Implementing summative assessment with a formative flavour: a case study in a large class

Teaching a large class can present real challenges in design, management, and standardization of assessment practices. One of the main dilemmas for university teachers is how to implement effective formative assessment practices, with accompanied high quality feedback consistently over time with large classroom groups. This article reports on how elements of formative practices can be implemented as part of summative assessment in very large undergraduate cohorts (n = 1500 in one semester), studying in different modes (on- and off-campus), with multiple markers, and under common cost and time constraints. Design features implemented include the use of exemplars, rubrics and audio feedback. The article draws on the reflections of the leading teacher, and discusses that for summative assessment to benefit learners, it should contain formative assessment elements. The teaching practices utilised in the case study provide some means to resolve the tensions between formative assessment and summative assessment that may be more generally applicable

Using formative assessment to influence self- and co-regulated learning: the role of evaluative judgement

Recently, the concept of evaluative judgement has gained attention as a pedagogical approach to classroom formative assessment practices. Evaluative judgement is the capacity to be able to judge the work of oneself and that of others, which implies developing knowledge about one’s own assessment capability. A focus on evaluative judgement helps us to better understand what is the influence of assessment practices in the regulation of learning. In this paper, we link evaluative judgement to two self-regulated learning models (Zimmerman and Winne) and present a model on the effects on co-regulation of learning. The models help us to understand how students can be self-regulated through developing their evaluative judgement. The co-regulation model visualises how the learner can become more strategic in this process through teacher and peer assessment in which assessment knowledge and regulation strategies are shared with the learner. The connections we make here are crucial to strengthening our understanding of the influence of assessment practices on students’ learnin

Developing evaluative judgement: enabling students to make decisions about the quality of work

Evaluative judgement is the capability to make decisions about the quality of work of oneself and others. In this paper, we propose that developing students’ evaluative judgement should be a goal of higher education, to enable students to improve their work and to meet their future learning needs: a necessary capability of graduates. We explore evaluative judgement within a discourse of pedagogy rather than primarily within an assessment discourse, as a way of encompassing and integrating a range of pedagogical practices. We trace the origins and development of the term ‘evaluative judgement’ to form a concise definition then recommend refinements to existing higher education practices of self-assessment, peer assessment, feedback, rubrics, and use of exemplars to contribute to the development of evaluative judgement. Considering pedagogical practices in light of evaluative judgement may lead to fruitful methods of engendering the skills learners require both within and beyond higher education settings

Biomaterials for cartilage tissue engineering under mechanical stimulus

Tese de doutoramento em Ciências (ramo do conhecimento em Física)Tissue engineering is being explored as a suitable strategy to repair tissues that have no capability of regenerating by themselves, such as articular hyaline cartilage in the knee. This strategy involves the combination of cells and scaffold biomaterials, able to support the adhesion of cells and their guidance into differentiation. In the knee, the scaffolds have to bear cyclical stress and compressive loading. Therefore, the mechanical properties of the scaffolds are a key component to understand their performance in animal models and clinical trials. In this work, a new methodology has been developed to analyze the mechanical properties of scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering by studying the fatigue behavior of macroporous poly-ε-caprolactone PCL scaffolds under cyclic loading in different conditions. The PCL scaffolds in dry state were compared with scaffolds under immersion in water, in order to determine the hydrodynamic effects in resistance to fatigue by analyzing the evolution of the dissipated energy with the help of the Morrow’s model. Moreover, the effect of fibrin hydrogel inside the pores was determined. This has been performed due to the fact that fibrin is a component in chirurgical interventions and can be a suitable matrix for cell differentiation in tissue engineering. It was found that water inside the pores plays a critical effect improving resistance to fatigue. On the other hand, the fibrin clot does not represent a relevant factor in determining the mechanical properties, when compared with water. The same analysis was carried out in PCL scaffold combined with poly(vynil-alcohol) PVA hydrogel, an in vitro model of growing tissue inside the pores, in order to study how the addition of a third material resembling some aspects of tissue, can affect the mechanical response. It was concluded that the resistance to fatigue improved when the PVA hydrogel increased in stiffness. Further, the experimental data deviated from the model after few cycles, meaning that unknown effects were taking place inside the pores. This methodology was also implemented in scaffolds with chondrogenic precursors seeded inside the pores in order to study the variations in the fatigue behavior due to the produced extracellular matrix. To simulate some mechanical conditions during cell culture, a bioreactor was designed, capable of applying mechanical compression in multiple samples at the same time. The fabrication of the bioreactor implied the development of the corresponding electronics and mechanics suited to cell incubator environment, as well as sterility tests. Thus, PCL scaffolds were seeded with chondrogenic precursor cells and fibrin and some of them were submitted to free swelling and others to cyclic loading in the bioreactor. All the samples were analyzed for fatigue. Moreover, some components of the extracellular matrix were identified. No differences were observed between samples undergoing free swelling or loading conditions, neither respect to matrix components nor to mechanical performance to fatigue. The extracellular matrix did not achieve in any case all the desired chondrogenic traits. However, an interesting fact was found: when compared with PCL and PCL with PVA under immersion, the extracellular matrix properties improved fatigue resistance, despite the fact that the measured elastic modulus at the first cycle was similar in all the cases. This is interesting as it corroborates the hypothesis that fatigue analysis in tissue engineering constructs can provide additional information missed with traditional measurements. Different factors in these constructs, from the porosity – that influences, among others, water uptake - , to the characteristics of the hydrogel or cellular matrix within them, determine the evolution of fatigue resistance to specific cyclic loading. These effects should be considered for developing predictive models that provide information beyond the traditional mechanical measurements in cartilage tissue engineering.A engenharia de tecidos está a ser explorada como uma estratégia adequada para a reparação de tecidos que não possuem a capacidade de regenerarem-se, como por exemplo, a cartilagem hialina do joelho. Esta estratégia combina células e biomateriais (scaffolds), com a capacidade de suportar a adesão das células e a sua diferenciação. No joelho, os scaffolds têm de suportar tensões e cargas de compressão cíclica. Desta forma, as propriedades mecânicas dos scaffolds são um fator chave para perceber o seu desempenho em modelos animais e ensaios clínicos. Neste trabalho, foi desenvolvida uma nova metodologia para analisar as propriedades mecânicas dos scaffolds para engenharia de tecidos de cartilagem, através do estudo do comportamento de fadiga dos scaffolds macroporosos de poli-ε-caprolactona (PCL) sob cargas cíclicas em diferentes condições. Os scaffolds de PCL secos foram comparados com scaffolds imersos em água para determinar os efeitos hidrodinâmicos na resistência à fadiga, analisando a evolução da energia dissipada com ajuda do modelo de Morrow. Além disso, o efeito de um hidrogel de fibrina no interior dos poros também foi determinado. A utilização da fibrina prende-se com o facto de esta ser um compoente usado em intervenções cirúrgicas, sendo também uma matriz adequada para a diferenciação celular em engenharia de tecidos. Verificou-se ainda que a água no interior dos poros possui um efeito crítico na melhoria da resistência à fadiga. Por outro lado, o coágulo de fibrina não representa um fator determinante nas propriedades mecânicas, quando comparado com a água. A mesma análise foi realizada em scaffolds de PCL combinados com um hidrogel de poli(vinil-álcool) – PVA, um material que serve como modelo in vitro de tecido em crescimento dentro dos poros, de forma a estudar como a adição de um terceiro material, semelhante ao tecido, pode afetar a resposta mecânica. Assim, foi possível concluir que a resistência à fadiga melhora com o aumento da rigidez do hidrogel de PVA. Além disso, verificou-se que os dados experimentais sofreram um desvio relativamente aos dados do modelo teórico após poucos ciclos, o que significa que sucederam efeitos indeterminados no interior dos poros. Esta metodologia foi também aplicada em scaffolds com precursores condrogênicos colocados no interior dos poros, com o objetivo de estudar as variações no comportamento de fadiga causado pela matriz extracelular produzida. Para simular algumas das condições mecânicas durante o cultivo celular foi desenvolvido um bioreactor com a capacidade de aplicar uma compressão mecânica a múltiplas amostras ao mesmo tempo. O fabrico do bioreactor implicou o desenvolvimento das correspondentes partes eletrónica e mecânica, adequadas ao ambiente da incubadora de células, assim como aos testes de esterilização. As células precursoras condrogênicas foram introduzidas nos scaffolds de PCL com fibrina, sendo parte deles submetidos a condições estáticas sem carga e outros com cargas cíclicas através da utilização do bioreactor. O comportamento de fadiga foi analisado para todas as amostras. Alguns componentes da matriz extracelular foram identificados. Verificou-se que comparando as amostras obtidas em condições estáticas e dinâmicas, nenhuma diferença foi encontrada quer para as propriedades mecânicas quer nas componentes da matriz. Além disso, constatou-se que a matriz extracelular não chegou a obter as características condrogênicas desejadas em nenhuma dessas amostras. Contudo, um facto interessante foi observado: aquando a comparação com as amostras de PCL em imersão com PVA, as propriedades da matriz extracelular melhoram a resistência à fadiga, apesar do módulo elástico medido no primeiro ciclo ser semelhante em todas as amostras. Isto é interessante uma vez que reforça a hipótese de que a análise da fadiga em engenharia de tecidos pode fornecer informações adicionais relativamente às medições tradicionais. Os diferentes fatores nestas amostras, desde a porosidade – que influência, entre outros, o movimento da água no interior do scaffold – até às características do hidrogel ou da matriz no seu interior, determinam a evolução da resistência à fadiga para uma carga cíclica específica. Estes efeitos devem ser considerados para o desenvolvimento de modelos de previsão que forneçam informação para além das medições mecânicas tradicionais em engenharia de tecidos da cartilagem.To the FCT for the SFRH/BD/64586/2009 grant. Part of the experimental work was performed in the Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering of the Universitat Politècnica de València, supported by national projects MAT2010-21611-C03-01 and MAT2013-46467-C4-1-R

Rubrics and self-assessment scripts effects on self-regulation, learning and self-efficacy in secondary education

This study compares the effects of two different self-assessment tools – rubrics and scripts – on self-regulation, learning and self-efficacy in interaction with two other independent variables (type of instructions and feedback). A total of 120 secondary school students analyzed landscapes – a usual task when studying Geography – in one of twelve experimental conditions (process/performance instructions × control/rubric/script self-assessment tools × mastery/performance feedback) through three trials. Self-regulation was measured through questionnaire and thinking aloud protocols. The results of repeated-measure ANOVA showed that scripts enhanced self-regulation more than rubrics and the control group, and that the use of the two self-assessment tools increased learning over the control group. However, most interactions were not significant. Theoretical and practical implications for using rubrics and scripts in self-regulation training are discussedSupport for this research was provided by grants from the Spanish Education Ministry to Ernesto Panadero (Ref. SEJ2005-00994) and to Jesús Alonso-Tapia (EDU2009-11765

Meta-stereotypes among women living homeless: Content, uniformity, and differences based on gender in Madrid, Spain

This paper examines the content and degree of uniformity of meta-stereotypes among women living homeless in Madrid, Spain, and the differences with their male counterparts. The study was conducted utilizing a structured interview with a representative sample of men living homeless (n=158) and a convenience sample of a similar size (n=138) of women living homeless. The results show that the meta?stereotypes of women living homeless in Madrid are characterized by mainly negative (e.g., consumers of alcohol, drug users, lazy, criminals) or indulgent (e.g., physically and psychologically worn out, rejected by society, sick) contents, with very limited positive (e.g., courteous, respectful, polite) contents, and a high degree of uniformity. There are no major differences in the content of meta?stereotypes of the female interviewees in terms of their age, academic background, motherhood, or nationality. Compared to men in the same situation, a larger percentage of women living homeless agree with negative and indulgent meta-stereotypes, and a smaller percentage agree with positive meta-stereotypes.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitivida

Towards greener city logistics: an application of agile routing algorithms to optimize the distribution of micro-hubs in Barcelona

[EN] The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift towards online shopping, reshaping consumer habits and intensifying the impact on urban freight distribution. This disruption exacerbated traffic congestion and parking shortages in cities, underscoring the need for sustainable distribution models. The European Union's common transport policy advocates for innovative UFD approaches that promote intermodal transportation, reduce traffic, and optimize cargo loads. Our study addresses these challenges by proposing an agile routing algorithm for an alternative UFD model in Barcelona. This model suggests strategically located micro-hubs selected from a set of railway facilities, markets, shopping centers, district buildings, pickup points, post offices, and parking lots (1057 points in total). It also promotes intermodality through cargo bikes and electric vans. The study has two main objectives: (i) to identify a network of intermodal micro-hubs for the efficient delivery of parcels in Barcelona and (ii) to develop an agile routing algorithm to optimize their location. The algorithm generates adaptive distribution plans considering micro-hub operating costs and vehicle routing costs, and using heuristic and machine learning methods enhanced by parallelization techniques. It swiftly produces high-quality routing plans based on transportation infrastructure, transportation modes, and delivery locations. The algorithm adapts dynamically and employs multi-objective techniques to establish the Pareto frontier for each plan. Real-world testing in Barcelona, using actual data has shown promising results, providing potential scenarios to reduce CO2 emissions and improve delivery times. As such, this research offers an innovative and sustainable approach to UFD, that will contribute significantly to a greener future for cities.This research was supported by the European Commission (No. 101069782), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2019-111100RB-C21/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and (PID2022-138860NB-I00 and RED2022134703-T), and the Barcelona City Council (22S02264-001).C. Castillo; Alvarez-Palau, E.; Panadero, J.; Juan, AA. (2024). Towards greener city logistics: an application of agile routing algorithms to optimize the distribution of micro-hubs in Barcelona. EUROPEAN TRANSPORT RESEARCH REVIEW. 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12544-024-00669-716

The use of health services by women living homeless in Madrid, Spain

Women living homeless make up a particularly vulnerable and significantlyinvisible collective, about which there is little information regarding the use of healthservices. The purpose of this study is to examine the use of health services by a sample ofwomen living homeless in Madrid, Spain (n=138). The information was compiled using astructured interview. Results show that women living homeless largely make use healthservices (e.g. emergency care, hospitalisation, out-patient treatment...) and tend to feelsatisfied with them. However, a significant percentage of women living homeless did nothold a National Health Insurance Card, expressed dissatisfaction with the health servicesand said that they not received medical care at a time when they considered it necessary.Some of the issues affected, to a greater extent, older women living homeless, foreignwomen and those who had abused drugs at some point in their lives.Fil: Lenta, María Malena. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Panadero, Sonia. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: Di Iorio, Jorgelina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Vázquez, José J.. Universidad de Alcalá; Españ

A Transitional Year Level to Higher Education: Challenges, Experiences and Self-regulatory Strategies during the Final Year of the University Preparatory Level

Final Year level of the University Preparatory cycle (FYUP) –in Spanish 2º Bachillerato– is one of the most challenging academic courses. It is extremely demanding academically in itself and by the end of it students must also pass the university entry exam. Yet research has not investigated how students experience this year. We thus explored, using in-depth interviews with 75 students from two public high schools, their attitudes toward this academic year. Our results showed that (a) the participants struggled greatly during FYUP, experiencing high levels of academic stress (that affects their general well-being, mostly because of the high academic demands); (b) students were looking forward to their university experience but were concerned about failing or not finding their place; and (c) they reported a narrow range of learning, motivational, and emotional strategies. This study shows that students face significant learning and academic challenges during FYUP. A clear educational implication is that interventions should be implemented in earlier years to help the students be better prepared

Maternal Fructose Intake Induces Insulin Resistance and Oxidative Stress in Male, but Not Female, Offspring

Objective. Fructose intake from added sugars correlates with the epidemic rise in metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. However, consumption of beverages containing fructose is allowed during gestation. Recently, we found that an intake of fructose (10% wt/vol) throughout gestation produces an impaired fetal leptin signalling. Therefore, we have investigated whether maternal fructose intake produces subsequent changes in their progeny. Methods. Blood samples from fed and 24 h fasted female and male 90-day-old rats born from fructose-fed, glucose-fed, or control mothers were used. Results. After fasting, HOMA-IR and ISI (estimates of insulin sensitivity) were worse in male descendents from fructose-fed mothers in comparison to the other two groups, and these findings were also accompanied by a higher leptinemia. Interestingly, plasma AOPP and uricemia (oxidative stress markers) were augmented in male rats from fructose-fed mothers compared to the animals from control or glucose-fed mothers. In contrast, female rats did not show any differences in leptinemia between the three groups. Further, insulin sensitivity was significantly improved in fasted female rats from carbohydrate-fed mothers. In addition, plasma AOPP levels tended to be diminished in female rats from carbohydrate-fed mothers. Conclusion. Maternal fructose intake induces insulin resistance, hyperleptinemia, and plasma oxidative stress in male, but not female, progeny