An analysis of second life in foreign language learning and teaching: exploring its potential

XVIII Jornades de Foment de la Investigació de la Facultat de Ciències Humanes i Socials (Any 2013)The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in language learning and teaching has greatly increased in the last decade. Among the different technological tools used in the learning process, virtual worlds have gained popularity among educators and students (e.g. Warburton, 2009; Wang & Burton, 2012; Zhang, 2012; Duncan et al., 2012). This article explores the different possibilities the virtual world Second Life (SL) offers in the language learning process. SL is an online virtual world where residents all over the globe can interact through their avatars by which they can collaborate and learn in an experimental way. This paper offers a theoretical approach about the potential of SL in foreign language education. Firstly, it explores the use of this platform in education, explaining its origins, evolution and current changes. Secondly, it will focus on the advantages and disadvantages of the use of this virtual world for learning languages, paying special attention to the different learning environments, the students’ motivation, and the educational activities amongst others. This paper will conclude with a section of pedagogical implications in which an activity will be proposed to show the different implications of SL in a foreign language classroom. Students will have to work on four different activities that will be based on one of the main four language skills that are established by the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): writing, speaking, listening and reading. After explaining the activity, special attention will be paid to the strengths and weaknesses of this specific task

An Analysis of Blogs in Communicative Classrooms: Exploring its Potential

XIX Jornades de Foment de la Investigació de la Facultat de Ciències Humanes i Socials (Any 2014)The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in language learning and teaching has greatly increased in the last decade. Among the different technological tools used in the learning process, blogs have gained popularity among educators and students (Trajtemberg & Yiakoumetti, 2011; Lai & Chen, 2010). This article focuses on how blogs can be incorporated into a communicative classroom through a Task-based Language Teaching approach (TBLT) (Ellis & Shintani, 2014; Willis 1996). This paper offers a theoretical study about the potential of blogs in TBLT instruction. Firstly, it explores the use of blogs in an English as a foreign language (EFL) classroom, explaining its benefits. Secondly, it focuses on the advantages of using a communicate approach in the EFL classroom, paying special attention to the elaboration and implementation of tasks. This paper will conclude with a section of pedagogical implications in which a teaching proposal will be presented taking into account the educational context of the participants in order to show the different implications of blogs in a foreign language classroom

La Satisfacción del usuario, como una medida de calidad y de la atención basada en parámetros Bioéticos.

84 páginasEn nuestra sociedad es pertinente la participación y el control ciudadano sobre la gestión pública, sin embargo, esta participación muestra signos de debilidad para mantener el respeto de los derechos de los usuarios en los servicios de salud y garantizar su prestación con calidad. Dentro de los mecanismos de protección de derechos de los usuarios se encuentra: el derecho de petición (queja, reclamo, sugerencia, solicitud de información, consulta). A través de la recolección de los requerimientos interpuestos por usuarios del Hospital Occidente Kennedy, durante el primer trimestre de 2011 y 2012, se pudo analizar el canal, tipo, motivo, atributo interferido y localización de la barrera. Cuando se ofrece atención, con características, científicas, y bioéticas, en donde la vida es factor transcendental e integral se hablara de calidad total.Especialización en BioéticaEspecialista en Bioétic

The EHEA and the Technical Competence: The New Degrees in Translation

El presente trabajo toma como punto de partida la investigación que se describe en Muñoz Ramos (2012). En él haremos una breve síntesis del origen y evolución del EEES hasta llegar a nuestros días y su repercusión en los estudios de Traducción. Daremos cuenta de la imbricación existente entre los principios constitutivos del Proceso de Bolonia y las Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (TIC), que se posicionan como las compañeras idóneas para la consecución de los objetivos de la Declaración de Bolonia. Finalmente, podremos comprobar cómo estos dos puntos convergen en los nuevos grados en Traducción españoles, que se ajustan al EEES y encuentran en las materias de tecnologías de la traducción la piedra angular de su razón de ser.English version of abstract: The present paper takes Muñoz Ramos (2012) as its starting point. In first place, we will provide a brief summary of the EHEA since its beginning until nowadays, including its evolution and consequences within Translation Studies. We will show the connection between the principles of the Bologna Process and the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), which are the perfect partner for the achievement of the Bologna Declaration targets. Finally, we will be able to observe the way in which these two points meet in the new Spanish degrees in Translation, according to the EHEA, which have found in translation technologies their cornerstone

Computer-mediated corrective feedback and language accuracy in telecollaborative exchanges

Recent studies illustrate the potential that intercultural telecollaborative exchanges entail for language development through the use of corrective feedback from collaborating partners (Kessler, 2009; Lee, 2008; Sauro, 2009; Ware & O’Dowd, 2008). We build on this growing body of research by presenting the findings of a three-monthlong research project that explored the impact of peer feedback on the development of learner accuracy. Our aim was to study participants’ attention to form and the relative effectiveness of error correction strategies. In order to do so, we organised an e-mail exchange between seventeen post-secondary learners of Spanish and German. Data consist of exchanges between the five dyads who completed the full three-month project. As suggested by Vinagre and Lera (2008), analysis of these data indicate that despite frequent use of error correction, the use of remediation led to a higher percentage of errors recycled and was more conducive to error recycling in later language productio

Occupational Therapy and emancipatory health promotion for the elderly

This article provides a critical review of the understanding of health promotion strategies, as suggested by the World Health Organization for the elderly. It shows different approaches aimed at deconstructing such concept and suggests a counter-hegemonic way of understanding it, based on subjectivity, historicity, territoriality, decision-making capacity and social engagement in health-sickness-care of the elderly processes. From a theoretical standpoint, some considerations are suggested to view health promotion as a scientific generation field which can impact policy implementation and health training of occupational therapists, thereby developing effective tools for the care and wellbeing of the elderly, instead of just a replication of health care practice

Integrated Optic Sensing Spectrometer: Concept and Design

[EN] In this paper the concept and design of an integrated optical device featuring evanescent field sensing and spectrometric analysis is presented. The device, termed integrated optics sensing spectrometer (IOSS), consists of a modified arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) which arms are engineered into two sets having different focal points. Half of the arms are exposed to the outer media, while the other half are left isolated, thus the device can provide both sensing and reference spectra. Two reference designs are provided for the visible and near-infrared wavelengths, aimed at the determination of the concentration of known solutes through absorption spectroscopy.This research was funded by Spanish MINECO projects grant number TEC2015-69787-REDT (PIC4TB) and TEC2016-80385-P (SINXPECT), as well as FPI doctoral grant BES-2014-068523.Mico-Cabanes, G.; Gargallo-Jaquotot, B.; Pastor Abellán, D.; Muñoz Muñoz, P. (2019). Integrated Optic Sensing Spectrometer: Concept and Design. Sensors. 19(5):1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/s19051018S115195Willner, A. E., Byer, R. L., Chang-Hasnain, C. J., Forrest, S. R., Kressel, H., Kogelnik, H., … Zervas, M. N. (2012). Optics and Photonics: Key Enabling Technologies. Proceedings of the IEEE, 100(Special Centennial Issue), 1604-1643. doi:10.1109/jproc.2012.2190174Lim, A. E.-J., Junfeng Song, Qing Fang, Chao Li, Xiaoguang Tu, Ning Duan, … Tsung-Yang Liow. (2014). Review of Silicon Photonics Foundry Efforts. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 20(4), 405-416. doi:10.1109/jstqe.2013.2293274Smit, M., Leijtens, X., Ambrosius, H., Bente, E., van der Tol, J., Smalbrugge, B., … van Veldhoven, R. (2014). An introduction to InP-based generic integration technology. Semiconductor Science and Technology, 29(8), 083001. doi:10.1088/0268-1242/29/8/083001Muñoz, P., Micó, G., Bru, L., Pastor, D., Pérez, D., Doménech, J., … Domínguez, C. (2017). Silicon Nitride Photonic Integration Platforms for Visible, Near-Infrared and Mid-Infrared Applications. Sensors, 17(9), 2088. doi:10.3390/s17092088Estevez, M. C., Alvarez, M., & Lechuga, L. M. (2011). Integrated optical devices for lab-on-a-chip biosensing applications. Laser & Photonics Reviews, 6(4), 463-487. doi:10.1002/lpor.201100025Barrios, C. A. (2012). Integrated microring resonator sensor arrays for labs-on-chips. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 403(6), 1467-1475. doi:10.1007/s00216-012-5937-3Movassaghi, S., Abolhasan, M., Lipman, J., Smith, D., & Jamalipour, A. (2014). Wireless Body Area Networks: A Survey. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, 16(3), 1658-1686. doi:10.1109/surv.2013.121313.00064Baird, W., & Nogar, N. S. (1995). Compact, Self-Contained Optical Spectrometer. Applied Spectroscopy, 49(11), 1699-1704. doi:10.1366/0003702953965812Feng, D., Qian, W., Liang, H., Kung, C.-C., Fong, J., Luff, B. J., & Asghari, M. (2010). Fabrication Insensitive Echelle Grating in Silicon on Insulator Platform. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters. doi:10.1109/lpt.2010.2102347Takahashi, H., Suzuki, S., & Nishi, I. (1994). Wavelength multiplexer based on SiO/sub 2/-Ta/sub 2/O/sub 5/ arrayed-waveguide grating. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 12(6), 989-995. doi:10.1109/50.296189Munoz, P., Pastor, D., & Capmany, J. (2002). Modeling and design of arrayed waveguide gratings. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 20(4), 661-674. doi:10.1109/50.996587Kodate, K., & Komai, Y. (2008). Compact spectroscopic sensor using an arrayed waveguide grating. Journal of Optics A: Pure and Applied Optics, 10(4), 044011. doi:10.1088/1464-4258/10/4/044011Subramanian, A. Z., Ryckeboer, E., Dhakal, A., Peyskens, F., Malik, A., Kuyken, B., … Baets, R. (2015). Silicon and silicon nitride photonic circuits for spectroscopic sensing on-a-chip [Invited]. Photonics Research, 3(5), B47. doi:10.1364/prj.3.000b47Doerr, C. R. (1998). Proposed WDM cross connect using a planar arrangement of waveguide grating routers and phase shifters. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 10(4), 528-530. doi:10.1109/68.662583Doerr, C. R., Zhang, L., & Winzer, P. J. (2011). Monolithic InP Multiwavelength Coherent Receiver Using a Chirped Arrayed Waveguide Grating. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 29(4), 536-541. doi:10.1109/jlt.2010.2097240Gargallo, B., & Muñoz, P. (2013). Full field model for interleave-chirped arrayed waveguide gratings. Optics Express, 21(6), 6928. doi:10.1364/oe.21.006928Zhao, H., Clemmen, S., Raza, A., & Baets, R. (2018). Stimulated Raman spectroscopy of analytes evanescently probed by a silicon nitride photonic integrated waveguide. Optics Letters, 43(6), 1403. doi:10.1364/ol.43.001403Vasiliev, A., Muneeb, M., Allaert, J., Van Campenhout, J., Baets, R., & Roelkens, G. (2018). Integrated Silicon-on-Insulator Spectrometer With Single Pixel Readout for Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 24(6), 1-7. doi:10.1109/jstqe.2018.2820169Ryckeboer, E., Bockstaele, R., Vanslembrouck, M., & Baets, R. (2014). Glucose sensing by waveguide-based absorption spectroscopy on a silicon chip. Biomedical Optics Express, 5(5), 1636. doi:10.1364/boe.5.001636Smit, M. K., & Van Dam, C. (1996). PHASAR-based WDM-devices: Principles, design and applications. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 2(2), 236-250. doi:10.1109/2944.577370Pozo, J., Westerveld, W., Harmsma, P. J., Yang, S., Bodis, P., Nieuwland, R., … Yousefi, M. (2011). Silicon on insulator photonic integrated sensors: On-chip sensing and interrogation. 2011 13th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks. doi:10.1109/icton.2011.5970854Mũnoz, P., Pastor, D., Capmany, J., & Martínez, A. (2003). Geometrical optimization of the transmission and dispersion properties of arrayed waveguide gratings using two stigmatic point mountings. Optics Express, 11(19), 2425. doi:10.1364/oe.11.002425Gomes, K. M. S., Oliveira, M. V. G. A. de, Carvalho, F. R. de S., Menezes, C. C., & Peron, A. P. (2013). Citotoxicity of food dyes sunset yellow (E-110), bordeaux red (E-123), and tatrazine yellow (E-102) on Allium cepa L. root meristematic cells. Food Science and Technology, 33(1), 218-223. doi:10.1590/s0101-20612013005000012Horowitz, V. R., Janowitz, L. A., Modic, A. L., Heiney, P. A., & Collings, P. J. (2005). Aggregation behavior and chromonic liquid crystal properties of an anionic monoazo dye. Physical Review E, 72(4). doi:10.1103/physreve.72.041710Jiménez-Márquez, F., Vázquez, J., Úbeda, J., Rodríguez-Rey, J., & Sánchez-Rojas, J. L. (2015). Optoelectronic sensor device for monitoring ethanol concentration in winemaking applications. Smart Sensors, Actuators, and MEMS VII; and Cyber Physical Systems. doi:10.1117/12.2179341Kakuta, N., Yamashita, H., Kawashima, D., Kondo, K., Arimoto, H., & Yamada, Y. (2016). Simultaneous imaging of temperature and concentration of ethanol–water mixtures in microchannel using near-infrared dual-wavelength absorption technique. Measurement Science and Technology, 27(11), 115401. doi:10.1088/0957-0233/27/11/11540

Visión de la mujer indígena a través de las novelas Nalu Nega y la India Dormida

La comparación del personaje femenino en dos obras. La India Dormida y Nalu Nega es el objetivo fundamental de este trabajo. La comparación se fundamenta en los recursos literarios empleados por Julio B. Sosa y Alfredo Cantón, en la elaboración de sus personajes, que son símbolos de dos tribus indígenas diferentes, Guaimíes del siglo XVI y los Kunas del siglo XX. En ambas obras, se percibe el carácter femenino que tiene que luchar contra los prejuicios de sociedades totalmente machistas, en las cuales, las mujeres son sólo un elemento más de la naturaleza

Método de análisis diacrónico para la intervención en el alojamiento con criterios ecológicos. El caso de Madrid 1940–2100

Las evidencias del impacto sobre el medio ambiente asociado al funcionamiento de las ciudades hacen que sea urgente proponer medidas que reduzcan este consumo y mejoren la eficiencia del metabolismo urbano. La existencia de límites en la disponibilidad de recursos materiales y energéticos, plantea actualmente un reto importante al ser humano: ¿son posibles otras formas de organización más adecuadas a esta condición de limitación? Para dar respuesta, resulta fundamental conocer cómo interactuarán nuestros sistemas urbanos en un modelo económico de continuo desarrollo, con la población que alojan, y si podrán adaptarse a la capacidad de carga limitada del Planeta, evitando futuras situaciones de colapso anunciadas desde distintos ámbitos científicos. En ese contexto, la tesis formula un método de análisis del alojamiento que, mediante la evaluación a largo plazo, permita proponer medidas de intervención para reducir el consumo de recursos asociado a su funcionamiento. Se parte de un enfoque ecológico para definir el alojamiento como una parte fundamental del sistema urbano, que está compuesto por tres elementos: habitantes, viviendas y recursos naturales; por tanto, para reducir los impactos asociados al alojamiento es necesario tener en cuenta la diferente naturaleza de estos elementos y el carácter dinámico de las relaciones que se producen entre ellos. La Ecología, a través del estudio de los ecosistemas, ha identificado estrategias de supervivencia y adaptación ante los cambios y perturbaciones. La similitud entre los elementos de un ecosistema (población y soporte) y los del alojamiento (habitantes, viviendas y recursos naturales) permite verificar que la aplicación de estas estrategias al alojamiento puede conducir a situaciones más deseables en la relación de los sistemas urbanos con su entorno A partir de esta hipótesis, se propone un método de análisis diacrónico1 o a largo plazo, para conocer la evolución en el tiempo del alojamiento a través de la cuantificación de una serie de indicadores descriptivos de los habitantes, las viviendas y los recursos naturales. La aplicación de este método a un sistema urbano permitiría conocer las características de los elementos del sistema y, para un ámbito temporal de futuro, prever su evolución, identificar escenarios no deseables y proponer medidas de intervención que corrijan anticipadamente estas situaciones y eviten impactos ambientales innecesarios. La validación del método de análisis se realiza mediante la aplicación al caso de Madrid en periodo retrospectivo (de 1940 a 2010) A partir del estudio de la evolución en Madrid de los indicadores seleccionados, se proponen medidas de intervención en el alojamiento basadas en estrategias ecológicas que habrían conducido a una evolución alternativa con un impacto menor sobre el medio ambiente que la situación actual. El método de análisis se aplica con carácter prospectivo definiendo tres escenarios de futuro para Madrid hasta 2100. Para cada uno de ellos se analiza la evolución previsible de los indicadores y se proponen diferentes medidas de intervención que, desde el punto de vista ecológico, conducirían a una situación más adecuada. La tesis concluye en el interés de este método de análisis diacrónico que permite estimar posibilidades en la evolución futura del alojamiento, identificar las necesidades de recursos para responder a las demandas de los habitantes y, desde un enfoque ecológico, definir, cuantificar y evaluar posibles medidas de intervención que reduzcan los impactos ambientales. El método, por tanto, es una herramienta de interés para la toma de decisiones en la intervención en el alojamiento y en la planificación urbana a largo plazo. ABSTRACT Evidence of the impact on the environment associated with the operation of cities make it urgent to propose measures to reduce energy consumption and improve the efficiency of urban metabolism. The limited availability of materials and energy resources currently poses a significant challenge to human beings: are more appropriate forms of organization for this limitation possible? In response, it is essential to know how our urban systems with the population they host will interact in an economic model of continuous development and whether they can adapt to the limited endurance capacity of the planet, thus avoiding future collapse situations which are being announced from different scientific fields. In this context, the thesis puts forward a method of housing analysis that by a long term assessment will enable to propose intervention measures to reduce resource consumption associated with its operation. The thesis is based on an ecological approach to identify housing as a fundamental part of the urban system, which is composed of three elements: inhabitants, homes and natural resources. Therefore, in order to reduce the impacts associated with housing it is necessary to consider the characteristics of these elements and the dynamic nature of the relationships among them. Ecology, through the analysis of ecosystems, has identified strategies for survival and adaptation to changes and disturbances. The similarity between the elements of an ecosystem (population and support) and housing (inhabitants, homes and natural resources) enables to verify that the implementation of these strategies to housing can lead to better situations in the relationship existing between urban systems with their environment. From this hypothesis, a diachronic or long term analysis method is proposed to know the evolution of housing over time through the quantification of a descriptive indicators series of inhabitants, homes and natural resources. The implementation of this method to a urban system would allow better knowledge of the characteristics of these elements and forecast their development, identify undesirable scenarios and propose early intervention measures to correct these situations and avoid unnecessary environmental impacts. The validation of the method of analysis has been proved in the city of Madrid for the years 1940-2010. From the analysis of the evolution of the indicators selected, accommodation intervention measures are proposed based on ecological strategies that would have led to an alternative development having less impact on the environment than that of the current situation. The analysis method is implemented prospectively defining three future scenarios for the city of Madrid until 2100. The likely evolution of the indicators are analyzed for each scenario and various intervention measures that would lead to a better situation from an ecological point of view are proposed. The thesis conclusion states the interest of this diachronic analysis method to estimate potential future developments in the housing field, identify resource requirements to meet the demands of the citizens and, from an ecological approach, define, quantify and assess possible intervention measures to reduce environmental impacts. The method, therefore, is an interesting tool for decision-making process as for the intervention in housing and urban planning in the long term