Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) to improve teachers’ professional development

Although the integration of ICT in education is currently on the agenda of educational institutions, it may be difficult to understand the technological progress and the networked society uniquely based on existing learning theories. As a kind of answer to this need, the notion of connectivism has emerged. Connectivism deals with knowledge as something distributed in a network of connections. Considering Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) as an expression of connectivism, this research attempts to study MOOC as a way to understand the process of professional development of teachers in a connectivist environment. This research adopted Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) as a theoretical referential to examine in detail, the process of professional development of teachers in the MOOC context. Through an in-depth study of this process, it was intended to identify the innovations to be introduced into the operation of MOOC in view of improving the professional development of teachers. The results of this research reveal that the process involved in the professional development of teachers in MOOC is quite complex and therefore, determined by a variety of identified dimensions.Embora a integração das TIC na educação esteja atualmente na agenda das instituições educativas, parece ser difícil o entendimento sobre o progresso tecnológico e a sociedade em rede, exclusivamente com base nas teorias de aprendizagem existentes. Como uma espécie de resposta a essa necessidade, surgiu a noção de conectivismo. O conectivismo lida com o conhecimento como algo distribuído numa rede de conexões. Considerando os Cursos Online Abertos e Massivos (MOOC) como a expressão mais generalizada do conectivismo, nesta pesquisa procura-se estudar o MOOC como uma forma de compreender o processo de desenvolvimento profissional de professores num ambiente conectivista. Para a concretização desta pesquisa adotou-se como referencial teórico o modelo TPACK (Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge) para verificar detalhadamente o processo de desenvolvimento profissional de professores no contexto de MOOC. Através de um estudo aprofundado deste processo, pretendeu-se identificar 53 as inovações a serem introduzidas no funcionamento dos MOOC com vista a melhorar o desenvolvimento profissional dos professores. Os resultados desta pesquisa revelam que o processo de desenvolvimento profissional de professores através de MOOC é bastante complexo e envolve uma variedade de dimensões que determinam a sua concretização.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population.The aim of this study was to inform vaccination prioritization by modelling the impact of vaccination on elective inpatient surgery. The study found that patients aged at least 70 years needing elective surgery should be prioritized alongside other high-risk groups during early vaccination programmes. Once vaccines are rolled out to younger populations, prioritizing surgical patients is advantageous