E-learning modules in courses. Fostering autonomy in learning

The breakthrough of information and communication technologies and their smooth incorporation into daily living has brought a cultural change in both, society and education. The traditional and formal paradigms and contexts represent new challenges of adjustments that consider the new kind of student that goes to university classrooms. Thus, the educational model from Universidad Católica de Temuco considers an intensive use of ICT in the educational process, and a gradual growth of the autonomy of students during training. In the Computer Science program, these elements of the model have been partially addressed through the incorporation of e-learning modules that foster autonomy. A technological platform was implemented to support an e-learning methodology. The methodology used in the study is described in this article. The outcomes obtained in courses where the methodology was applied were successful, which made possible new initiatives that include the suggested improvements from the assessment of the conducted experiences

Remote lab experiments: opening possibilities for distance learning in engineering fields

Remote experimentation laboratories are systems based on real equipment, allowing students to perform practical work through a computer connected to the internet. In engineering fields lab activities play a fundamental role. Distance learning has not demonstrated good results in engineering fields because traditional lab activities cannot be covered by this paradigm. These activities can be set for one or for a group of students who work from different locations. All these configurations lead to considering a flexible model that covers all possibilities (for an individual or a group). An inter-continental network of remote laboratories supported by both European and Latin American institutions of higher education has been formed. In this network context, a learning collaborative model for students working from different locations has been defined. The first considerations are presented.Education for the 21 st century - impact of ICT and Digital Resources ConferenceRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Understanding the role of mobile ad hoc networks in non-traditional contexts

With the rapid development of short-range wireless technology new venues to apply it in more sophisticated, complex, and dynamic environments have been opened. Nevertheless, the applicability of such technology in nontraditional settings like face-to-face encounters and disaster relief environments, remains unclear. This article describes a research effort aimed to narrow that gap by means of using two non-traditional settings as case studies; face-to-face encounters among unacquainted people and first responders in urban disaster relief environments. Among the results obtained are: a) interactions among unacquainted people may be promoted, though the level of interaction becomes easily constrained due to the current state of RF technology and the design of the experiments, and b) it is feasible to obtain a reliable communication platform for first responders operating in disaster relief missions. These results supports the idea that short-range wireless technology may play both a facilitator and a promoter role in face-to-face contexts, and at least a facilitator role in the case of users co-located in highly dynamic contexts.8th IFIP/IEEE International conference on Mobile and Wireless CommunicationRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Un modelo de comunicación para aplicaciones colaborativas

Los sistemas colaborativos pertenecen al área de investigación llamada CSCW ("ComputerSupported Cooperative Work"). Estos sistemas apoyan a grupos de personas trabajando en equipo, con el fin de alcanzar metas comunes. Un aspecto fundamental en todo proceso de colaboración es la comunicación. En el presente artículo se propone un esquema de comunicación que permite modelar los mecanismos de distribución de mensajes que se requieren en todos los sistemas colaborativos. Estos mecanismos proveen comunicación tanto entre usuarios como entre procesos del sistema a través del cual se está colaborando.Eje: Ingeniería del software. Computación gráfica y visualizaciónRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Un modelo de comunicación para aplicaciones colaborativas

Los sistemas colaborativos pertenecen al área de investigación llamada CSCW ("ComputerSupported Cooperative Work"). Estos sistemas apoyan a grupos de personas trabajando en equipo, con el fin de alcanzar metas comunes. Un aspecto fundamental en todo proceso de colaboración es la comunicación. En el presente artículo se propone un esquema de comunicación que permite modelar los mecanismos de distribución de mensajes que se requieren en todos los sistemas colaborativos. Estos mecanismos proveen comunicación tanto entre usuarios como entre procesos del sistema a través del cual se está colaborando.Eje: Ingeniería del software. Computación gráfica y visualizaciónRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Un modelo de comunicación para aplicaciones colaborativas

Los sistemas colaborativos pertenecen al área de investigación llamada CSCW ("ComputerSupported Cooperative Work"). Estos sistemas apoyan a grupos de personas trabajando en equipo, con el fin de alcanzar metas comunes. Un aspecto fundamental en todo proceso de colaboración es la comunicación. En el presente artículo se propone un esquema de comunicación que permite modelar los mecanismos de distribución de mensajes que se requieren en todos los sistemas colaborativos. Estos mecanismos proveen comunicación tanto entre usuarios como entre procesos del sistema a través del cual se está colaborando.Eje: Ingeniería del software. Computación gráfica y visualizaciónRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

U/PC: un patrón arquitectónico para aplicaciones colaborativas

Los sistemas colaborativos pertenecen al área de investigación llamada CSCW (“Computer-Supported Cooperative Work”). Estos sistemas apoyan a grupos de personas trabajando en equipo, con el fin de alcanzar metas comunes. Un aspecto fundamental en todo proceso de colaboración es la comunicación, y aunque todos los sistemas siguen el mismo patrón arquitectónico, la falta de una definición explícita del patrón hace que sea imposible el reuso de soluciones en este ámbito. Es por eso que en el presente artículo se presenta el patrón arquitectónico U/PC (Users/Processes Communication) que modela los mecanismos de comunicación en los sistemas colaborativos, brindando una solución al problema antes mencionado.Eje: Ingeniería de softwareRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

U/PC: un patrón arquitectónico para aplicaciones colaborativas

Los sistemas colaborativos pertenecen al área de investigación llamada CSCW (“Computer-Supported Cooperative Work”). Estos sistemas apoyan a grupos de personas trabajando en equipo, con el fin de alcanzar metas comunes. Un aspecto fundamental en todo proceso de colaboración es la comunicación, y aunque todos los sistemas siguen el mismo patrón arquitectónico, la falta de una definición explícita del patrón hace que sea imposible el reuso de soluciones en este ámbito. Es por eso que en el presente artículo se presenta el patrón arquitectónico U/PC (Users/Processes Communication) que modela los mecanismos de comunicación en los sistemas colaborativos, brindando una solución al problema antes mencionado.Eje: Ingeniería de softwareRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Remote lab experiments: opening possibilities for distance learning in engineering fields

Remote experimentation laboratories are systems based on real equipment, allowing students to perform practical work through a computer connected to the internet. In engineering fields lab activities play a fundamental role. Distance learning has not demonstrated good results in engineering fields because traditional lab activities cannot be covered by this paradigm. These activities can be set for one or for a group of students who work from different locations. All these configurations lead to considering a flexible model that covers all possibilities (for an individual or a group). An inter-continental network of remote laboratories supported by both European and Latin American institutions of higher education has been formed. In this network context, a learning collaborative model for students working from different locations has been defined. The first considerations are presented.Education for the 21 st century - impact of ICT and Digital Resources ConferenceRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Understanding the role of mobile ad hoc networks in non-traditional contexts

With the rapid development of short-range wireless technology new venues to apply it in more sophisticated, complex, and dynamic environments have been opened. Nevertheless, the applicability of such technology in nontraditional settings like face-to-face encounters and disaster relief environments, remains unclear. This article describes a research effort aimed to narrow that gap by means of using two non-traditional settings as case studies; face-to-face encounters among unacquainted people and first responders in urban disaster relief environments. Among the results obtained are: a) interactions among unacquainted people may be promoted, though the level of interaction becomes easily constrained due to the current state of RF technology and the design of the experiments, and b) it is feasible to obtain a reliable communication platform for first responders operating in disaster relief missions. These results supports the idea that short-range wireless technology may play both a facilitator and a promoter role in face-to-face contexts, and at least a facilitator role in the case of users co-located in highly dynamic contexts.8th IFIP/IEEE International conference on Mobile and Wireless CommunicationRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI