The use of edpuzzle to learn polynomial factorization in secondary education

INTRODUCTION. One of the main objectives of Mathematics education is to motivate students since their interest in Mathematics is very low in many cases and, in others, even null. The use of different technologies has grown a lot in the last decades and several authors in the area have demonstrated their effectiveness in the classroom. In addition, the use of different Information and Communication Technologies, which students can use in their own homes, is also growing. METHOD. In this study, the use of the EdPuzzle application is presented, under the paradigm of the Flip Learning methodology in the third year of the Secondary Education Level for learning polynomial factorization in a school in Spain in two different courses, taught by the same teacher. To carry out the experience, the average grades of two exams have been taken, the first one related to polynomials and the basic concepts, used as a pretest since it has the main basic concepts that the student must know before continuing, and another related to the polynomial factorization, used as a posttest, and the scores obtained by the group that used EdPuzzle were compared with those that did not use it. RESULTS. Comparison of both groups shows that the scores are significantly higher in the group that used EdPuzzle in the posttest. DISCUSSION. The Cohen's d effect size obtained was almost medium, and the questionnaire answers were positive, aspects that make EdPuzzle a tool to be considered in the teaching-learning process of Mathematics.INTRODUCCIÓN. Uno de los principales objetivos de la educación matemática es motivar al estudiantado ya que su interés por las matemáticas es muy bajo en muchos casos y, en otros, incluso nulo. El uso de diferentes tecnologías ha crecido bastante en las últimas décadas y varios autores en el área han demostrado su eficacia en el aula. Además, el uso de diferentes tecnologías de la información y la comunicación, que los estudiantes pueden utilizar en sus propias casas, también está creciendo. MÉTODO. En este estudio se presenta el uso de la aplicación EdPuzzle, bajo el paradigma de la metodología Flip Learning en el tercer curso de educación secundaria para el aprendizaje de la factorización polinomial en una escuela de España en dos cursos diferentes, impartidos por la misma profesora. Para llevar a cabo la experiencia, se han tomado las calificaciones promedio de dos exámenes, el primero de polinomios y sus propiedades, utilizado como pretest, ya que tiene los principales conceptos básicos que el alumnado debe conocer antes de continuar, y otro relacionado con la factorización polinómica, utilizado como postest, y se han comparado las calificaciones obtenidas por el grupo que utilizó EdPuzzle con las que no lo utilizó. RESULTADOS. La comparación de ambos grupos muestra que las calificaciones en el postest son significativamente mayores en el grupo que utilizó EdPuzzle. DISCUSIÓN. El tamaño del efecto de Cohen obtenido fue muy cercano a medio y los resultados de la encuesta de satisfacción fueron positivos, aspectos que hacen de EdPuzzle una herramienta que considerar para el proceso de enseñanzaaprendizaje en matemáticas

A Nd:YAG laser-microperforated poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)-basal membrane matrix composite film as substrate for keratinocytes

Epithelia cultured for the treatment of ulcers, burns and for gene therapy applications require a flexible biomaterial for growth and transplantation that is adaptable to body contours. We tested several materials and found that a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3- hydroxyvalerate) (PHBHV) polyester provided support for keratinocytes, although adhesion to this material proved to be suboptimal. Since epithelia adhere to the mesoderm through basal membranes, we engineered a basal membrane surrogate by preparing composites of PHBHV with basal membrane matrix (BMM). To allow cell migration into injuried areas the polyester film was micromachined to insert high-density micropores through a Nd:YAG laser ablation process. These flexible composites provided firm attachment for keratinocytes from the outer root sheath of human hair allowing keratinocyte migration through micropores. Films of microperforated PHBHV-BMM may be of use for the replacement of diseased or injured skin epithelia.This work was financed in part by the Fundacio´ Privada de Hemofilia Catalana and the Bayer Young Investigator Hemophilia Award 2003 Grant Program to F.S. L.G. acknowledge the financial support provided by the MSyC, FIS01/1070; F.S. and L.G. of FIS PI05/1847 and M.M. and L.G. of CSIC-PIF 2004.Peer reviewe