Application of games for the development of the listening skill in second graders of Canceles school

Como futuros profesores de inglés, es de gran importancia pensar, en que estrategias metodológicas pueden aportar al desarrollo educativo en el área Inglés, principalmente en la básica primaria, ya que los niños tienen más facilidad de asimilar información porque con el paso del tiempo, el aprendizaje de una lengua extranjera aumenta su dificultad porque los estudiantes se acostumbrarán a escuchar y hablar en su lengua materna. Empezar a estudiar un idioma a una edad temprana, le permite a los niños, adquirir conocimientos y desarrollar habilidades a través de la implementación de actividades novedosas que seguramente mantendrán a los niños bastante perceptivos y participativos. Conjuntamente, los niños tendrán la oportunidad de un proceso más completo y una practica más prolongada, contribuyendo a un mejor desempeño de esta lengua extranjera y de cierto modo esto tendrá un impacto positivo para el programa que se viene desarrollando nombrado "Colombia Bilingüe", el cual se ha visto afectado, debido a la falta de recursos de nuestro país, permitiendo que aquellos profesores que no tienen una preparación rigurosa en el área de inglés, se vean en la tarea de enseñar esta lengua. Lo anteriormente nombrado, se soporta en un comentario que hizo la ministra de educación Cecilia María Vélez en el periódico el tiempo que habla sobre los resultados negativos, por parte de los docentes de inglés, en un test realizado en el mes de Julio del presente año. Según la ministra, se debe trabajar arduamente en el mejoramiento académico por parte de los educandos. (Pasaporte Colombiano. Artículo: Enseñando Inglés sin saber, Publicado el 7 Junio 2009) Teniendo en cuenta esta problemática que estamos viviendo referente al inglés, nosotros nos dimos a la tarea de experimentar, que tan eficaces podrían ser los juegos en este proceso, basándonos en la habilidad de escucha que es de gran importancia para el entendimiento y una comunicación activa en la lengua extrajera.This study examined the effectiveness of games and activities in the development of the listening skill in second graders students from Canceles School. It covers essential factors of the learning process, such as, cooperative learning, motivation and how to give good instructions to children, among others. Data collection sources for this study included information from a journal with the teacher’s perceptions and description regarding to the activities developed in class, video recordings for some practical listening exercises and a questionnaire with students opinions in terms how they fell towards the games implemented with them. One of the findings obtained with the analysis of the data, revealed that students were more confident during the implementation of games than in other moment of the class. Another finding that we have to highlight, was the success achieved through those activities which integrated the extrinsic and intrinsic motivational factor long with the means to give clear instructions making sure that students understand what they have to do

Artesunate + amodiaquine versus artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the Colombian Pacific region: a noninferiority trial

INTRODUCTION: In Colombia, there are no published studies for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria comparing artemisinin combination therapies. Hence, it is intended to demonstrate the non-inferior efficacy/safety profiles of artesunate + amodiaquine versus artemether-lumefantrine treatments. METHODS: A randomized, controlled, open-label, noninferiority (Δ≤5%) clinical trial was performed in adults with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria using the 28‑day World Health Organization validated design/definitions. Patients were randomized 1:1 to either oral artesunate + amodiaquine or artemether-lumefantrine. The primary efficacy endpoint: adequate clinical and parasitological response; secondary endpoints: - treatment failures defined per the World Health Organization. Safety: assessed through adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 105 patients was included in each group: zero censored observations. Mean (95%CI - Confidence interval) adequate clinical and parasitological response rates: 100% for artesunate + amodiaquine and 99% for artemether-lumefantrine; the noninferiority criteria was met (Δ=1.7%). There was one late parasitological therapeutic failure (1%; artemether-lumefantrine group), typified by polymerase chain reaction as the MAD20 MSP1 allele. The fever clearance time (artesunate + amodiaquine group) was significantly shorter (p=0.002). Respectively, abdominal pain for artesunate + amodiaquine and artemether-lumefantrine was 1.9% and 3.8% at baseline (p=0.68) and 1% and 13.3% after treatment (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria treatment with artesunate + amodiaquine is noninferior to the artemether-lumefantrine standard treatment. The efficacy/safety profiles grant further studies in this and similar populations

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially