Digital Competence in K-12 : theoretical models, assessment tools and empirical research

Over the last years the theme of the digital competence in its different aspects has been object of a growing interest. In a number of official documents and communications, international bodies underlined the significance of this competence for lifelong learning and to participate in the so-called 'information society'. Within this context, education research has the duty to provide realistic conceptual models coherent with the school's objectives and which can be put into practice within the school curriculum. In the present paper, we shall introduce a theoretical model, education oriented, to represent this competence and a set of tools to assess it in the school context, i.e., the Instant DCA (iDCA) and the Situated DCA. Then we shall focus on iDCA and on the results of the testing carried out over the last two years in the Italian secondary school.Durante los últimos años el tema de la competencia digital en sus diferentes aspectos ha sido objeto de un creciente interés. Los organismos internacionales han destacado a importancia de esta competencia para el aprendizaje permanente y la inclusión en la sociedad de la información en una serie de documentos oficiales. Dentro de este contexto, la investigación educativa tiene el deber de proporcionar modelos conceptuales coherentes con los objetivos de la escuela y que se puedan poner en práctica dentro del currículum escolar. En el presente trabajo, introducimos un modelo teórico, orientado a la educación, para desarrollar esta competencia y un conjunto de herramientas para evaluarla en el contexto escolar

Cooperación europea en la formación profesional: hacia una meta común

As the policy cycle for European cooperation in vocational education and training (VET) is coming to an end in 2020, the need for high-skilled labour is increasingly seen as paramount to ensure future sustainable and inclusive development in Europe. Drawing on Cedefop review and analysis of VET policies and their implementation, this article provides a brief overview of the progress made so far, areas of weakness, and persistent and new challenges ahead. Analysis confirms the gradual but continuous progress being made over the last decade despite the years spent in the long shadow of the financial crisis and the consequent economic and political uncertainty affecting many European countries. While participation to and, importantly, quality of VET varies across national systems, most Member States have progressed towards the achievements set in the Bruges Communique in 2010. This includes improved transparency, quality assurance and permeability of national qualification systems, as well as the enhanced responsiveness of VET provision to labour market needs through the wider recognition of the role of work-based learning and apprenticeship schemes. What is apparent today, more than ever before, is that the European institutional and policy framework represents a unique strength for Member States to focus on the big picture over the long term and make the most of the opportunities that an enhanced cooperation among national systems may offer to improve the overall performance, quality and attractiveness of VET in Europe.A medida que el ciclo para la cooperación europea en educación y formación profesional (FP) está llegando a su fin en 2020, la necesidad de mano de obra altamente calificada se considera cada vez más importante para garantizar un futuro desarrollo sostenible e inclusivo en Europa. Basándose en el examen y análisis de Cedefop de las políticas de FP y su implementación, este documento proporciona una breve descripción del progreso realizado hasta el momento, áreas de debilidad y desafíos persistentes y nuevos por delante. El análisis confirma el progreso gradual pero continuo realizado en la última década, a pesar de los años transcurridos a la larga sombra de la crisis financiera y la consiguiente incertidumbre económica y política que afecta a muchos países europeos. Si bien la participación en la FP y, lo que es más importante, su calidad, varían en los diferentes sistemas nacionales, la mayoría de los Estados Miembros han progresado hacia los logros establecidos en el Comunicado de Brujas en 2010. Esto incluye una mayor transparencia, garantía de calidad y permeabilidad de los sistemas nacionales de calificación, así como una mayor capacidad de respuesta de la provisión de FP a las necesidades del mercado laboral, a través de un reconocimiento más amplio del rol del aprendizaje basado en el trabajo y los esquemas de formación. Lo que es evidente hoy, más que nunca, es que el marco institucional y político europeo representa una fuerza única para que los Estados Miembros se centren en el panorama general a largo plazo y aprovechen al máximo las oportunidades que puede ofrecer una mayor cooperación entre los sistemas nacionales para mejorar el rendimiento general, calidad y atractivo de la FP en Europa

The polychrome works “Prayer of Tobias and Sarah” and “The Archangel Raphael reveals himself to Tobi and his son Tobias”, inside the Cathedral of Cosenza: diagnostic investigations and considerations on the conditions of conservation

The oil paintings and “Prayer of Tobias and Sarah” and “The Archangel Raphael reveals himself to Tobi and his son Tobias”, executed by Francesco Bruno at the end of the XVIII century on oval Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage 210 shaped canvas, were investigated by integrated physica-chemical and analytical methodologies in order to obtain scientific data capable of elucidating the state of conservation and the painting technique. Optical (OM) and electronic (SEM-EDS) microscopy, micro-FT-IR spectroscopy, were applied on some microfragments whilst the two whole paintings were analyzed by the non invasive IR reflectografy technique. The reflectography evidenced some pentimenti of author on the canvas “Prayer of Tobias and Sarah”, while invasive analysis made it possible to locate the stratigraphic sequence of each canvas and to characterise the constituent materials

Chief Medical Officers meeting on implementing a public health genomics approach

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La competenza digitale nella scuola. Modelli, strumenti, ricerche

Nel corso degli ultimi anni il tema della competenza digitale, nei suoi diversi aspetti, è stato oggetto di attenzione crescente. In vari documenti e comunicazioni, gli organismi internazionalihanno sottolineato la rilevanza di questa competenza per il lifelong learning e per la piena partecipazione alla cosiddetta‘società dell’informazione’. In questo contesto, la ricerca educativaha il compito di mettere a punto modelli concettuali realistici coerenti con gli obiettivi della scuola e facilmente integrabilinel curriculum scolastico. In questo lavoro, presenteremo un modello teorico per la rappresentazione di questa competenza, sensibile alle istanze educative, ed illustreremo una serie distrumenti per valutarla in ambito scolastico, ossia l’Instant DCA (iDCA) e il Situated DCA. Successivamente ci soffermeremo sull’iDCA e sui risultati di una sperimentazione condotta negli ultimidue anni nella scuola secondaria superiore

Two-dimensional kinematics in gait evaluation of Bardigiano Horse breeding stock

Kinematics studies the change of position of the body segments in space during a speci- fied time: motion is described quantitatively by linear and angular variables. The data are displayed graphi- cally. In this preliminary study the kinematics parameters at trot of an Italian horse breed are considered, in order to develop an objective method for gait analysis in field condition. Six Bardigiano mares were considered. Fourteen markers were glued on the left side of the standing mares at previously defined skel- etal reference points. The recordings were made using a video digital camera and analyzed using the SIMI Motion System. The obtained joint angle-time diagrams are similar to those found by other authors in other breeds. A horse showed an elbow motion diagram quite different from the others. The data were compared with judges scores. This study is a first step to obtain a reliable method for gait evaluation in this breed