Reflection and Quality Assessment in Service-Learning Projects. When, With Whom, and Why

Among all the elements likely to be considered criteria that determine the quality of a service-learning (SL) project, the scientific literature points to reflection. This work is aimed at analyzing the association of reflection with certain variables that mediate the educational performance of university students, as well as their satisfaction with the acquired knowledge. More specifically, the main focus was to analyze how this reflective process should be, thus we defined three independent variables: the time at which it is performed, the actors involved, and its objectives. The sample was made up of 295 students from the University of Santiago de Compostela, who were participating in SL projects that had been developed in different degree programs. Three instruments were used for data collection, two aimed at the students and one at the teaching staff responsible for the project. The main conclusion, given the results, is that reflection must be carried out from the beginning to the end of the project or, failing this, only at the end. Secondly, priority should be given to involving all the actors concerned, paying particular attention at least to the work group. Finally, it must be oriented both toward sharing feelings about the experience, relating the service to the contents of the subject, and developing attitudes and values. In this way, the status of reflection as one of the key factors in the development of quality experiences in SL is confirmed, showing that those that present a more rigorous and structured reflection have a greater impact on the variables mediating performance and on the students' satisfaction with their learningThis work was derived from two projects of the Spanish State Program of Research, Development and Innovation oriented toward the Challenges of Society (EDU2013-41687-R and EDU2017-82629-R) and a Research Network of the Spanish State Program for Knowledge Generation and Scientific and Technological Strengthening of the R&D&I System (EDU2017-90651-REDT)S

El juego deportivo tradicional en el recreo. Un recurso para promover la inclusión y la igualdad de género

This study aims to examine the presence of traditional games during recess in primary education centers in Galicia, analyzing the behavioral patterns exhibited by students and the interactions between groups that stem from these practices. A total of 1,014 students (505 boys and 509 girls), ranging in age from 6 to 12 years, participated in the study. Therefore, an ad hoc observation instrument was developed to register the behaviors displayed by the students through non-participant direct observation. The results reveal a 34.52% participation rate of students in traditional games during recess, with a 55.22% interaction rate among participants of different genders. Statistically significant differences were observed in the variables of gender and age concerning the practice of traditional games (greater participation of girls and students in the early grades of primary education), attributing a higher occurrence of prosocial behaviors and positive emotions to the practice of traditional games as observed in the participants. In conclusion, the study confirms that traditional games can play a pivotal role in school inclusion.Este estudio tiene como objetivo estudiar la presencia de los juegos tradicionales durante el tiempo de recreo en centros de educación primaria de Galicia, analizando los patrones de conducta presentes en el alumnado y las interacciones entre grupos que se derivan de este tipo de prácticas. Participaron 1.014 estudiantes (505 niños y 509 niñas), con edades comprendidas entre los 6 y los 12 años. Así pues, se elaboró un instrumento de observación ad hoc a fin de registrar las conductas desarrolladas por el alumnado a través de la observación directa no participante. Los resultados muestran una participación de 34.52% del alumnado en juegos tradicionales durante el recreo, donde se produce una interacción entre participantes de diferente género del 55.22%. Se registraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las variables género y edad en relación con la práctica del juego tradicional (mayor participación de niñas y del alumnado de los primeros cursos de educación primaria), atribuyéndose a la práctica de juego tradicional una mayor cantidad de conductas prosociales y de emociones positivas observadas en los participantes. En definitiva, el estudio confirma que los juegos tradicionales pueden desempeñar un papel clave en la inclusión escolar

Transversal competences and employability of university students: converging towards service-learning

We are living in times of great transformations within the field of education and the labor market. These changes are connected and have to do with an expanded knowledge society, whose implications reach the levels of employability in times of uncertainty. Within this framework, the main purpose of our study is to perform a theoretical analysis and an empirical approach to the influence that transversal competences (soft skills) may have on the degree of employability of university students. We have identified some of those competences and we have tested them with a sample of 83 employers and 1249 students using a Likert scale. Our results show the interest of employers in the mastery of transversal competences and inequalities in terms of students’ perception thereof. We did not find any significant differences between students starting their degree and those who were about to complete it. However, we did find differences between the students who participated in experiential activities and those who did not, in favor of the former. Due to the importance of experiential learning in our results, we dedicate our discussion to theoretically exploring whether the pedagogical approach of Service-Learning (SL) might contribute to a better connection between transversal competences and employabilityS

Traditional sports games during school recess: A resource to promote inclusion and gender equality

Este estudio tiene como objetivo estudiar la presencia de los juegos deportivos tradicionales (JDT) durante el tiempo de recreo en centros de educación primaria de Galicia, analizando los patrones de conducta presentes en el alumnado y las interacciones entre grupos que se derivan de este tipo de prácticas. Participaron 1.014 estudiantes(505 niños y 509 niñas), con edades comprendidas entre los 6 y los 12 años. Así pues, se elaboró un instrumento de observación ad hoc a finde registrar las interacciones y conductas desarrolladas por el alumnado a través de la observación directa no participante. Los resultados muestran una participación de 34.52% del alumnado en JDT durante el recreo, donde se produce una interacción entre participantes de diferente género del 55.22%. Se registraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las variables género y edad en relación con la práctica del JDT(mayor participación de niñas y del alumnado de los primeros cursos de educación primaria), atribuyéndose a la práctica de este tipo de juego una mayor cantidad de conductas prosociales y de emociones positivas observadas en los participantes. En definitiva, el estudio confirma que los JDT pueden desempeñar un papel clave en la inclusión escolar.This study aims to examine the presence of traditional sports games during recess in primary education centers in Galicia, analyzing the behavioral patterns exhibited by students and the interactions between groups that stem from these practices. A total of 1,014 students (505 boys and 509 girls), ranging in age from 6 to 12 years, participated in the study. Therefore, an ad hoc observation instrument was developed to register the behaviors displayed by the students through non-participant direct observation. The results reveal a 34.52% participation rate of students in traditional sports games during recess, with a 55.22% interaction rate among participants of different genders. Statistically significant differences were observed in the variables of gender and age concerning the practice of traditional sports games (greater participation of girls and students in the early grades of primary education), attributing a higher occurrence of prosocial behaviors and positive emotions to the practice of traditional games as observed in the participants. In conclusion, the study confirms that traditionalsportsgames can play a pivotal role in school inclusion