Computer programs and digital materials usage for learning evaluation purposes: professors and students' perceptions

Este artículo presenta los resultados de un estudio de caso que se realizó con el objetivo de comprender cómo se está vinculando el uso de tecnología computacional y el uso de materiales digitales en los procesos de evaluación del aprendizaje en un escenario de educación superior, específicamente en la materia de contabilidad administrativa. Se realizaron observaciones sobre procesos de evaluación sumativa. También se entrevistó a docentes y estudiantes para comprender su percepción sobre las implicaciones formativas que emanan de la decisión de hacer uso de las TICs en procesos de verificación del aprendizaje. Los hallazgos permitieron la comprensión de diferentes factores que convergen en la decisión de utilizar o no TICs en el proceso de evaluación tales como: la concepción que tiene el docente sobre el propósito y diseño de un examen, la vinculación entre evaluación y aprendizaje, así como la inseguridad y desconfianza que genera la apertura a posibilidades de plagio, de fallas tecnológicas, además de caer en el riesgo de propiciar un ambiente de inequidad ante el desafío que implica manejar con pericia dichas herramientas; todos éstos, factores que provocan desaceleración en la inserción de las herramientas tecnológicas en procesos de verificación del aprendizaje.Este artigo apresenta os resultados de um estudo de caso que se realizou com o objetivo de compreender como se está vinculando o uso de tecnologia computacional e o uso de materiais digitais nos processos de avaliação da aprendizagem num contexto de educação superior, especificamente na matéria de contabilidade administrativa. Realizaram-se observações sobre processos de avaliação somática. Também se entrevistou docentes e estudantes para compreender sua percepção sobre os envolvimentos formativos que emanam da decisão de fazer uso das Cacoetes em processos de verificação da aprendizagem. Os achados permitiram o entendimento de diferentes fatores que convergem na decisão de utilizar ou não Cacoetes no processo de avaliação tais como: a concepção que tem o docente sobre o propósito e planejamento de um exame, a vinculação entre avaliação e aprendizagem, bem como a insegurança e desconfiança que gera a abertura à possibilidades de plágio, de falhas tecnológicas, além de cair no risco de propiciar um ambiente de iniqüidade ante o desafio que implica manipular com perícia ditas ferramentas; todos estes fatores provocam desaceleração na inserção das ferramentas tecnológicas em processos de verificação da aprendizagem.This article contains the results of a case study in a higher education institution context. The objective was getting to comprehend in a deeply way how are computing programs and digital materials being used for summative assessment purposes in management accounting lectures. Observations during computing exam applications as well as some interviews were held with both, professors and students to get their perceptions about consequences of deciding to use or not computing programs and support digital material. Findings revealed a conjunction of factors that permit deep comprehension about some attitudes towards the usage of computing tools. Indeed, insecurity and mistrust are reasons that involve decisions such as not using computing technology during examinations. Risks related to plagiarism possibilities and unfair conditions to solve exams are some of the reasons why computing technology is not becoming a familiar part of examinations tools in higher education

Light emitting devices based on nanostructured semiconductors

Light emitting devices based on high-efficiency photoluminescence (PL) fluorescent nanocrystals have been investigated in terms of the generation of light from the structure using a variety of deposition methods. An automated modified layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technique has been employed to produce multilayers of thiol-capped red fluorescing CdTe nanocrystals. Indium- tin-oxide (ITO) and aluminium electrodes were used as the electrodes. Morphological characterization was carried out through Schottky field effect (SFEG) SEM and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The structures built presented clear red electroluminescence (EL) to the naked eye. Turn on voltages were found to be in the range of 3-6 volts while the onset current was in the order of tens of microamperes. The role of structure homogeneity, the presence of pinholes and lifetime extension were features addressed during this investigation. Samples with a lifetime of continuous operation in air longer than 60 minutes and highly stable EL spectra were achieved; EL was visible to the unaided eye, although the brightness was still below the commercial standards and has not yet been qualified

Validación de una secuencia didáctica sobre conducción de calor en estudiantes de secundaria mexicanos

El diseño y aplicación de las secuencias didácticas ha tenido un auge en los últimos años en el campo de Didáctica de las Ciencias. Gracias a la dualidad que éstas presentan, es posible manejarlas como objeto de investigación. Es por ello que en esta contribución presentamos los resultados de la aplicación de la secuencia didáctica con el objeto de validarla, al compararla con los modelos iniciales y los modelos alcanzados por los estudiantes (post-intervención) con un modelo teórico propuesto. En el estudio participaron estudiantes mexicanos de segundo año de secundaria (13-15 años). Los resultados indican que después de la intervención el 63% de la muestra se acercó al modelo teórico postulado (27% modelo casi completo y 36% modelo completo). Sin embargo, algunas ideas previas persisten

The Effects of Student Loan Debt on Financial Worry

Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Human Ecology-Personal Financial PlanningMaurice M MacDonaldWith the costs of higher education increasing, the need to search for alternative ways to fund these expenses has also increased. While grants, scholarships, personal savings, and financial assistance from parents, may be effective for some, this is not the case for all students as some are inclined to use student loans to fund their higher education journey. Though student loan debt is an issue globally, Americans in particular face an enormous student loan deficit—$1.5 trillion, twice what it was a decade ago (Casey, 2020). The problem is not that student loans exist, as they provide an avenue to complete a degree, the issue arises when someone cannot pay back these loans because they are stretched very thin financially when the payment period begins. This can cause individuals to worry about the future of their finances. Drawing from student loan debt and worry research, this study highlights the degree to which student loan debt influences financial worry and seeks to explain the magnitude (i.e., to what degree student loans are tied to worry) and the mechanism by which student loans influence financial worry. (i.e., how does this happen). For the purpose of this study, financial worry was conceptualized as repetitive negative thoughts about uncertain future events, and a scale was created that encompasses retirement worry, personal finance anxiety, and physical and emotional financial stress. The study is guided by the Tallis and Eynseck model of worry. The model states that worry is activated when the severity of a perceived threat exceeds the estimated coping resources. Once a stressor is perceived, that stressor is then evaluated based on its severity. In this research, the stressor is student loan debt. Depending on the severity of the stressor, that stressor then influences an individual’s perception of how threatening it is. These threats can be objective or subjective and can also influence financial worry. The study used the 2018 National Financial Capability Study (NFCS) dataset. To take the model to data, student loans were categorized as two variables, student loans that are not delinquent and delinquent student loans. Results were then compared to individuals who do not have any student loans. Analyses showed a direct positive relationship between student loan debt delinquency and student loan debt non-delinquency to both objective and subjective financial threats. The magnitude of the student loan delinquency effect was greater than that of non-delinquency on both subjective and objective stressors. Furthermore, subjective and objective financial stress were both positively associated with financial worry. When objective and subjective threat stressors were included, student loan delinquency and student loan non-delinquency were not significant predictors of financial worry at the .05 level. Results from the present study contribute to the literature on financial worry, financial stress, and student loan debt. Results also provide the foundation for understanding the influence of student loan debt on financial worry as well as understanding the influence of coping mechanisms to decrease such financial worry. The results of the present study should be of interest to policymakers, financial and mental health professionals, and students who may rely on debt for attending an institution of higher education

Insights into the relationship between inherent materials properties of PZT and photochemistry for the development of nanostructured silver.

Recently there has been great interest in using patterned ferroelectric materials for the photochemical growth of metal nanostructures. Variations in surface and sub-surface structure influence the photochemical processes. Here we show that crystallography, and hence remnant polarization, of the ferroelectric affects photo-deposition. The ratio of metal growth on c– and c+ domains varies from 1 : 2 for [100] to 1 : 100 for [111]. This is shown to be dependent on the variations in the band structu

Cathodic and Anodic Material Diffusion in Polymer/Semiconductor-Nanocrystal Composite Devices

In the present day, the information technologies and telecommunications sector continually increase their demand for low cost, low power consumption, high performance electroluminescent devices for display applications. Furthermore, general lighting applications, such as white light and large array colour displays, would also benefit from an increase in the overall efficiency. Several technologies are being investigated to fulfill these needs, such as organic light emitting diodes (OLED), polymeric light emitting diodes (PLED) and field effect emission devices. A new and promising technology is light emitting devices (LEDs) based on nanostructured materials. With organic LEDs (OLEDs) already making an impact on the market in an increasingly large number of applications, hybrid technologies based on organic/inorganic nano-composites are a potential the next step. The incorporation of highefficiency fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles has been shown to have a beneficial effect on device performance, [1] modify the colour output from the device 2 and provide a simplified route to generation of LED type devices. [3

Fabrication and characterization of red-emitting electroluminescent devices based on thiol-stabilized semiconductor nanocrystals

Thiol-capped CdTe nanocrystals were used to fabricate light-emitting diodes, consisting of an emissive nanocrystal multilayer deposited via layer-by-layer, sandwiched between indium-tin-oxide and aluminum electrodes. The emissive and electrical properties of devices with different numbers of nanocrystal layers were studied. The improved structural homogeneity of the nanocrystal multilayer allowed for stable and repeatable current- and electroluminescence-voltage characteristics. These indicate that both current and electroluminescence are electric-field dependent. Devices were operated under ambient conditions and a clear red-light was detected. The best-performing device shows a peak external efficiency of 0.51% and was measured at 0.35mA/cm2 and 3.3V

Outliers of presidential approval: dynamics, levels, and rates

[EN] Presidential approval tends to exhibit the dynamics of honeymoon, decline, and a rebound as elections near. But several presidential administrations and, indeed, some countries themselves, do not conform to this pattern. This introduction to the special issue identifies and classifies outliers to the typical dynamics of approval using a 12-category taxonomy and data on 140 presidential administrations in 18 Latin American countries from the Executive Approval Project 1.0. Contributors to this special issue use this taxonomy to select outlier cases to explain in their respective articles. This combination of cross-national and case-study approaches suggest a more general theory of presidential approval can be constructed by systematically testing new hypotheses generated in this special issue concerning the role of governing style, political communication, security, policy choice, and institutional context