Promoting digital competence in secondary education: are schools there? Insights from a case study

In recent years, a large number of educational systems, following the recommendations of international organisations, have introduced a competence-based emphasis into their traditionally subject-based curriculum. This move, beyond what any document can deal with, does not seem to find its way into everyday school practice easily or with instant results. This paper explores encounters and clashes between policy and practice regarding a competence-based curriculum framework. We refer firstly to the notions about information processing and digital competence held by international organisations and the Spanish and Catalan Ministry of Education, and the implications of said notions for teaching. Then, from evidence collected through class observations, interviews with students and teachers, and documents analysis in a case study, we draw on four teaching and learning scenarios where ICT is regularly used. Promoting students' digital competence is one of the key competences prescribed in the curriculum; however, our study showed that the backgrounds and educational views of teachers, as well as the teaching culture and organisation of schools, should be deeply challenged to foster this competence

A Probabilistic Approach to the Existence of Solutions to Semilinear Elliptic Equations

We study a semilinear elliptic equation with a pure power nonlinearity with exponent $p>1$, and provide sufficient conditions for the existence of positive solutions. These conditions involve expected exit times from the domain, $D$, where a solution is defined, and expected occupation times in suitable subdomains of $D$. They provide an alternative new approach to the geometric or topological sufficient conditions given in the literature for exponents close to the critical Sobolev exponent. Moreover, unlike standard results, in our probabilistic approach no \emph{a priori} upper bound restriction is imposed on $p$, which might be supercritical. The proof is based on a fixed point argument using a probabilistic representation formula. We also prove a multiplicity result and discuss possible extensions to the existence of sign changing solutions. Finally, we conjecture that necessary conditions for the existence of solutions might be obtained using a similar probabilistic approach. This motivates a series of natural questions related to the characterisation of topological and geometrical properties of a domain in probabilistic terms.Comment: 13 page

Barreras percibidas y nivel de actividad física en adultos mayores de Aguascalientes, Ags.: Un estudio transversal

Introduction. Mexico is in demographic transition being more than 10% of its population older adults who have a high frequency of non-communicable diseases. The objective was to know the relationship between perceived barriers and physical activity level in older adults from Aguascalientes in Mexico. Material and methods. The present study is cross-sectional, analytic, and observational.150 older adults registered in the Family Integral Development System from Aguascalientes State were included at random, who accepted to participate by signing a consent form. A questionnaire to detect perceived barriers as well as an international physical activity questionnaire was applied. Statistical analysis. Z for two proportions, p-value and odds ratio, 95% confidence interval were calculated, between external and internal perceived barriers and low physical activity level in older adults from the sample. Results. In reference to the sample, 71.3% were between 60 and 70 years old; 72% were female, 78% had low physical activity level. The lack of information about physical activity benefits is a barrier in relation to low physical activity (Z=2.36, p=0.02, OR=2.97 95%CI=1.28 to 6.90); the lack of support from their family is another barrier in relation to their low physical activity (Z=2.91, p=0.003, OR=3.82, 95%CI=161 to 9.10); another barrier was the lack of places (such as health centers and gyms for older adults) to perform physical activity (Z=4.2, p<0.05, OR=5.8, 95%CI=2.5 to 13.3). Conclusion. The nursing designing programs to perform physical activity in older adults should take into account these perceived barriers.Introducción. México está en transición demográfica con más del 10% de su población, siendo adultos mayores, quienes tienen elevada prevalencia de enfermedades no transmisibles. El objetivo fue conocer la relación entre las barreras percibidas y el nivel de actividad física en adultos mayores de Aguascalientes, Ags.Materiales y métodos. Es un estudio transversal, observacional, analítico. 150 adultos mayores registrados en el Sistema de Desarrollo Integral Familiar de Aguascalientes, que firmaron el consentimiento, fueron incluidos. Se aplicaron los cuestionarios de barreras percibidas y el internacional de actividad física.Análisis estadístico. Z para dos proporciones, valor de p, Razón de Momios e intervalos de confianza al 95% fueron calculados, entre barreras percibidas externas e internas y el nivel de actividad física que realizaban los adultos mayores de la muestra.Resultados. La muestra estuvo integrada por adultos mayores con edad entre los 60 y 70 años; 72% fueron mujeres, 78% tenían bajo nivel de actividad física. La falta de información acerca de los beneficios de la actividad física es una barrera para tener mejor nivel de actividad física (Z=2.36, p=0.02, RM=2.97 IC95%=1.28 a 6.90); la falta de apoyo de las familias es otra barrera para la actividad física (Z=2.91, p=0.003, RM=3.82, IC95%=161 a 9.10); también fue una barrera la falta de espacios para realizar actividad física, tales como centros de salud y gimnasios para adultos mayores (Z=4.2, p<0.05, RM=5.8, IC95=2.5 a 13.3).Conclusión. El diseño de programas de enfermeríapara realizar actividad física en adultos mayores, deberán tomar en cuenta las barreras percibidas

IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON ADOLESCENTS’ PERCEPTION OF SCIENCE, SCIENTISTS AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS, AND CHANGE OF CAREER CHOICES

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists and health care workers provided information based on scientific evidence for the general public, increasing their exposure on social and mainstream media. Society witnessed science-in-the-making while scientists and health care workers were dedicated to improve understanding and develop tools for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of this novel disease. This study aims to assess the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents’ perception of science, scientists and health care workers; to understand whether it changed their career choices; and to learn about the resulting first-year applications and enrollments in scientific and medical careers for the 2020-2021 school year in Mexico. We conducted a voluntary national anonymous online survey and analyzed the official database of the National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions in Mexico (ANUIES) to answer these questions. With 983 valid responses (CI 95%) we found that by mid-2021, 9 out of 10 respondents aged 14-19 in Mexico had a positive perception of science; that the ongoing pandemic improved their perception of science (69%), scientists (70%) and health care workers (72%); and that their experience during the pandemic changed their career choices to pursue science (23%) and health care (28%) careers. The selected main reason (40-50%) for studying science and health care careers was “liking that type of knowledge”; while only 3% agreed that the pandemic was the main reason for their choice. A thorough analysis of the official ANUIES database showed an increase in first-year applications for scientific (22%) and health care (17%) careers for the 2020-2021 school year compared to the previous, non-pandemic 2019-2020 school year. Enrollment was partly limited by the number of places available. With this study we conclude that a silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic could be the improvement of the perception of science, scientists and health care workers and possibly, the creation of a new generation of scientists, medical doctors, and health care workers. Future studies would need to investigate the duration and further positive consequences of this pandemic effect and to understand whether these results are consistent in other parts of the world where adolescents experienced different public policies, public messages and COVID-19 outcomes

Lifestyle intervention as a treatment for obesity in school-age-children in Celaya, Guanajuato: An experimental study

Introduction: Obesity is a risk factor in chronic diseases, and its frequency among children in Mexico is increasing. Objective: To determine the effect of lifestyle intervention as a treatment for obesity in school-age-children from Celaya, Mexico.Methodology: For this experimental study, four schools were randomly selected. Children and parents participated voluntarily and signed consent forms. Two schools were chosen as the experimental group and the other two formed the control group. Age, gender, weight, height, BMI and blood pressure were recorded for each participant. Intervention: Children and parents were asked to walk in their schools for 30 minutes a day Monday through Friday and to attend 8 instructional sessions over a period of four months dedicated to the selection and preparation of meals. Statistical Analysis: The OR and 95% CI were calculated to determine the effect of the intervention; a Z-test for two proportions for overweight and obesity in the control and experimental groups were carried out for comparison.Results: 157 children were included in the experimental group and 144 in the control group. To compare the proportions of the overweight and the obese between the groups, a Z-test = - 0.36 (p-value 0.72) were obtained showing no effect of the intervention in lifestyle; OR =1.09, 95% CI (0.67, 1.77). It was adjusted according to the attendance to the sessions resulting in an OR = 2.00, 95% CI (0.69, 5.77), demonstrating that not attending the sessions was a confounder.Conclusions: Intervention in lifestyle should be measured over a longer period of time in order to determine what effects it may have on changes in body mass index

Catalogació i millora de vendes d'una llibreria

En aquest projecte s'ha desenvolupat un entorn web per la gestió de productes a la Llibreria Roca de Manresa que permet la venda en línia, a més d'un entorn on els possibles clients poden consultar tot el catàleg d'ofertes que ofereix l'empresa. Així la botiga, a més de poder controlar els seus productes de forma més eficient, els podrà servir a molta més gent un cop l'entorn estigui preparat.En este proyecto se ha desarrollado un entorno web para la gestión de productos en la Librería Roca de Manresa que permite la venta en línea, ademas de un entorno donde los posibles clientes pueden concultar todo el catálogo de ofertas que ofrece la empresa. Así la tienda, además de poder controlar sus productos de forma más eficiente, los podrá servir a mucha más gente una vez el entorno esté preparado

Large scale anisotropies on halo infall

We perform a statistical analysis of the peculiar velocity field around dark matter haloes in numerical simulations. We examine different properties of the infall of material onto haloes and its relation to central halo shapes and the shape of the large scale surrounding regions (LSSR). We find that the amplitude of the infall velocity field along the halo shape minor axis is larger than that along the major axis. This is consistent for general triaxial haloes, and for both prolate and oblate systems. We also report a strong anisotropy of the velocity field along the principal axes of the LSSR. The infall velocity field around dark matter haloes reaches a maximum value along the direction of the minor axis of the LSSR, whereas along the direction of its major axis, it exhibits the smallest velocities. We also analyse the dependence of the matter velocity field on the local environment. The amplitude of the infall velocity at high local density regions is larger than at low local density regions. The velocity field tends to be more laminar along the direction towards the minor axis of the LSSR, where the mean ratio between flow velocity and velocity dispersion is of order unity and nearly constant up to scales of 15 Mpc/h. We also detect anisotropies in the outflowing component of the velocity field, showing a maximum amplitude along the surrounding LSSR major axis.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Societ

What Is Inclusive Education? Voices and Views From a Carpentry Classroom Workshop

Theories of inclusive education usually assume the schooling of all students within the same educational contexts, focusing on presence, participation, and success. However, the current implementation of inclusive education in regular schools has encountered resistance and difficulties that have led to special education schools assuming a complementary role in ensuring that all students' educational needs are met. In this context, the limited scope of inclusive education theories is evident. Therefore, the present case study addresses the need to develop new theories to adapt inclusive practices to a carpentry classroom workshop. Our research took place in a carpentry classroom workshop in a Catalan special education school and aimed to identify the various meanings that participants (students and teachers) give to inclusive education, especially regarding presence, participation, success, and relationships between students. The results indicate that, while literature on inclusive education is divergent, literature on the Sloyd methodology converges. In conclusion, we invite readers to consider the need for more research on inclusive education in a given context and in relation to the Sloyd educational methodology

Classical Duals, Legendre Transforms and the Vainshtein Mechanism

We show how to generalize the classical duals found by Gabadadze {\it et al} to a very large class of self-interacting theories. This enables one to adopt a perturbative description beyond the scale at which classical perturbation theory breaks down in the original theory. This is particularly relevant if we want to test modified gravity scenarios that exhibit Vainshtein screening on solar system scales. We recognise the duals as being related to the Legendre transform of the original Lagrangian, and present a practical method for finding the dual in general; our methods can also be applied to self-interacting theories with a hierarchy of strong coupling scales, and with multiple fields. We find the classical dual of the full quintic galileon theory as an example.Comment: 16 page

Galileon Hairs of Dyson Spheres, Vainshtein's Coiffure and Hirsute Bubbles

We study the fields of spherically symmetric thin shell sources, a.k.a. Dyson spheres, in a {\it fully nonlinear covariant} theory of gravity with the simplest galileon field. We integrate exactly all the field equations once, reducing them to first order nonlinear equations. For the simplest galileon, static solutions come on {\it six} distinct branches. On one, a Dyson sphere surrounds itself with a galileon hair, which far away looks like a hair of any Brans-Dicke field. The hair changes below the Vainshtein scale, where the extra galileon terms dominate the minimal gradients of the field. Their hair looks more like a fuzz, because the galileon terms are suppressed by the derivative of the volume determinant. It shuts off the `hair bunching' over the `angular' 2-sphere. Hence the fuzz remains dilute even close to the source. This is really why the Vainshtein's suppression of the modifications of gravity works close to the source. On the other five branches, the static solutions are all {\it singular} far from the source, and shuttered off from asymptotic infinity. One of them, however, is really the self-accelerating branch, and the singularity is removed by turning on time dependence. We give examples of regulated solutions, where the Dyson sphere explodes outward, and its self-accelerating side is nonsingular. These constructions may open channels for nonperturbative transitions between branches, which need to be addressed further to determine phenomenological viability of multi-branch gravities.Comment: 29+1 pages, LaTeX, 2 .pdf figure