Changing Practices, Changing Identities: A Study with Students at Risk of Educational Exclusion

This study discusses how students at risk of educational exclusion can restore their identity and improve learning and scientific literacy. This qualitative research adopts an interpretative orientation. Twenty-eight secondary school students, aged 16 to 20 participated. Data was collected of the interactions between students in lessons, focus group interview and written documents. Data analysis was inductive, consistent with a naturalistic research paradigm, and consisted of uncovering salient patterns, singularities, and themes associated with research aims. Several students, at risk of educational exclusion, value this kind of practice. By changing practice, the learning social context varied, as well as students’ identities and their relationships with knowledge, teachers and school

Student Perceptions of Secondary Science Teachers’ Practices Following Curricular Change

Inquiry-based teaching has emerged as a highly valued strategy in science education. In Portugal, the science curriculum has been redesigned in order to promote such teaching. This implies substantial change in teacher practice. It is therefore important to understand students’ perceptions of teacher practice. Aim: In this study, we describe student perception of teacher practices and look for associations between the perceptions and student motivation. Method: Three low-achieving, secondary-level science classes were studied. Motivation was measured by two scales (Intrinsic and Extrinsic); Perceptions were measured in four dimensions. Results: Significant associations (p < .05) were observed between intrinsic motivation and (a) Perception of the use of Laboratory Work; (b) Perception of Science-Technology-Society and (c) Perceived Student Autonomy. No association was noted between intrinsic motivation and the Perception of Teacher as Facilitator. Conclusions: Results are generally consistent with previous literature. Teacher professional development lags behind curricular change. Teachers require new conceptions of assessment.Projeto financiado pelo CIEFCU

Multiparameter ergodic Cesàro-α averages

Let (X,F,ν) be a σ-finite measure space. Associated with k Lamperti operators on Lp(ν), T1,…,Tk, nˉ=(n1,…,nk)∈Nk and αˉ=(α1,…,αk) with 0<αj≤1, we define the ergodic Cesàro-αˉ averages Rnˉ,αˉf=1∏kj=1Aαjnj∑ik=0nk⋯∑i1=0n1∏j=1kAαj−1nj−ijTikk⋯Ti11f. For these averages we prove the almost everywhere convergence on X and the convergence in the Lp(ν) norm, when n1,…,nk→∞ independently, for all f∈Lp(dν) with p>1/α∗ where α∗=min1≤j≤kαj. In the limit case p=1/α∗, we prove that the averages Rnˉ,αˉf converge almost everywhere on X for all f in the Orlicz–Lorentz space Λ(1/α∗,φm−1) with φm(t)=t(1+log+t)m. To obtain the result in the limit case we need to study inequalities for the composition of operators Ti that are of restricted weak type (pi,pi). As another application of these inequalities we also study the strong Cesàro-αˉ continuity of functions.Fil: Bernardis, Ana Lucia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Crescimbeni, Raquel Liliana. Universidad Nacional del Comahue; ArgentinaFil: Ferrari Freire, Cecilia. Universidad Nacional del Comahue; Argentin

Queuing theory-based latency/power tradeoff models for replicated search engines

Large-scale search engines are built upon huge infrastructures involving thousands of computers in order to achieve fast response times. In contrast, the energy consumed (and hence the financial cost) is also high, leading to environmental damage. This paper proposes new approaches to increase energy and financial savings in large-scale search engines, while maintaining good query response times. We aim to improve current state-of-the-art models used for balancing power and latency, by integrating new advanced features. On one hand, we propose to improve the power savings by completely powering down the query servers that are not necessary when the load of the system is low. Besides, we consider energy rates into the model formulation. On the other hand, we focus on how to accurately estimate the latency of the whole system by means of Queueing Theory. Experiments using actual query logs attest the high energy (and financial) savings regarding current baselines. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper in successfully applying stationary Queueing Theory models to estimate the latency in a large-scale search engine

Transformative Orientation in Learning to Teach Physics and Chemistry

Initial teacher training (ITT) involves different perspectives regarding the role of theoretical versus practical knowledge in teaching and requires an answer to how students integrate theory and practice and how learning environments contribute to this integration. Many authors have been advocating the idea of teachers as researchers of their own practice as a way to establish connections between theoretical knowledge and the knowledge gained from their practice. The ITT program of the University of Lisbon is based on a conceptual framework that proposes that student-teachers construct professional knowledge from researching their own practice in a context of supervised practice. This paper aims at describing the interpretations that student-teachers make about the Portuguese science curriculum, as well as describe the research questions and methods that they used for collecting data concerning students learning, and their evaluation of the learning process. For that, 31 written reports were analyzed. While involved in the design of the didactic proposals, student-teachers were encouraged to interpret the formal curriculum and turn it into a teaching curriculum, and to critically reflect on the curriculum. By researching their own practice, they developed new understanding regarding students’ difficulties, promoting students’ conceptual change and managing classroom and students’ behavior

Science Teachers’ Beliefs and Practices: Collaboration as a Trigger of Change

This research aims to study a collaborative process between teachers and a facilitator and to examine how this process contributes for changing Physics and Chemistry teachers’ beliefs and practices. In order to achieve these goals, a specific program of professional development was studied, which characteristics were sourced on literature concerning the relationship between beliefs and practices and between reflection and collaboration. Five Physics and Chemistry teachers were involved in a qualitative study.  The results show that the collaboration, grounded on a trusting relationship and on a constant negotiation of meanings, was essential for teachers to overcome their fears and uncertainties, to stimulate teachers to develop different practices and to leave their comfort zone and review some of their beliefs

Tratamento do pé boto: qual a melhor abordagem terapêutica?

Projeto de Graduação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Licenciada em FisioterapiaObjetivo: O objetivo deste estudo de revisão foi reunir informação de artigos científicos, que abordassem e confrontassem diferentes técnicas no tratamento do pé boto e concluir qual delas é mais eficaz. Metodologia: Foi efetuada uma pesquisa nas bases de dados PEDro, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, B-on e EBSCO/Medline para estudos realizados em crianças com idades até aos 2 anos, de livre acesso e artigos randomizados controlados, randomizados, quasi-experimentais, estudos de coorte, estudo de caso controlo ou observacionais e com as palavras-chave “pé boto”, “Método de Ponseti”, “Método de Kite”, “Método Funcional Francês”, “Clubfoot”, “Ponseti Method”, “Kite’s Method” e “French Functional Method”. Resultados: Nesta revisão foram incluídos 7 artigos com um total de 423 pacientes e 628 pés. A qualidade metodológica destes artigos foi utilizada com recurso à CASP SCALE, obtendo-se assim uma pontuação média de x. Conclusão: Foram confrontados quatro métodos de intervenção (Método de Kite, Método de Ponseti, Método Funcional Francês e Tratamento tradicional) e, apesar de todos demonstrarem resultados no tratamento do pé boto, o Método de Ponseti foi o que apresentou os melhores resultados.Objective: The objective of this review was to gather information of scientific articles that addressed and confront different techniques in the clubfoot treatment and conclude which one is most effective. Methods: A survey was conducted in PEDro databases, PubMed, ScienceDirect, B-on and EBSCO / Medline for studies in children up to 2 years, free access and randomized studies controlled, randomized, quasi-experimental studies cohort, case control study or observational and the keywords "clubfoot", "Ponseti Method," "Kite Method", "French Functional Method", "Clubfoot", "Ponseti Method," "Kite's Method "and" French Functional Method ". Results: In this review were included seven articles with a total of 423 patients and 628 feet. The methodological quality of these articles was used using the CASP SCALE, thus yielding an average score of x. Conclusion: We faced four intervention methods (Kite method, Ponseti Method, French Functional Method and traditional treatment) and, despite all show results of clubfoot treatment, the Ponseti method showed the best results