Aprendizaje-servicio en futuros docentes: desarrollo de la competencia social y ciudadana

El EEES ha supuesto una oportunidad para la deseable renovación metodológica en las universidades españolas (Calvo-Bernardino y Mingorance-Arnáiz, 2009). Cobra fuerza la tendencia a utilizar las denominadas metodologías activas, entre las que destaca el Aprendizaje-Servicio (ApS). Su fundamento es aprender contenidos curriculares a la vez que se presta un servicio a la sociedad atendiendo una necesidad real no cubierta, desde una perspectiva de colaboración recíproca (Puig, Gijón, Martín y Rubio, 2011). A partir de esta definición, es fácil comprender que su uso comporta la inclusión de la formación ciudadana en la educación superior, buscando formar a buenos profesionales con un compromiso ético firme y un sentido elevado de la responsabilidad social.EHEA has meant an opportunity for the much-desired methodological shift in the Spanish universities (Calvo-Bernardino y Mingorance-Arnáiz, 2009). Active methodologies are gaining momentum, among which service learning stands out. The rationale of this approach implies the acquisition of a given curricular content through community service, that is, satisfying an unresolved social necessity in real settings through mutual cooperation (Puig, Gijón, Martín y Rubio, 2011). Building on this definition, it goes without saying that the application of service learning brings about civic education to third level educational settings, fostering the education of competent professionals with a firm ethical commitment and a high sense of social responsibility

The motor game as methodological tool for boys and girls with functional diversity

Este artículo plantea la utilización del juego motriz como herramienta metodológica en el Young Athletes Program de Special Olympics o con cualquier niño o niña que presente algún tipo de necesidad educativa especial. Tras haber contextualizado en qué consiste el Young Athletes Program se lleva a cabo un breve análisis sobre los juegos motrices, tomando como referencia diversas definiciones, y los diversos beneficios que generan en estos niños y niñas; puesto que favorecen no solo una mejora a nivel físico, sino su desarrollo integral. Se presentan, además, diversos juegos a modo de ejemplo de aquellos que podrían ser utilizados y que se aprovechan de los beneficios comentados.This article suggests using motor games as a methodological tool in the Young Athletes Program of Special Olympics or with any child with any kind of disability. After contextualizing what is the Young Athletes Program, an analysis about the motor games is carried out taking into account several definitions. Some of its advantages are also set forth given the fact that motor games not only enhance the children’s physical developement, but they favour an integrated development. Several games are presented in order to show some ideas that might be used taking advantage of all the benefits that have been stated

Polygenic analysis of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria using 16S rDNA, amoA, and amoB genes

Finding a unique molecular marker capable of quickly providing rigorous and useful phylogenetic information would facilitate assessing the diversity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in environmental samples. Since only one of several available markers can be used at a time in these kinds of studies, the 16S rDNA, amoA and amoB genes were evaluated individually and then compared in order to identify the one that best fits the information provided by the composite dataset. Distance-based neighbor-joining and maximum parsimony trees generated using the sequences of the three mentioned genes were analyzed with respect to the combined polygenic trees. Maximum parsimony trees were found to be more accurate than distance-based ones, and the polygenic topology was shown to best fit the information contained in the sequences. However, the taxonomic and phylogenetic information provided by the three markers separately was also valid. Therefore, either of the functional markers (amoA or amoB ) can be used to trace ammonia oxidizers in environmental studies in which only one gene can be targeted. [Int Microbiol 2005; 8(2):103-110

Influence of Socio-Demographic Factors in the Promotion of Social Entrepreneurship: A Service-Learning Programme

Social entrepreneurship (SE) is often presented in the literature as the key to solve many of this world’s persistent social problems. SE offers a special opportunity to address the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to boost the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This research examines the effects of Service Learning (SL) on the SE of university students and to examine whether certain sociodemographic factors (i.e., age, entrance studies, family studies, social participation, and employment situation) are associated with students’ SE competence development when applying SL. Pre-service teachers (n = 98) of the degree in early childhood education applied a physical education SL programme. We used a quantitative method with a pre-experimental design, using pre-test and post-test measures. The findings obtained show a significant improvement on the SE competence of PSTs, so SL seems a good tool to develop it. The results that analyse the influence of socio-demographic factors do not show significant correlations. There are very few studies focusing on this objective, so it would be interesting to encourage the research community to provide more data in this area

Service-Learning and Physical Education in Preservice Teacher Training: Toward the Development of Civic Skills and Attitudes

Purpose: This research analyzes the effects of a Service-learning program on the development of civic attitudes and skills on preservice teachers (n = 98). They provided a direct service of motor sessions aimed at children with functional diversity. Method: The topic was approached using a mixed methodological approach. A pre- and posttest quantitative analysis was performed on the results obtained after applying the Civic Attitudes and Skills Questionnaire, and a qualitative analysis was performed on the content of follow-up journals. Results: The quantitative results indicated a significant positive posttest, and qualitative analysis explained the civic skills and attitudes that the preservice teachers acquired. Discussion/Conclusion: Service-learning is a useful method for promoting the civic attitudes and skills of preservice teachers. The acquired learning specifically affected the different dimensions involved in achieving meaningful learning, an improvement in the skills and attitudes that are essential characteristics of an inclusive teacher

Sustainable service-learning in Physical Education teacher education: examining postural control to promote ASD children’s well-being

As classrooms become more and more diverse, it is imperative to provide physical education teacher education (PETE) students with opportunities to develop competencies that promote quality education for all students. In this study, PETE students applied a physical education servicelearning (SL) program aimed at enhancing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) children’s motor domain and general well-being—objectives that are connected to the third focus of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Traditionally, research on SL has focused on students’ outcomes, and there is a call to examine SL’s effects on service receivers, which is the gap this paper aspires to fill. The aim of this study was to measure the postural control of children with ASD who were involved in a 6-month SL program in comparison to ASD peers in a control group. A quasi-experimental design was used in which a total of 29 children with ASD participated. The results of the experimental group showed a significant improvement in the vestibular pathways, an improvement trend in the somatosensorial and visual pathways and improvements in the dynamic tests. This study provides valuable feedback about how SL programs can benefit ASD children to improve their postural control, thus contributing to the third SDG concerned with well-being promotion

Factores que favorecen la inserción laboral de personas con discapacidad en Castellón

Setzenes Jornades de Foment de la Investigació (Any 2011)Es una realidad que las personas con discapacidad se encuentran en situación de desventaja a la hora de encontrar un puesto de trabajo. Teniendo en cuenta la actual situación del mercado laboral y las consecuencias que de ello se derivan, se decide observar las variables que influyen en el proceso de inserción laboral, centrándose en las personas con discapacidad, ya que por sus características presentan mayor vulnerabilidad. El objetivo principal es el conocimiento y fortalecimiento de las mismas para mejorar la inserción laboral de este colectivo. Las personas encuestadas han sido los responsables de recursos humanos de diferentes empresas de Castellón, a los que se les ha pasado una escala tipo Likert del 1 al 4 con el título: Cuestionario de valoración de las variables influyentes en la inserción laboral de personas con discapacidad, confeccionado por el grupo y validado por expertos. Las variables a estudiar fueron: Formación, Habilidades, Papel del trabajador social, Adaptaciones, Integración, Rendimiento laboral, Diferentes grupos de discapacidades, Imagen, Sector de Actividad y Características de la empresa: con o sin empleados con discapacidad. Finalmente la investigación sugiere que cada una de las variables propuestas son relevantes y favorecen, según los empresarios, a la hora de contratar al trabajador

Breeding and scientific advances in the fight against Dutch elm disease - will they allow the use of elms in forest restoration?

Revisión de los avances científicos y de producción de planta con fin de evaluar el potencial en la recuperación del olmo común

Comparative Hydrodynamic Analysis by Using Two-Dimensional Models and Application to a New Bridge

This document develops a methodology that evaluates the impact on the environment of the rivers produced by the creation of civil infrastructures. The methodology is based on the two-dimensional hydrodynamic calculation by using shallow water equations both in the conditions prior to the creation of the infrastructure, and in the new conditions after the infrastructure is created. Subsequently, several characteristics, such as water depth and velocity, among others, are compared between the initial and final conditions, and a two-dimensional zoning of the changes observed is obtained. The methodology herein presented is useful to verify the impact that the implantation of different infrastructures around the river currents could produce. In addition, it is also relevant for carrying out a study taking into account different infrastructure options related to river currents, as well as for selecting the most suitable one. By using the methodology presented, changes on the regime of the currents caused by the infrastructures can be deduced, including a qualitative and quantitative zoning of the changes, with a special emphasis on some characteristics, such as depth and velocity. The methodology is applied in a case study for the creation of a road bridge over the Jalon River in Spain

Alterations in the abundance and co-occurrence of Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the colonic mucosa of inflammatory bowel disease subjects

This work was funded by the Universitat de Girona projects MPCUdG2016-009 and GdRCompetUdG2017, and the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science through projects SAF2006-00414, SAF2010-15896 and SAF2013-43284-P, being the last co-funded by the European Regional Development. Dr. Sylvia H. Duncan acknowledges support from the Scottish Government Research and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS).Peer reviewedPublisher PD