Gamification in higher education and stem : a systematic review of literature

In recent years, gamification, the use of game elements in non-game contexts, has drawn the attention of educators due to the possibility of making learning more motivating and engaging; this led to an increase of research in the field. Despite the availability of literature reviews about gamification and its effects, no work to this date has focused exclusively on Higher Education (HE). Next, worldwide there is an increasing demand for skilled Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) professionals that meet the challenges related to scientific and technological innovations of the 21st Century. This lead to the need of strengthening STEM Higher Education. This brings us to the purpose of this work: presenting a systematic literature review of empirical studies about gamification STEM related Higher Education. This review study started from a systematic mapping design of 'Web of Science' articles, with following inclusion criteria: empirical gamification studies set up in HE, published between 2000 and 2016; focusing on undergraduate or graduate students; in the STEM knowledge field, and set up in authentic settings. An initial search resulted in 562 potentially relevant articles. After applying all selection criteria, only 18 studies could be retained. 12 additional articles were included by analyzing references from earlier literature reviews, resulting in 30 studies to be included. Analysis results show how a combination of game elements (e.g. leaderboards, badges, points and other combinations) positively affects students' performance, attendance, goal orientation and attitude towards mostly computer science related subjects. The analysis results also point at a lack of studies in certain STEM areas, a lack of studies that identify the particular game element associated with the positive differential impact on student performance; a lack of validated psychometric measurements, and lack of focus on student variables that could/should be taken into account as mediating/moderating variables clarifying the impact of gamification in the HE focus on STEM learning and teaching

Deliberación, democracia y construcción de paz: opiniones y percepciones de víctimas, excombatientes y comunidades afectadas por el conflicto armado en Colombia

Teniendo en cuenta la información recogida en el proyecto Democracia en contextos de conflicto: experimentos de reconciliación política en Colombia, liderado por la Universidad del Rosario, y que ha permitido crear mesas de deliberación entre víctimas, excombatientes y comunidades para discutir sus propuestas de paz, el presente texto indaga por el estado de las relaciones y las opiniones de diferentes grupos hacia los temas y actores de un posible escenario de posconflicto en Colombia. Así pues, a partir tanto de una discusión sobre las necesidades y reivindicaciones de los excombatientes y las víctimas, como del papel de la sociedad civil en la lucha por los derechos humanos y la construcción de paz, se desarrolla un análisis de las actitudes y opiniones de estos grupos hacia la reconciliación, la desmovilización y el proceso de paz en Colombia. De igual manera, el análisis plantea una reflexión sobre la relevancia de la democracia deliberativa como mecanismo que permite reconectar a los ciudadanos con el sistema político y abrir espacios de diálogo entre antiguos o potenciales antagonistas, en los que se manifiesten la lucha por los derechos

Effect of Acid Hydrolysis on Tableting Properties of Chitin Obtained from Shrimp Heads

Purpose: To assess the effect of acid hydrolysis on the degree of acetylation, crystallinity, and molecular weight of chitin obtained from shrimp heads as well as to evaluate their tableting properties.Methods: The effect of acid hydrolysis conditions such as reaction temperature (46, 60, 80, 100, 114°C), hydrochloric acid concentration (4.6, 6, 8, 10 and 11.4 M) and reaction time (0.6, 2, 4, 6 and 7.4 h) were examined. The degree of acetylation and molecular weight were found by Fourier transform spectroscopy (FT-IR) and viscometry methods, respectively. The degree of crystallinity degree and its compact tensile strength were determined by x-ray and Fell & Newton methods, respectively.Results: The combined effect of high temperature (> 80 oC), HCl concentration (> 2 M) and reaction time (> 4 h) led to high depolymerization, reduction in degree of acetylation, crystallinity, chitin yield and thus, decreased tensile strength and accelerated compact disintegration time. Optimal reaction conditions were achieved at an acid concentration of 2.2 M, temperature of 60 oC and reaction time of 4 h. These conditions rendered compacts with tensile strength of 25.7 MPa and disintegration time of 25.3 min.Conclusion: The optimal HCl hydrolysis conditions for shrimp heads rendered chitin suitable for the preparation of compacts with good tensile strength and moderate disintegration time.Keywords: Chitin, Compressibility, Deacetylation, Acid Hydrolysis, Tableting Performance, Central Composite Desig

Análisis experimental de la expansividad en suelos bentoníticos

Trabajo de investigaciónLa presente investigación, basada en estudios bibliográficos analiza experimentalmente la expansividad de suelos con diferente contenido de montmorillonita conocida comercialmente como Bentonita. Para esto se realizaron ensayos petrográficos, ensayos índices y microestructura mediante imágenes SEM, (Scanning Electron Microscope). De los cuales se obtuvieron importantes resultados del potencial de expansión de este tipo de suelos con un alto porcentaje en contenido de la partícula de la montmorillonita.INTRODUCCIÓN 1. GENERALIDADES 2. MARCO TEÓRICO 3. METODOLOGÍA 4. CARACTERIZACIÓN DE MATERIALES 5. RESULTADOS 6. ANÁLISIS DE RESULTADOS 7. CONCLUSIONES Y RECOMENDACIONES BIBLIOGRAFÍA ANEXOSPregradoIngeniero Civi

Effect of silicification on the water sorption properties of microcrystalline cellulose II

The aim of this study was to investigate the water sorption behavior of cellulose II:SiO2 composites and to determine the influence of silicification on this property. These composites were prepared by spray-drying at a cellulose II:SiO2 ratio of 98:2, 95:5, 90:10 and 80:20. The nonlinear models of Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB), Generalized D'Arcy and Watt (GDW) and Hailwood & Horrobin (HH), were used for the characterization and analysis of the isotherms. The infrared and powder X-rays characterization showed no signs of chemical modification or change in the polymorphic form of cellulose II by SiO2. The parameters derived from these models indicated that only a 20% level of silicification was able to hinder the water sorption properties of cellulose. Silicon dioxide was the most hydrophobic material since it had a lower ability to form hydrogen bonds with water than cellulose II. This finding was reflected in a delayed compact disintegration time when high levels of silicification (20%) and compression pressures higher than 120 MPa were used.O objetivo deste estudo é investigar o comportamento de sorção de água a partir de misturas de celulose II e SiO2 e determinar a influência da silicificação nesse processo. Estas misturas foram preparadas por nebulização (spray-drying) usando misturas de celulose II e SiO2 nas proporções de 98:2, 95:5, 90:10 e 80:20. Os modelos não-lineares de Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB), "Generalized" D'Arcy e Watt (GDW) e Hailwood & Horrobin (HH) foram utilizados para caracterização e análise das isotermas. As misturas foram caracterizadas por infravermelho e raio-X e os resultados não mostraram indicativo de modificação química ou polimórfica da celulose II em combinação com SiO2. Os parâmetros derivados desses modelos indicaram que as propriedades de sorção de água da celulose foram prejudicadas apenas quando empregado um nível de silicificação de 20%. O dióxido de silício foi o material mais hidrofóbico, provavelmente por possuir uma menor capacidade de formar pontes de hidrogênio com a água quando comparado com a celulose II. Este resultado foi refletido em redução no tempo de desintegração, especialmente quando altos níveis de silicificação (20%) e força de compressão (acima de 120 Mpa) foram utilizados

Antioxidants in Kidney Diseases: The Impact of Bardoxolone Methyl

Drugs targeting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) are the mainstay of therapy to retard the progression of proteinuric chronic kidney disease (CKD) such as diabetic nephropathy. However, diabetic nephropathy is still the first cause of end-stage renal disease. New drugs targeted to the pathogenesis and mechanisms of progression of these diseases beyond RAAS inhibition are needed. There is solid experimental evidence of a key role of oxidative stress and its interrelation with inflammation on renal damage. However, randomized and well-powered trials on these agents in CKD are scarce. We now review the biological bases of oxidative stress and its role in kidney diseases, with focus on diabetic nephropathy, as well as the role of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway and recent clinical trials targeting this pathway with bardoxolone methyl

Caracterización del mapia y mapia con una adición de cal al 5%

Trabajo de InvestigaciónEn el proyecto se trabajo con un material natural, El mapia “Material pétreo de asfalto”, Se realizo la comparación con diferentes mezclas asfálticas diseñadas con el fin de cumplir un nivel de transito I según las pautas de la norma invias, Para la realización de la comparación a las mezclas se les realizo un serie de ensayo geotécnico viales para medir las características mecánicas para el posible uso en vías terciarias.Introduccion. Antecedentes. Justificacion. Planteamiento y formulacion del problema. Marcos de referencia. Marco teórico. Marco conceptual. Marco legal. Objetivos. Alcance y Limitaciones. Metodología Análisis e inerpretacion de resultados. Resumen de datos. Conclusiones. RecomenacionesPregradoIngeniero Civi

Gestión de las competencias matemáticas y reflexión docente: el caso de la modelización y la argumentación en el aula

En este artículo, caracterizamos algunos aspectos que son importantes de considerar por parte del profesor para una gestión de las competencias de argumentación y modelización en el aula de matemáticas. Se presenta el caso de dos profesoras que participaban en un seminario para el desarrollo de competencias matemáticas, a quienes se les registró la clase para ser analizada en el seminario. De los casos presentados, destacamos que el desarrollo de la argumentación depende principalmente de la gestión de aula, en cambio la competencia de modelización depende tanto del diseño de situaciones de aprendizaje como de su gestión en el aula