a wide variety of real laboratories. However, most of them are designed specifically to this purpose, are inflexible and only on its functionality they resemble the real ones. In this paper, an alternative remote lab infrastructure devoted to the study of electronics is presented. Its main characteristics are, from a teacher's perspective, reusability and simplicity of use, and from a students' point of view, an exact replication of the real lab, enabling them to complement or finish at home the work started at class. The remote laboratory is integrated in the Learning Management System in use at the school, and therefore, may be combined with other web experiments and e-learning strategies, while safeguarding security access issues.

From cheating to teaching: a path for conversion of illegal gambling machines

Video poker machines, a former symbol of fraud and gambling in Brazil, are now being converted into computer-based educational tools for Brazilian public primary schools and also for governmental and non-governmental institutions dealing with communities of poverty and social exclusion, in an attempt to reduce poverty risks (decrease money spent on gambling) and promote social inclusion (increase access and motivation to education). Thousands of illegal gambling machines are seized by federal authorities, in Brazil, every year, and usually destroyed at the end of the criminal apprehension process. This paper describes a project developed by the University of Southern Santa Catarina, Brazil, responsible for the conversion process of gambling machines, and the social inclusion opportunities derived from it. All project members worked on a volunteer basis, seeking to promote social inclusion of Brazilian young boys and girls, namely through digital inclusion. So far, the project has been able to convert over 200 gambling machines and install them in over 40 public primary schools, thus directly benefiting more than 12,000 schoolchildren. The initial motivation behind this project was technology based, however the different options arising from the conversion process of the gambling machines have also motivated a rather innovative and unique experience in allowing schoolchildren and young people with special (educational) needs to access to computer-based pedagogical applications. The availability of these converted machines also helps to place Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the very daily educational environment of these children and youngsters, thus serving social and cultural inclusion aspects, by establishing a dialogue with the community and their technological expectations, and also directly contributing to their digital literacy.

Innovations in technology: a friendly math project and the learning analytics “challenge”

Currently the world around us "reboots" every minute and “staying at the forefront” seems to be a very arduous task. The continuous and “speeded” progress of society requires, from all the actors, a dynamic and efficient attitude both in terms progress monitoring and moving adaptation. With regard to education, no matter how updated we are in relation to the contents, the didactic strategies and technological resources, we are inevitably compelled to adapt to new paradigms and rethink the traditional teaching methods. It is in this context that the contribution of e-learning platforms arises. Here teachers and students have at their disposal new ways to enhance the teaching and learning process, and these platforms are seen, at the present time, as significant virtual teaching and learning supporting environments. This paper presents a Project and attempts to illustrate the potential that new technologies present as a “backing” tool in different stages of teaching and learning at different levels and areas of knowledge, particularly in Mathematics. We intend to promote a constructive discussion moment, exposing our actual perception - that the use of the Learning Management System Moodle, by Higher Education teachers, as supplementary teaching-learning environment for virtual classroom sessions can contribute for greater efficiency and effectiveness of teaching practice and to improve student achievement. Regarding the Learning analytics experience we will present a few results obtained with some assessment Learning Analytics tools, where we profoundly felt that the assessment of students’ performance in online learning environments is a challenging and demanding task.