Data mining applied in school dropout prediction

In recent years, many studies have emerged about regarding the topic of school failure, showing a growing interest in determining the multiple factors that may influence it [1]. Most of the researches that attempt to solve this issue [2] are focused on determining the factors that most affect the performance of students (dropout and failure) at the different educational levels (basic, middle and higher education) through the use of the large amount of information that current computer equipment allows to store in databases. All these data constitute a real gold mine of valuable information about students. But, identifying and finding useful and hidden information in large databases is a difficult task [3]. A very promising solution to achieve this goal is the use of knowledge mining techniques or data mining in education, which has resulted in so-called Educational Data Mining (EDM) [4]. This new area of research is concerned with the development of methods for exploring data in education, as well as the use of these methods to better understand students and the contexts where they learn [5]

Validación del diseño de una red de cooperación científico-tecnológica utilizando el coeficiente K para la selección de expertos

El objetivo del presente estudio es utilizar el coeficiente de competencia experta (K) para el proceso de selección de expertos que participaron en la validación de contenido y confiabilidad de diseño de una red de cooperación científico-tecnológica. La red esta enfocada para la gestión de prácticas profesionales en el contexto intersectorial (universidad-gobierno-empresa) en la Península de Paraguaná, estado Falcón, Venezuela. Se aplica la metodología Delphi como técnica de predicción y participaron 17 expertos. Los resultados evidencian que los expertos muestran un alto nivel de argumentación respecto al conocimiento de redes de cooperación y gestión de prácticas profesionales. Se determinó el coeficiente de concordancia de Kendall (W), el cual muestra que los juicios emitidos por los expertos tienden a estar correlacionados con las estimaciones del diseño de red. Se concluye que el diseñó de red propuesto es confiable y válido en cuanto al contenido para su implementación.The primary objective of the present study is to use the expert competence coefficient (K) in the selection process of experts who participated in validating content and design reliability of a scientific-technology cooperation network. The network focuses on the management of intersectoral (university-government-company) professional internships in the Paraguaná peninsula, Falcón state, Venezuela. Delphi’s method is applied as a prediction technique and 17 experts participated in the study. The results show that the experts surveyed are highly knowledgeable about cooperation networks and professional internship management. In addition, the Kendall's coefficient of agreement (W) show that the judgments made by the experts tends to correlate with network design predictions. It is concluded that the proposed network design is reliable and valid for its implementation

Measuring the financial performance of MSMEs through artificial neural network

Given the importance of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Colombia, both in terms of the number of enterprises and the generation of employment, it is important to know their nature, as well as the main determinantsoftheirfinancialperformance.Inthissense,thispaperaimsto provide relevant information for the formulation of strategies, programs and public policies that promote practices within companies and thus improve the performance of this segment of organizations

Forecasting electric load demand through advanced statistical techniques

Traditional forecasting models have been widely used for decision-making in production, finance and energy. Such is the case of the ARIMA models, developed in the 1970s by George Box and Gwilym Jenkins [1], which incorporate characteristics of the past models of the same series, according to their autocorrelation. This work compares advanced statistical methods for determining the demand for electricity in Colombia, including the SARIMA, econometric and Bayesian methods

Teacher competences and transformations in education in the digital age

Se analizan aspectos relacionados con las competencias digitales en docentes en el escenario de educación superior en Barranquilla, Colombia. Se realizó una investigación con un enfoque mixto, que aplicando herramientas cuantitativas y cualitativas con el apoyo de un instrumento tipo Likert abordó el tema con una muestra dirigida (intencionada) de 20 docentes. Se revisó la literatura para identificar los modelos institucionales más acogidos para la incorporación de las tecnologías de la información y comunicaciones en los ambientes académicos y se contrastó con los resultados obtenidos. Los resultados evidencian una alta autopercepción (superior al 80%) por parte del profesorado encuestado frente a la presencia de competencias digitales en los procesos de enseñanza y aprendizaje. Entre estas, destacaron la capacitación e información, aplicación de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación y la gestión de entornos de aprendizaje. Se concluye que se debe promover en los docentes mayor compromiso con la renovación del conocimiento y la información, así como la estimular la creación de contenido digital que fomente las competencias en el alumnado.Aspects related to digital competencies in teachers in the higher education scenario in Barranquilla, Colombia, are analyzed. A research was carried out with a mixed approach, applying quantitative and qualitative tools with the support of a Likert type instrument and addressing the topic with a targeted (intentional) sample of 20 teachers. The literature was reviewed to identify the most accepted institutional models for the incorporation of information and communication technologies in academic environments, and the results obtained were compared. The results show a high level of self-perception (over 80%) by the teachers surveyed in view of the presence of digital competences in teaching and learning processes. Among these, training and information, the application of information and communication technologies and the management of learning environments stand out. It is concluded that it is necessary to promote in teachers greater commitment to the renewal of knowledge and information, as well as to stimulate the creation of digital content that promotes the skills in students