Textos reproducibles y dinámicos con PythonTeX

En este artículo se describe el proceso de instalación y utilización del paquete PythonTeX en la elaboración de un texto reproducible y dinámico. Se indican los requisitos tecnológicos y el protocolo de su operación a partir de ejemplos en que se realizan operaciones con matrices y se hacen cálculos elementales de estadística descriptiva

Factors that explain the use of ICT in secondary-education classrooms: the role of teacher characteristics and school infrastructure

Paradoxically, in Spain, schools have relatively ample information and communication technology (ICT)infrastructure but low levels of classroom ICT use. In this study, we analyse the role of school ICTinfrastructure and teacher characteristics to explain ICT use in education. We use data from the Spanishsample in the 2013 Teaching and Learning International Study (TALIS), which consists of 3339 teachersfrom 192 secondary education centres. The analysis was conducted using multilevel logistic regressionmodels. The principal results indicate that the availability of educational software, teacher ICT training,collaboration among teachers, perceived self-efficacy, and teaching concepts influence classroom ICT use.School hardware and internet-connection infrastructure are less significant. Based on thefindings,recommendations are presented to orient Spanish educational policy to encourage the use of ICT in classroom

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Revista en O.A. en la web del editorDepto. de Optometría y VisiónUnidad Docente de Bioquímica y Biología MolecularFac. de Óptica y OptometríaTRUEpu

Sun Sensor Based on a Luminance Spiking Pixel Array

We present a novel sun sensor concept. It is the very first sun sensor built with an address event representation spiking pixel matrix. Its pixels spike with a frequency proportional to illumination. It offers remarkable advantages over conventional digital sun sensors based on active pixel sensor (APS) pixels. Its output data flow is quite reduced. It is possible to resolve the sun position just receiving one single event operating in time-to-first-spike mode. It operates with a latency in the order of milliseconds. It has higher dynamic range than APS image sensors (higher than 100 dB). A custom algorithm to compute the centroid of the illuminated pixels is presented. Experimental results are provided.Universidad de Cádiz PR2016-072Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2015-66878-C3-1-RJunta de Andalucía TIC 2012- 2338Office of Naval Research (USA) N00014141035

Algorithms for Graph-Constrained Coalition Formation in the Real World

Coalition formation typically involves the coming together of multiple, heterogeneous, agents to achieve both their individual and collective goals. In this paper, we focus on a special case of coalition formation known as Graph-Constrained Coalition Formation (GCCF) whereby a network connecting the agents constrains the formation of coalitions. We focus on this type of problem given that in many real-world applications, agents may be connected by a communication network or only trust certain peers in their social network. We propose a novel representation of this problem based on the concept of edge contraction, which allows us to model the search space induced by the GCCF problem as a rooted tree. Then, we propose an anytime solution algorithm (CFSS), which is particularly efficient when applied to a general class of characteristic functions called $m+a$ functions. Moreover, we show how CFSS can be efficiently parallelised to solve GCCF using a non-redundant partition of the search space. We benchmark CFSS on both synthetic and realistic scenarios, using a real-world dataset consisting of the energy consumption of a large number of households in the UK. Our results show that, in the best case, the serial version of CFSS is 4 orders of magnitude faster than the state of the art, while the parallel version is 9.44 times faster than the serial version on a 12-core machine. Moreover, CFSS is the first approach to provide anytime approximate solutions with quality guarantees for very large systems of agents (i.e., with more than 2700 agents).Comment: Accepted for publication, cite as "in press

Asignación de probabilidades en profesores en formación

En este trabajo presentamos parte de los resultados de un estudio de evaluación del razonamiento probabilístico de maestros en formación. Para ello analizamos las respuestas a tres ítems sobre asignación de probabilidades, tomados de Green (1983), en una muestra de 167 futuros profesores de Educación primaria. Se comparan el porcentaje de respuestas correctas y los argumentos utilizados con los obtenidos por los niños de 10-14 años que participaron en la investigación de Cañizares (1997). Concluimos con algunas implicaciones para mejorar nuestra acción didáctica de formación de profesores en el campo de la probabilidad

El videojuego League of legends y su efecto en memoria de trabajo visual y solución de problemas

El propósito de este estudio es medir los efectos que tiene el videojuego League of Legends en los procesos cognitivos de memoria de trabajo visual (MVT) y solución de problemas (SP). Para medir dichos efectos se implementó un diseño pre test-post con un grupo experimental y uno control, compuestos cada uno por siete participantes, en donde se evaluaron los procesos previamente mencionados utilizando los cubos de Corsi para MVT y las matrices del WAIS III para SP. Después de realizar los respectivos entrenamientos se encontraron resultados significativos en los diferentes momentos de aplicación. En el grupo experimental se encontraron diferencias en la variable dependiente SP, mientras que en el grupo control en MVT, pero no en la interacción entre grupos ni diferencias entre grupos, lo que sugiere un efecto de familiarización a la prueba.The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of the videogame League Of Legends on the higher cognitive processes of visual working memory (VWM) and problem solving (PS). For this purpose, a pretest-postest design was implemented with an experimental and control group composed of seven participants in each one of these groups. The previously mentioned processes were tested using the Corsi block-tapping task (VWM) and matrix reasoning of WAIS III (PS). After completing the respective training, significant results were found at the different measure points. For the experimental group, significant differences were found in PS, and for the control group significant differences were found for VWM. However no significant results were found for the interaction with group or between the groups. This suggests that a familiarization effect in the application of the tests

A Case of Polarized Pluralism in a Mediterranean country. The Media and Politics in Spain

Based on the polarized pluralism – or Mediterranean model for the media, (Hallin & Mancini, 2004), we have analyzed the structure of the media system in Spain from the beginning of the post-Franco democracy at the end of the 1970s through to its current form today. Although some authors have considered the Spanish media system to be a mixture of the liberal and Mediterranean models (both described by Hallin and Mancini), we argue that the polarized pluralism model is applicable to the Spanish case. Below, we review the indicators used by Hallin and Mancini to classify the media models, with a view to demonstrating that Spain fulfils the 4 prerequisites set out by the authors typifying the Mediterranean media model: The low degree of press circulation (contrasting with a high level of TV viewing); an authoritarian past in which part of the media was involved in the struggle for freedom resulting in their political alienation; a low degree of autonomy among Spanish journalists under both political and commercial pressure, and a high degree of state interventionism in public media

Evaluando la formación online en el instituto sindical de trabajo, ambiente y salud

En este estudio pretendemos exponer un ejemplo real de cómo pueden evaluarse cursos de formación online, dedicándose especial atención al apartado de evaluación del impacto. La investigación se ha llevado a cabo mediante un estudio de encuesta aplicado a 471 participan-tes de toda España que han recibido los cursos de formación online desarrollados por la fundación ISTAS (Instituto Sindical de Trabajo, Ambiente y Salud). El análisis de los datos, cuantitativos y cualitativos, nos ha permitido constatar buenos resultados en todas y cada una de las variables objeto de estudio (objetivos, contenidos, metodología, materiales, temporiza-ción, evaluación, tutorización, plataforma, satisfacción e impacto), así como identificar dis-tintas categorías de problemas que están afectando al impacto de los cursos y podrían subsa-narse. Hemos logrado también distinguir diferentes niveles de impacto en función de distintos criterios planteados en el estudio (la antigüedad en el sector laboral, tipología de empresa a la que se pertenece y motivo por el cual se realizó el curso).In this study we intend to provide a real example of how to assess online training, focusing closely on their impact. The research consisted of an online survey conducted amongst 471 participants from Spain who had previously undergone the online training developed by ISTAS (Instituto Sindical de Trabajo, Ambiente y Salud). They then filled in the survey into their training experience. The data analysis, both quantitative and qualitative, allowed us to confirm good outcomes in every single variable under scrutiny (aims, contents, methodolo-gy, materials, timing, assessment, tutoring, online platform, satisfaction and impact). It also enabled us to identify the different aspects affecting online training impact that could be improved on. In addition, we have been able to distinguish various impact levels based on criteria laid down at the beginning of the study, such as antiquity in the labour sector, type of company and reasons for taking the course

Los e-portafolios en la evaluación de competencias en el espacio europeo de educación superior

Este artículo presenta los resultados de un proyecto de investigación docente sobre la validez del portafolios electrónico como técnica para formar y evaluar competencias. Se realizó con 94 estudiantes de 4º de Pedagogía de la Universidad de Sevilla en la asignatura de Diseño de Programas de Orientación. La metodología de trabajo en la asignatura fue el aprendizaje basado en proyectos colaborativos. Las técnicas de investigación fueron un diario de campo del profesor que recogió el desarrollo, avances y dificultades de cada grupo de trabajo, así como un cuestionario al estudiante sobre la validez del e-portafolios respecto a la consecución y evaluación de las competencias. También se realizaron controles de revisión continua con cumplimentación de fichas de registro. Se emplearon el análisis de contenido y la triangulación de fuentes como técnicas para el análisis de datos. Los hallazgos nos permiten afirmar la validez de esta herramienta, no sólo para evaluar aprendizajes, sino sobre todo para tutorizar competencias. El uso del e-portafolios favorece los procesos de autorregulación del aprendizaje, de reflexión conjunta profesor-estudiante sobre las competencias trabajadas y reafirma el valor añadido en términos de desempeño sobre otras técnicas tradicionales de evaluación.This article presents the results of an educational research project on the validity of electronic portfolios as a technique to train and assess competencies. The study was carried out with the participation of 94 students at the School of Science of Education at the University of Seville (Spain) in the subject Guidance Program Design. The teaching methodology was collaborative project-based learning. The research techniques comprise the use of a teacher's diary to document development, progress and difficulties in each working group. Also, the students are required to complete a final questionnaire on the validity of e-portfolios that assess its achievement and competencies. At the same time, the project has been continuously monitored with the completion of registration documents. Content analysis and source’s triangulation were used as techniques for data analysis. The findings allowed us to affirm the validity of this tool not only in order to assess learning, but especially, to tutor on competencies. The e-portafolios promotes self-regulatory learning processes, as well as the professor-student reflection on the used competencies. It also reaffirms the added value in terms of performance over other traditional assessment techniques