As bibliotecas escolares no contexto da avaliação das escolas

Num contexto em que a Biblioteca Escolar se tem vindo a afirmar em Portugal pela importância da sua ação no processo de aprendizagem e na construção de conhecimento, é fundamental que as escolas e os agentes externos reconheçam esse papel para se poder potenciar a sua função pedagógica. Esta questão passa, nomeadamente, por dar visibilidade ao trabalho desenvolvido pelas bibliotecas escolares. E essa visibilidade materializa-se, entre outros aspetos, pela sua inclusão nos relatórios de avaliação interna e externa das escolas. Neste sentido, desenvolveu-se um estudo centrado na análise dos relatórios da Inspeção Geral da Educação e Ciência (região do Algarve), referentes ao processo de avaliação externa das escolas no período de 2006/2007 a 2011/2012. Trata-se de um estudo de caráter documental onde se procurou identificar as menções que eram feitas às bibliotecas escolares e a natureza dessas mesmas referências, ou seja, como é que os relatórios de avaliação externa espelham essa estrutura de apoio pedagógico. Da análise efetuada, constatou-se que todos os relatórios fazem referência à biblioteca escolar, no entanto as categorias menos representadas são as que remetem para o papel pedagógico da biblioteca

The role of the school library in change and pedagogical innovation

In this paper we present the results of a research study, specifically focused on the way school leaders (principals), primary classroom teachers and teacher librarians from two grouping of schools in the south region of Portugal look at the School Library (SL). We have analysed the integration of the school library in teaching and learning activities and the role of the school library in processes of change and pedagogical innovation, namely based on the use of technologies. A survey was applied to 40 primary school teachers. Two principals, two assistant professors of principals, and four teacher librarians from the two grouping of schools were submitted to interviews. The quantitative and qualitative data were analysed and results show some differences between the two primary schools. In general, the participants in the study agreed that there is a positive effect of the SL on the teaching practices of the teachers. The SL is felt as an alternative learning space to the classroom, in the development of different methodologies and practices. The proposals and changes recommended by the teacher librarian were incorporated into the teaching strategies of teachers in a gradual way, as they realized the added value. The idea of the school library functioning as a nucleus for implementing innovations did not raise doubts. However, in practice, this situation is not always easy to achieve, with several factors influencing this dimension, namely the profile of teachers in each school and teacher librarians’ time availability to work with classroom teachers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cycling Mobility in Slopping Cities: Trondheim and Other Lessons

Soft mobility is on the top of city’s agenda. Several plans are emerging to improve its performance, regarding sustainable, climate-friendly or easy ways of mobility, without using the car. The political decision-makers, urban designers and academics are working upon new approaches of developing these skills. In sloping cities, specially with ancient roots of narrow and winding streets, the bicycle is still a tricky way of transportation, because it can represent a deep changing of previous urban fabric. This paper presents a set of good practices of bicycles use as soft mobility solution in mountain cities. The example is the sloping city of Trondheim in Norway. The interest for this topic lies in the ongoing Doctorate program in Civil Engineering at the University of Beira Interior, having as case study the city of Covilhã. The system is called CycloCable and it’s the first cycle lift for collective transport designed to help cyclists moving easily to overcome urban slopes. The literature review is the main methodological approach, identifying the good practices of CycloCable, which can be used in other cities with similar morphological conditions. The conclusion has revealed that this system increases the number of cyclists, with environmental, economic and social benefits

A suspensão provisória do processo: o regime legal presente e perspectivado

Dissertação apresentada à Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de Coimbra no âmbito do 2º Ciclo de Estudos em Direito, na área de especialização em Ciências Jurídico-Forense

Bicycle Solutions in Mountain Cities: CycloCable® in Trondheim-Norway

With the rising of soft mobility strategies among to the decision-makers regarding the city policies, the urban designers are developing new ways of improving the bicycles using solutions considering the urban spaces. In the particular case of the mountain cities, the bicycle is still seen as a problematic way of transportation, requiring deep transformations of the urban fabric features. This paper presents the case study of the Norwegian city of Trondheim, well-known by its hills, which is an enormous success in terms of bicycle solutions not only among the locals but also among the visitors. The system is called CycloCable® and it is the first cycle lift for collective transportation which aims to help cyclists, who wish to move more easily, to overcome the sleepiest slopes in urban areas. The methodological approach is based on the literature review, in order to identify the characteristics of this system, which could be used in other mountain cities with similar features of the urban fabric.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Long-term characterization of air lime mortars with ceramic waste

Due to their exposure to environmental conditions, outer coatings composed by render and painting system are usually the first construction elements to deteriorate and require intervention. A correct conservation and rehabilitation of these materials is fundamental once they provide protection to other façade materials. It is known that old mortar renders were essentially air lime based mortars. To maintain the integrity of the whole wall-render elements, the image of the building and to avoid accelerated degradation, conservation and rehabilitation must be implemented with compatible mortars. As that, lime based mortars would be preferable. It was also common, in ancient renders, the incorporation of ceramic residues, which is, nowadays, an abundant material, especially in Central Region of Portugal. The reuse of these materials has great relevance once their landfilling causes serious environmental issues. In an attempt to combine the environmental and technical advantages of the use of ceramic waste in mortars’ production for rehabilitation purposes, a research has been developed at the University of Coimbra, in cooperation with Nova University of Lisbon, on the long term behaviour of air lime mortars with ceramic residues. In this paper the most significant up to one year results of an experimental campaign with air lime mortars with 1:3 and 1:2 volumetric proportions and ceramic residues are presented.FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (PTDC/ECMCOM/3080/2012 – Development and optimization of a higroadjustable system for drying out buildings after a flood); Energy and Mobility for Sustainable Regions – EMSURE Project (CENTRO-07-0224-FEDER-002004)

Viability of ceramic residues in lime-based mortars

3rd Historic Mortars Conference, 11-14 September 2013, Glasgow, ScotlandWhen we approach the subject of construction and rehabilitation of buildings we necessarily must think about external wall coatings as they are the elements more exposed to climate actions, mechanical and environmental conditions and, consequently, the first to be deteriorated and to need rehabilitation. In what concerns the replacement of old plasters and renders, air lime mortars are normally the ones that are more compatible with the existing elements, but that have some limitations due to its slow setting time. As an alternative we may use natural hydraulic lime mortars. We know that brick dust and grains have been widely used in mortars in the past, improving its characteristics, and that actually there are many kinds of ceramic residues that are byproducts of industry and are normally carried into landfills. Within this context and associating the improvement of mortars characteristics to the necessity of sustainable construction practices, some mortars, formulated based on air lime or natural hydraulic lime, with the addition of ceramic residues, have been recently studied. The aim of this paper is to present the experimental work that has been developed concerning the behaviour of two types of these lime mortars with ceramic residues. Characteristics, particularly in terms of flexural and compressive resistances, capillary water absorption and water vapour permeability will be discussed. Comparison will be made between the characteristics of the mortars made with the two limes, and of mortars made with those limes with partial substitutions of siliceous sand by different types of ceramic residues. It will be possible to draw same conclusions about the interest and viability of recycling the ceramic residues as aggregates, its contribution as pozzolan and filler, and also if natural hydraulic lime-based mortars can be a good alternative to air lime-based mortar for ancient masonry

Air lime and natural hydraulic lime mortars with ceramic residues for rehabilitation of old buildings

41st IAHS World Comgress - Sustainability and Innovation for the FutureRepair of old facades renders requires particular attention because raw materials currently available hardly ever correspond to the requirements for this purpose. Usually, in those cases, air lime mortars are more suitable; however, they imply long curing periods. Alternative solutions such as natural hydraulic lime mortars might reveal appropriate. In the past, it was also common the use of ceramic fragments and dust in mortars for plastering and rendering, which improved their behaviour. Considering the high amounts of residues currently produced by ceramic industries, the development of mortars with this residue might be a technically viable solution, and also respond to economic and environmental issues. In the present paper it is described a part of a large experimental campaign involving the characterization of air lime and natural hydraulic lime mortars with ceramic residues from bricks, roof tiles and pottery. A comparison is made between the results obtained for the two groups of mortars, considering physical and mechanical properties. Volumetric proportions of 1:2 (air lime mortars) and 1:4 (natural hydraulic lime mortars) were used and ceramic residues replaced 20%, 30% and 40% of the aggregate (common sand). The obtained results show that the incorporation of ceramics might provide significant changes in mortars porous structures and, consequently, in their mechanical and physical behaviour. Globally, when considering the studied properties, the analysed mortars may be regarded as suitable for rehabilitation purposes

Lime mortars with ceramic wastes: characterization of components and their influence on the mechanical behaviour

Considering the fundamental importance of preserving the built heritage and of ensuring the good performance achieved by incorporating ceramic particles in lime mortars in ancient times, it is important to study solutions that use materials the available today, in order to produce mortars intended to repair and replace the old ones. Solutions incorporating industrial ceramic waste might be profitable for several reasons, namely for economic, environmental and technical aspects. In this paper, seven ceramic waste products collected from ceramics factories are characterized. Their mineralogy, dimensional features and pozzolanicity were determined. Three of these products, with different particle size fractions (obtained directly from milling, dust only and fragment fractions only), were selected, incorporated into air lime mortars, and their mechanical strength was determined. In the present work, evidence of mechanical efficiency, when common sand or air lime were partially replaced by ceramic wastes, was made clear, drawing attention to the sustainability of this type of mortars, hence, encouraging further research.EXPL/ECM-COM/0928/2012 - Incorporation of ceramic residues in repair mortars (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) / EMSURE - Energy and Mobility for SUstainable REgions (CENTRO-07-0224-FEDER-002004