Curriculum reform based on the development of scientific competences: controversies in teachers’ opinions

This paper examines certain controversies among a group of secondary education science teachers with regard to the teacher’s role and his/her professional environment, their views being gathered following a training programme aimed at introducing a key competences approach into the Spanish science curriculum. During the programme they were required to design, implement, and assess their own teaching unit for developing students’ scientific competences by means of context-based learning. At the end of the programme a representative group of teachers were selected to take part in a focus group in which they discussed the training received and its transferability to the classroom. Their statements were then analysed and categorised in order to identify factors associated with their professional environment (at the level of both school and the wider education system) and the implications they had for classroom practice. The present study focuses on those aspects which generated controversy among the teachers, specifically as regards whether they were seen as facilitating or as an obstacle to the teaching of science via a competence-based approach. The issues of controversy related to the following topics: the approach to teaching, the content to be taught, the views of and coordination with colleagues, the utility of contexts and the need for reflection on one’s own practice. The paper concludes by considering potential reasons for these issues of controversy and the implications they have for a competence-based approach to teaching.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech.I+D Excelencia project EDU2013-41952-

CFD model-based analysis and experimental assessment of key design parameters for an integrated unglazed metallic thermal collector façade

Active façade systems incorporating solar thermal collectors currently offer very promising energetic solutions. From among the available systems, a simple solution is the unglazed heat collector for potential integration in low-temperature applications. However, when adopting system definitions, the modification of some design parameters and their impact has to be fully understood. In this study, the case of an unglazed collector integrated into a sandwich panel is assessed and a specific analysis is performed for a proper assessment of the influence of key design parameters. Based on that case study of the real built system, a CFD model is developed and validated and a parametric assessment is then performed, by altering the configurations of both the panel and the hydraulic circuit. In this way, the potential of each measure to harness solar energy can be evaluated and each parameter with its different level of impact can be highlighted, to identify those of higher relevance. A characterization of the real solution completes the study, by providing the efficiency curves and the total energy collected during the experimental campaign. The maximum estimate of the efficiency of a 6 m2 façade was within a range between 0.47 and 0.34 and the heat loss factor was between 4.8 and 7.5. The case study exercises reveal the real energy efficiency and solar production patterns. There was also an opportunity to consider significant improvements to increase the output of the active façade. The main conclusions concerned the different criteria that improved the definition of the system and greater comprehension of alternative designs that may be integrated in the underlying concept.The authors are grateful to the Basque Government for fundingthis research through projects IT781-13 and IT1314-19 and to allthose involved in the different stages for their guidance andinvaluable help.The authors would also like to thank all those companies andresearchers participating in the BASSE project for their stronginvolvement during that research. Results from BASSE project haveinspired present research. The BASSE project received funding fromthe European Union, RFCS Program, Research Fund for Coal and Steel project Building Active Steel Skin (BASSE, Grant Agreement noRFSR-CT-2013-00026

Teaching students about chemical elements using daily-life contexts

Learning the names and symbols for chemical elements is a task that students often find dull, although it is of crucial importance for understanding chemistry. In this respect, the use of games or similar play activities could make the learning experience more enjoyable. This paper presents the results of a study in which two tasks involving play (TIPs) and based on daily-life contexts (football and the home) were used to teach the names and symbols of chemical elements. The experimental group comprised 38 year-10 students who studied this topic through a teaching unit built around the TIPs. A control group of 67 year-10 students followed a traditional teaching approach to the same topic. The effectiveness of the TIPs was assessed using three items, administered pre- and post-test, that explored students’ knowledge about metallic and non-metallic elements and their ability to identify them in their everyday environment. Following the TIP-based teaching unit, students in the experimental group gave a higher percentage of appropriate answers, with the Wilcoxon test indicating significant post-test differences for all three items. However, the Kolgomorov-Smirnov test indicated that the experimental and control groups only differed significantly at post-test in their ability to give the names and symbols of non-metals, with the experimental group performing better. Memorising the names and symbols of chemical elements is a complex task for students, and identifying their presence in everyday environments appears to be particularly difficult. However, the results suggest that the use of TIPs linked to daily-life contexts could help students with their learning of this topic.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Proyecto ‘I+D Excelencia’ EDU2013-41952-

Identification of students' mental models about the milk transformation in yogurt

A review of the scientific literature reveals that there are still few researches on the conceptions of secondary school students about chemical reactions involving microorganisms, especially those related to the mental models that students use in their explanations. This paper describes a study concerning the different mental models related to the milk transformation into yogurt with 83 students from a Spanish secondary school of 8th and 9th grade (13-16 years) developed in the framework of a research that intends to use the elaboration of this product as a context for the teaching and learning of chemical reactions through modeling approaches. In order to identify the mental models of the students, in this paper we consider the milk transformation into yogurt as a process in which its main components are: the entities involved (milk and bacteria), the interaction between them and the result (yogurt). A simplified school model of this process would involve students considering that bacteria use the sugar in milk to transform it into lactic acid through a chemical reaction to obtain the necessary energy. Using this scheme in interaction with the students' answers, the underlying mental models were identified. Although almost half of the students showed great difficulties explaining the process, five models have been identified. Students often consider the milk transformation into yogurt primarily as a physical process of agglutination or change of state. These models are far from a school model of reference in which the bacteria have a fundamental role in the transformation of milk into yogurt by a chemical reaction.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Parametric assessment of a building active façade by means of a combined metallic sandwich panel with an unglazed solar collector

The building sector has a poor performance in terms of energy efficiency and is looking for alternatives to reduce the use of fossil fuels on building use stage. Renewables are unlimited and solar thermal energy is a technology with a demonstrated potential. The façade is a key element able to harness renewable energy coming from the sun becoming in an Active Solar Thermal Façade (ASTF). The main purpose of this study is the development of a parametric study using a numerical model to analyze the behavior of an unglazed solar collector. Thus, evaluating different design and meteorological parameters to show their influence on the heat transfer and the efficiency. The study shows that solar irradiation and mass flow are the most influential on thermal difference. However, for the efficiency ambient temperature and inlet temperature both are the most influencing ones. In brief, a set of parameters have a significant influence on the behavior of the ASTF that are fully governed by environmental conditions. Nevertheless, there are some other parameters that can be controlled during the operation. The challenge is to make a continuous configuration of this adaptable values depending on the external situation to achieve a higher performance for the ASTF

Assessing the Potential of Embedding Vegetation Dynamics into a Fire Behaviour Model : LPJ-GUESS-FARSITE

Disturbances such as wildfires are key players involved in the shape, structure and function of the ecosystems. Fire is rarely included in Dynamic global vegetation models due to their difficulty in implementing its processes and impacts associated. Therefore, it is essential to understand the variables and processes involved in fire, and to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses before going forward in global fire modelling. LPJ-GUESS-SPITFIRE allows the calculation of vegetation in a daily-time-step manner. However, the fire module has revealed some flaws in performance. For this reason, an alternative fire area simulator (FARSITE), a robust and semi-empirical model widely used worldwide, has been taken into account. The aim of this study is to assess a potential embedment of vegetation dynamic (LPJ-GUESS-SPITFIRE) into spatial-explicit fire behaviour modelling (FARSITE): LPJ-GUESS-FARSITE. The study includes: (1) a comparison between simulated vegetation and observed vegetation in Mediterranean regions and, to what extent to fire recurrence affects vegetation; (2) the evaluation and comparison of fuel- and tree-related variables from the observed data, and (3) the comparison of fire behaviour performed by each model. Simulations have shown that Quercus coccifera and C3 grasses are dominant at 25 years fire return interval. Besides, the fire return interval influences largely the successional stage of the vegetation. Biomass tends to increase whereas leaf area index and net primary production decrease from short to long fire recurrence periods. Dead fuel loading, fuel depth, fuel moisture 1hr and live grass, simulated in LPJ-GUESS-SPITFIRE, tend to underestimate field measurements. On contrary fuel moisture 10hr and 100hr are overestimated. Fire behaviour results from both models have underestimated field experimental results. FARSITE results, followed by LPJ-GUESS-FARSITE, have been closer related to field data than LPJ-GUESS-SPITFIRE. The results also showed evidence of more intense fires in LPJ-GUESS-FARSITE than in LPJ-GUESS-SPITFIRE, with identical input data. This thesis concludes that both FARSITE and LPJ-GUESS-FARSITE fire behaviour’s outputs are expected to be more realistic than LPJ-GUESS-SPITFIRE. Even though results do still underestimate real observations, there is enough evidence to say that the LPJ-GUESS framework could be improved. The substitution of the SPITFIRE module by FARSITE model, together with an increase of litter and fuel loading and a decrease of fuel moisture, reflects the promising advantages in creating the meta-model LPJ-GUESS-FARSITE.Can a simple algorithm save our planet? There is an increasing awareness nowadays about global warming. Ongoing researches alert about an excessive and fast rise of greenhouse gases emissions. Perhaps the estimations and future projections from scientist were not that misguided and we are already matching the worst scenarios possible. In this general perspective, many investigation projects are trying to find answers to a growing number of questions related with environmental issues. How does our planet work? How do complex mechanisms and processes perform at multiple inter-related spatio-temporal scales? How and how much does greenhouse gasses emissions affect the natural balance? One way of contributing into a better understanding of these processes are the forest fires’ modelling. Fires are important natural sources in terms of carbon dioxide emissions and fire has a worldwide effect in the climate. It is not fully understood how fires behave in many conditions and different locations. There are many parameters behind forest fires. Fuel, dryness and oxygen are the key cornerstones although there are more factors. How fast can a fire spread? Thus how much intensity can be reach by a fire? Hence how much burning emissions can be released? How do a specific type of vegetation, wind speed or terrain affect fire spread? People started to think about this issues in the early 70s. The answer to some of these questions can be explained by a combination of basic energy conservation physics, mathematical models and computer machines ready to calculate plenty of processes at the same time! These models were developed long time ago but still play an important role these days. These algorithms are the basis of current top research areas, which at the same time are fundamental tools predicting and modelling the rate at which the head of a specific fire will spread. Rate of spread equations can be compute in order to calculate how much emissions can be released hence the significance of fire emissions in global scale could be analysed in depth

Assessment on the Efficiency of an Active Solar Thermal Facade: Study of the Effect of Dynamic Parameters and Experimental Analysis When Coupled/Uncoupled to a Heat Pump

The building sector presents poor performance in terms of energy efficiency and is looking for effective alternatives aimed at reducing the use of fossil fuels. The facade is a key element able to harness renewable energy as an Active Solar Thermal Facade (ASTF). The main purpose of this study is the assessment of a novel design concept based on a steel sandwich panel technology. The performance of the active system will be first addressed by a parametric study in order to analyze its behavior and secondly, by describing a real case based on an experimental test by connecting the active panels to a heat pump. The study shows the impact of solar irradiation and mass flow on the thermal jump achieved, while ambient and fluid inlet temperatures are the most influencing parameters in the efficiency of the facade. When coupled to the heat pump, results from a measurement campaign demonstrate a remarkable improvement in the performance of the ASTF. The results presented provide significant proof about the benefits of a synergetic combination of both technologies—solar facades and heat pumps—as efficient alternatives for the building sector, aiming to improve energy efficiency as well as reduce their dependence on non-renewable sources.This research was partially funded by the Basque Government through IT781-13 and IT1314-19 research groups and by the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU through PES17/25. Additionally, TECNALIA Research & Innovation supported the research activities research through a cooperation agreement (PT10516) with UPV/EHU

Risk and protective factors for release in outpatients with schizophrenia

eposterWe aim to determine risk and protective factors influencing relapse incidence in outpatient with schizophrenia. A longitudinal, observational study was done with outpatients with schizophrenia (F20) or schizoaffective disorder (F25)(DMS-IV and ICD-10), without hospitalization during the previous 6 months. The patients were consecutively included into the study to received oral (O-A) or long-acting injectable (depot-A) antipsychotics. Clinical stage evolution, compliance, efficacy and safety assessments (including PANSS, CGI-SSI, hospitalization rates, and adverse events) were recorded before and after 6 and 12 months of treatment. Results: 60 outpatients (aged 34.5±8.9, male 73%), 75% schizophrenia and 25% schizoaffective disorder diagnosis, 68.3% fewer than 15 years of schizophrenia evolution, 76.7% fewer than 5 times previous hospitalizations were treated with O-A (41.7%) or depot-A (58.3%) antipsychotics for at least one year. Depot-A treated patients showed a significant higher compliance compared to O-A patients during the all following time, lower PANSS (total, positive and negative) scores and CGI-SSI score (p<0.01), and a delayed relapse incidence and re-hospitalization to more than 1 year in the 48% of patients (relapse % depot/% oral) after 6 months 22.9%/52.0%, and after 12 months 48.6%/4.0%. Conclusion: There were protective factors which delayed relapse incidence in schizophrenia: Use of sustained-release preparations, family support. There were risk factors for occurrence of relapse in schizophrenia: cocaine, heroin and alcohol consumption, absence of family support, greater severity of patients assessed through CGI-SI, male sex, age older than 25 years and long-term evolution of the disorder.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

The enzymatic determination of glucose in carbonated beverages: a useful tool for the undergraduate students to learn the basis of enzymatic analysis and the comparison of two analytical methods

The importance of enzymatic analysis in biochemistry, clinical chemistry and food chemistry is undoubted. The course "Applied Biochemistry" in our Faculty is aimed to undergraduate students of Chemistry and Biochemistry. In this subject, the principles and applications of enzymatic analysis are presented to the students, who receive a theoretical introductory lecture in the classroom before they carry out an experiment that should be feasible to be solved in a short laboratory period. The experimental protocol here presented, based on the enzymatic determination of glucose in carbonated beverages, has been implemented at the University of Málaga and it has been optimized according to the students’ results and commentaries along the last years. It aims to illustrate basic issues relating enzymatic analysis, including its potential application to food chemistry. Although there are several enzymatic methods that can be used for the determination of glucose, we selected the one based on the coupled reactions of glucose oxidase (GOD; EC 1.1.3.4.) and peroxidase (POD; EC 1.11.1.7.) because the kinetic constants of glucose oxidase allow the mentioned enzymatic reactions to be used in both, the end point and the kinetic enzymatic analysis methods. In this way, data for two different protocols for the determination of glucose concentration are obtained by the students from a single reaction mixture. Students construct a calibration curve for each method using a glucose standard solution, and use them to determine the glucose concentration in the problem solutions. The inclusion of replicate samples in the determination of the glucose concentration of an “ideal problem” (glucose in purified water) is used to illustrate the principles of statistics in the lab, and comparison with the “real value” allows an estimation of the accuracy of each method. The evaluation of glucose concentration in four carbonated beverages: coloured coke and uncoloured tonic sodas (regular or sugarless in both cases) makes student to recognise the appearance of interferences that should be either avoided or eliminated. Since all samples are analysed by means of end-point and kinetic methods, students can discuss the applicability of each method to these specific analytical problems. They are also encouraged to compare both analytical methods in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy, and time consumed. Chemistry and Biochemistry undergraduate students having performed this experiment in our laboratories have found it formative, interesting and challenging.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech